Portia and Scarlett PS26023 Satin Leopard-Print Mermaid Gown with Straps

The PS26023 is a bold dress — the leopard print does most of the work, so your accessories should complement it rather than compete with it. Here is how to build the look from the ground up. Shoes: The trumpet hem and train mean your shoes will rarely be visible when you are standing, but they matter when you are seated or walking. Pointed-toe black satin pumps are the cleanest choice — they elongate the leg and disappear against the dark elements of the print. Strappy gold or black sandals with a slim heel also work well and add a bit of sparkle at the ankle without pulling focus from the gown. Avoid chunky platforms or sandals with heavy ankle straps, which can visually cut the leg under a fitted skirt. Jewelry: The sweetheart neckline already has black bead trim running along the edge and up the straps, so there is built-in detail at the collarbone. A simple drop earring or small stud is all you need at the ear — nothing chandelier or heavily layered. Skip a necklace entirely, or keep it very fine and delicate (a slim gold chain, nothing that lands on the bead trim). A bracelet or cuff on one wrist adds interest without crowding the neckline area. Bag: A small black or gold minaudière is the right proportion for a fitted mermaid gown. Larger bags look bulky against this silhouette. If you need hands-free, a slim wristlet works well. Hair: An updo or sleek style away from the face lets the neckline and strap beading read clearly. If you wear your hair down, keep it behind the shoulders so the bead trim on the straps is visible. Makeup: The leopard print is inherently warm-toned. A bold lip in burgundy, deep red, or classic red ties into the drama of the dress without clashing. Keep the eye look simple if you go bold on the lip — this is a dress that rewards a confident, edited beauty look. The overall styling principle: let the gown be the statement. Everything else should frame it cleanly. If you are unsure about any accessory decision, text our team — we help customers style their dress every day.

The PS26023 is primarily a prom gown, and it is designed to perform in that setting — dramatic silhouette, bold print, a sweeping train built for grand entrances and grand march moments. But the styling elements that make it great for prom also translate to other formal evening events. Prom: This is the primary home for the PS26023. The combination of a true mermaid silhouette, leopard satin, and bead-trim straps makes it one of the bolder choices in the Portia and Scarlett lineup. If you want to stand out and be remembered, this is that dress. Formal evening events: The length, the train, and the satin fabric make this appropriate for formal dinner dances, charity galas, and black-tie-adjacent events where the dress code calls for floor-length gowns. The print is unconventional for traditional black-tie, but if the event allows personal expression within a formal dress code, this gown reads as evening-appropriate rather than costume. Competition and performance events: For students doing pageant-adjacent events or competitive performing arts galas where individual statement dressing is expected, this gown delivers exactly that energy. What it is not suited for: Because the fit is overtly bodycon and the print is bold, this gown is not a natural fit for wedding guest events, where a more restrained look is usually expected. It is also not a bridesmaid dress — the print makes it a soloist, not a group piece. Body type and occasion fit: If you are attending an event where you will be walking a stage, posing for photos, or entering a ballroom, the mermaid silhouette and train are assets. If the event involves a lot of seated time at dinner or significant dancing, keep in mind that mermaid skirts require small steps and can feel restrictive on a crowded dance floor. Most customers find the fabric has enough give to move comfortably once the train is picked up. Bottom line: prom and formal evening events are the right settings for the PS26023. It is not a versatile everyday-formal gown — it is a look-at-me occasion gown, and it excels in that role.

The Portia and Scarlett PS26023 is a designer dress that ships from Marlas Fashions' Los Angeles and New York warehouses, with Canadian orders fulfilled from our Toronto location. Standard shipping takes 7 to 12 business days from the time your order is confirmed. If your event is coming up and you need the dress faster, rush shipping is available — contact us before you place your order so we can confirm availability and timing for your specific date. We ship worldwide with full tracking on every order. United States and Canadian customers pay no duties or import fees on their orders. International customers outside North America receive tracked shipping, and any applicable duties depend on local customs rules in the destination country. If you have a firm event date, we recommend ordering at least four to six weeks ahead when possible. This gives you time for standard shipping, plus a buffer for any alterations — particularly hem work on a mermaid gown with a train, which almost always needs professional tailoring to the correct floor length for your height and heel choice. For urgent orders or questions about a specific shipping timeline, reach out directly and we will check warehouse stock and the fastest available option for you.

Marlas Fashions accepts returns and exchanges on the Portia and Scarlett PS26023. If the dress arrives and the fit is not right, you have three options: store credit (which never expires, so you can use it toward any future purchase at any time), a straight exchange for a different size or style, or a refund minus a 30% restocking fee. Because this is a fitted mermaid gown, fit is the most common reason customers reach out after receiving their order. A few things help: measure carefully before ordering using a soft tape measure, compare your measurements to the designer's size chart rather than your usual clothing size, and if you are between sizes, size up — a skilled tailor can take in a fitted gown, but letting one out is much harder. Trying the dress on at home as soon as it arrives is the best way to confirm fit before any event deadline. Wear the shoes and undergarments you plan to use on the day, and check the length at the back where the train falls. Hem alterations are the most common adjustment on this silhouette. If you have any questions about fit before you order, or if you receive the dress and are unsure about sizing, reach out to our team — we would rather help you get the right size the first time than process a return after the fact.

Most fitted long gowns in this category use a single solid fabric — typically a sequin or a solid satin — and rely on embellishment to create impact. The PS26023 takes a different approach: the leopard print is baked into the satin itself, so the pattern is consistent across the entire surface without adding weight or texture. You get visual impact across the full length of the gown without the heaviness of all-over beading or sequin fabric. The bead trim detail at the neckline and straps is deliberate and restrained — it defines the edges of the sweetheart neckline and adds a luxury finish to the straps without covering the dress in embellishment. That contrast between a maximalist print and a refined trim detail is what separates this gown from similar styles. The mermaid-to-trumpet silhouette is also more structured than most stretch-fabric fitted gowns. The boned bust cups give the bodice a sculpted shape that holds without the need for adhesive or undergarment engineering. The flare at the hem is a true trumpet shape — generous and dramatic — which photographs well and moves well on a stage or dance floor entrance. For a customer who wants to be noticed but does not want to wear a gown covered in sequins or rhinestones, the PS26023 offers a genuinely different kind of impact.

No back-view image was available for the Portia and Scarlett PS26023 at the time of listing, so we are not able to confirm the exact closure type from our photography. Based on Portia and Scarlett's standard construction for fitted satin mermaid gowns in this collection, the back typically features either a lace-up or zip closure, but we recommend confirming this detail directly with our team before ordering if the closure type is important to your fit or styling plan. What we can confirm from the images: the bodice has internal boned bust cups that provide structure and shape at the front without requiring any external lacing or adjustment at the neckline. The wide straps are fixed, not adjustable, so the primary fit point is the torso and hip measurement rather than the shoulder length. For a fitted gown like this one, getting the hip and waist measurements right is more important than the closure type, because the silhouette is designed to sit precisely against the body. If you are between sizes, size up and plan for light alterations at the waist rather than trying to fit into a smaller size. If you need to confirm the closure before ordering, our team can check the designer's spec sheet directly — just reach out.

Yes, and the leopard print actually makes this easier to coordinate than you might expect. Because the PS26023 reads as a neutral-adjacent animal print rather than a bright colour, it pairs well with groups wearing black, gold, deep red, or ivory. The bead trim at the neckline pulls in black, so a court wearing black gowns will look intentionally coordinated alongside this dress. For a prom court where the queen or honouree wears this gown and damas or escorts wear a complementary colour, black or deep gold are the most cohesive choices. If the court is wearing matching gowns in a single colour, this dress sets the wearer apart clearly without clashing. For group photos, the leopard satin photographs well under event lighting — the sheen and pattern create natural contrast against solid-colour gowns without competing directly with sequin or beaded styles. If you are building a full court look and want advice on pairing, send us the details of what the rest of the group is wearing and we can give you a specific recommendation. This is a common question we help with regularly. Contact us directly by texting us at +1 416-536-2956 or messaging us on WhatsApp at +1 213-868-3131 - our luxury dress concierge is ready to help.

The PS26023 runs fitted through the bust, waist, and hips — this is not a dress with a lot of ease built in, because the mermaid silhouette is designed to sit close to the body. Most customers find it helpful to size up one size from their usual clothing size, particularly if their hips are the fullest measurement. To size accurately, measure your bust, waist, and hips with a soft tape measure and compare all three to the Portia and Scarlett size chart. The hip measurement is the most critical one for this silhouette — the skirt needs to clear the hips comfortably to sit at the right line and allow a natural stride. If any single measurement falls between sizes, size up and plan for minor waist or bust alterations if needed. Hem length is the most common alteration on this style. The train is designed for a specific floor length, and getting it hemmed to match your heel height makes a significant difference in how the trumpet flare falls and moves. We recommend having the hem professionally altered after you have confirmed your shoes and heel height. If you are unsure about sizing after comparing your measurements to the chart, reach out before you order — we can walk through the measurements with you and help you choose the right size for your specific proportions.