Tadashi Shoji

For special-occasion dressing, many shoppers feel they are. Tadashi Shoji built his name on combining couture dressmaking techniques with skillful engineering, so the pieces could be produced at scale while still fitting a real range of figures. The trademark draped jersey gowns and shutter-pleated cocktail dresses tend to feel more considered than typical off-the-rack eveningwear, which is much of the appeal.

The brand's reputation rests on fit and finish rather than flash. Shoji uses figure-flattering techniques such as draping, ruching, and pintucks, and his eveningwear is sought out for its impeccable fit, trademark ease, and modern sense of femininity. He famously designs for all ages, ethnicities, and figures, which is part of why the dresses have such a loyal following.

Tadashi Shoji sits firmly in the American red-carpet eveningwear world, and his gowns have been worn by stars including Helen Mirren, Octavia Spencer, and Carrie Underwood. Where some occasion houses lean theatrical, Shoji's signature is romantic, wearable elegance built around draped jersey and pleated chiffon. If you want a gown that flatters first and makes a statement second, that is his lane.

His signature pieces are draped jersey gowns, pleated chiffon gowns, and shutter-pleated cocktail dresses. He pioneered a new category of special-occasion eveningwear by mixing stretch fabrics with easy, elegant silhouettes, which is what gives the dresses their distinctive drape and forgiving fit.

A first-time buyer is often best served by one of the draped jersey gowns the label is known for, since the jersey moves with the body and the draping is engineered to flatter. The brand spans evening wear, bridal, plus-size, and more, so let the occasion guide you, but the jersey gowns are the most quintessentially Tadashi Shoji place to start.

Tadashi Shoji is the eponymous designer, an American-based Japanese fashion designer born in Sendai, Japan, in 1948. He trained in fine art before studying fashion design in Los Angeles, and he launched his own brand in 1982 after noticing how few good choices women had for special-occasion dresses.

Shoji launched his eponymous brand in 1982. He had moved from Japan to the United States in 1973 to study, and the company today operates offices in Los Angeles and Shanghai, with showrooms in New York City, Tokyo, and Osaka.

The brand is carried in over 700 major department and specialty stores worldwide, with signature boutiques in the United States, Indonesia, and the Middle East. Shoji also launched an e-commerce site in 2012 selling an edited collection of occasion and bridal dresses, so there are plenty of avenues both in person and online.

Yes. Bridal is one of the brand's core categories, and in 2018 Shoji debuted an affordable-luxury bridal collection known for its versatility and rich assortment. He also designs capsule wedding collections for David's Bridal and for the Anthropologie-owned bridal e-tailer BHLDN, so his bridal reach goes well beyond his own label.

Plenty. Octavia Spencer wore a custom Tadashi Shoji gown to the 84th Academy Awards, where she won Best Supporting Actress for The Help, and former First Lady Michelle Obama wore one to a White House state dinner held in honor of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The label was also the Miss Universe pageant sponsor from 2002 to 2007.

Inclusivity is central to the brand. Shoji is known for designing for all ages, all ethnicities, and all figures, and plus-size is one of his established categories alongside evening wear, bridal, and kids. His draping and engineering are specifically meant to flatter a wide range of body shapes.