Sezane Spring/Summer Collection Review 2023

My love for Sezane is nothing new; since discovering the brand six years ago, I’ve gone on to place multiple orders, adding many of their beautiful, feminine and delightfully French silhouettes to my closet. And of late, I’ve been having a renewed moment with the brand. So today I wanted to review some recent purchases from Sezane’s Spring/Summer Collection. We’ll be chatting through eight items; knitwear, dresses, shoes, and a full suit. I’ll share sizing and fit information, plus my thoughts on the items IRL. By the way, if you’ve had your eye on the Milo Classic Bag, you might like to read the review I shared recently HERE. Now, let’s get into this Sezane clothing review…

Sezane Emile Cardigan in Sea Mist

Size S | AUD$215

Let’s start off with knitwear. And more specifically, knitwear that I’d literally sworn off buying, having made a general rule not to add any sweaters to cart with polyamide in them. Mostly because I’ve had poor experience in the past with wear and tear. Curiosity and desire got the better of me, as I couldn’t resist the soft muted tones of the Emile Cardigan (and the Basile, which I’ll talk about next). This is a crew neck knit, with chunky trim at the collar, blouson sleeves which cinch in at the wrist, and a straight up and down boxy fit. The sort of style that I suspect was intended to be worn tucked in, or worn fully open/loose. What got me, was this “sea mist” colour. A muted, pastel, seafood green. Which I thought would work well with my complexion, as well as general mood for colour of late.

The composition is 55% Alpaca, 30% Polyamide, 15% Wool (this includes 73% recycled polyamide). Generally these types of sweaters from Sezane tend to be textured, meaning if you have particularly sensitive skin, you might find this a bit too sickly or scratchy to wear. And I’ll say that is definitely the case here. I didn’t find it too bad, but this is something that’ll vary from person to person based on your sensitivity and tolerance levels. The actual yarn itself is thick, plush, and has this fluffy nature to it. Quite light in the hand.

Despite the 30% polyamide blend, it doesn’t feel overly synthetic. But, I suppose my hesitation, is that I found in the past when I did hand wash a similar blended knit, it came out of the wash looking flat, and with a completely different hand feel. I’m curious to see how this one fares – perhaps a wear and tear update might be due in a few months for those who have been on the fence like I was.

One of the details I was drawn to was the shade on shade yarn and button combo. This looks so seamless and chic, and is one of the ways that Sezane tends to put a real focus on attention to detail. Colour best depicted in the first image on this page.

Sezane Basile Cardigan in Vintage Blue

Size S | AU$215

A similar mood to the Emile cardigan, I also couldn’t resist adding the Basile cardigan to my order. It was a toss up between the two styles and colours. Perhaps a little hint at the direction that colour seems to be taking my wardrobe in. The only real difference between the two is the cut. The yarn has that same mottled effect, which I love because it adds visual interest and dimension (especially in different lights). It’s a pale, cerulean blue – reminiscent of the sweater Andie wears in The Devil Wears Prada.

It has quite a deep v at the front, so I would recommend pairing it with a tank or t-shirt for modesty (if you so wish) when wearing it with separates.

Again, I have the same reservations about the yarn and how it will wash and wear over time. Texturally it has all the same qualities as the Emile. Based on the composition information I’d assume that they’re both manufactured using the same yarn. Curious, which of the two do you think suits me better/which would you keep?

Sizing wise I’m wearing the small here, and I think it’s a good fit. I’m 172cm tall, and like my knitwear to be slouchy and relaxed. If you’re petite, you may like to size down for a slightly less oversized fit. Colour best depicted in the first image on this page.

Sezane Michele Jacket in Vintage Blue

Size AU8/US4/FR36 | AUD$295

The Michele Jacket is one of those styles that Sezane brings back season after season, and I was so drawn to this vibrant “vintage” blue hue, that I decided to add it to cart. This is a great silhouette of blazer if you tend to be a little wider through the hip like myself. The reason being is that the hem of the jacket falls below the hip. If it were shorter, it would accentuate your widest point; instead, it skims over it concealing the hips and adding in a fun “boxy” silhouette up top.

Details are everything. The fabric is a linen and viscose blend, making this particular colourway a perfect choice for the warmer months. But also, it stops the blazer from feeling too sharp or severe. There’s a softness to it, which is amplified in the mood with the patch pockets on the front; a detail I tend to associate more with casual styles. Again proving that they have thought of everything, the buttons are fabric covered to match the jacket. Perfection.

Basically, I’m struggling to find anything wrong with this jacket. If I was nitpicking, I might say, for a petite girl you may find the length a little on the long side – but this could be a way to dip into that oversized blazer trend while wearing a style that still feels quite tailored.

Sizing wise, I took my usual size AU8 here and it was a perfect fit, with a little bit of ease through it so would recommend sticking with your usual size here.

Sezane Loulou Trousers in Vintage Blue

Size AU8/US4/FR36 | AUD$230

You know something is good when you eye it up in another colour. I purchased the Sezane Loulou Trousers in black a year ago. High-waisted, a wide straight fit through the leg, floor grazing with a heel. Basically the perfect pant to make your legs look miles long. And they kicked off my obsession with the fluid drape trouser. While I wasn’t really in the market for a pair of blue trousers (I have these from FRONTROW which are fab), I felt if I was going to buy a statement blazer it was worth having the matching pants to create a full suit look.

And objectively, I love how the two pair together. The linen/viscose blend really adds to the softness and drape of the trousers. They feel beautiful on. But. And it’s a big but. They’re far too large. I went with my usual size – AU8 – which is the same size I have my black pair in, so I assumed the fit would be similar, if not the same. Always allowing for some tolerance in the sizing (essentially, all clothing is made my hand so expect some human error/fluctuations between items). But these turned up and are a good size, if not two sizes too big for me. I wasn’t quite expecting that, though reviewing the size guide another time it does recommend sizing down if you’re between sizes. Given I’m not, I didn’t really think much of this.

Another point to note is the length. This is the same challenge I faced with my black pair, but it looks like in recent months Sezane has added additional fabric which means if you aren’t model height or blessed with incredibly long legs, you’ll need to chop a fair amount off the bottom. So, ideal if you’re a tall girl. But even if you’re not, this style doesn’t have any particular features that would affect the cut if you were to significantly shorten them. Overall a beautiful pant, but note that they run large so do size down.

Sezane Pippa Dress in Black

size S | AUD$205

The Pippa dress might just be one of my favourite items from this order. I’ve tried enough t-shirt dress styles in this midi length over the years to know that they typically won’t suit my frame. I have some curves to me, and a long torso, so I’ll usually find that even fully styled up I feel absolutely average. Not in the Pippa dress. She’s perfect. The side slits add a fun flirty element, but the hero really is the tie at the waist. It cinches it in and gives you shape in all the right places.

Again this is another style that has been repeated across multiple seasons. Which I like because when Sezane get it right, they really get it right, and will always have some fresh seasonal colours (the bright green being a fun option for spring).

It’s 94% organic cotton and 6% elastane, which makes this both breathable and comfortable to wear with that added bit of stretch. While I do think that the price point – $205 – is a little steep for a cotton midi dress, it’s organic cotton which I’m personally happy to pay a premium for.

Sizing wise I’m wearing a size S, which I think is a good fit for me. There’s a little bit of room at the back but I personally like this. If you wanted it to fit closer to the body, you could easily go down a size.

Sezane Aloise Dress in Emerald Green

Size AU8/US4/FR36 | AUD$310

Part of the editions collection designed for special occasions, the Aloise dress in this verdant emerald green is a bit of a showstopper. If you were after a simple dress to wear to a wedding (or maybe even as an option for your bridal party !!) then this would be a stunning choice. It’s 100% silk and lined with viscose. The silk Jacquard has tiny matte polka dots embossed all over, which add a dimensional visual element.

It features spaghetti thin straps, that criss-cross and tie up at the back, allowing you to adjust the fit. I found these a little fussy and difficult to get just right on my own so you’ll find it’s a little easier to pop on with some assistance. Also, perhaps a style that I’d recommend more for those who aren’t too busty as the cut at the front and criss-cross effect at the back means you have limited options for undergarments.

My estimation of the fit is that it’s a generous cut. Because you do have that flexibility with the ties, you could easily go down a size. And I think in my case, that would have resulted in a better fit. What I do love? How the dress nips in at the waist and flares out from the hip. To me, it feels almost ballerina-esque in style, the way the skirt floats about with every movement. I’m wearing the AU8 here, and think I would have been better off in the AU6.

Sezane Low Natacha Sandals in Woven Natural Heritage

Size FR40/US9/UK7 | AUD$275

The second I saw the Low Natacha Sandals, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Rosa style that I’d previously bought a couple of years back. The braided leather has this real vintage feel; the type of shoe I could imagine wearing while vacationing along the French Riviera, paired with a cropped boucle jacket. They criss-cross over the toe, and sit quite low against the foot, which to me is great if you want to wear them with a fluid drape trouser as they reveal quite a bit of skin.

The leather is quite thick and stiff, though my experience with it is that it will start to soften a bit over time. There isn’t any support in the in-sole, which is leather lined, but the fascinating detail is the scored sole which prevents against slipping on smooth or slippery surfaces.

Clearly I went with the safe option – the natural heritage leather – but they also come in a shiny gold if you wanted something special.

Sizing wise, they fit true to size. I’m an EU40, and unless otherwise specified, will always order an FR40/UK7/US9 in Sezane shoes.

Sezane Lena Low Boots in Smooth Black

Size FR40/US9/UK7 | AUD$330

Final item to share in this review are the Lena Low Boots. I bought these late last year as a replacement to a similar style from Porte & Paire that I (sadly) no longer have. What was missing from my closet was this lug sole, chunky style boot to add some edginess to my outfits.

Quality is exceptional. The leather is soft and malleable, but more robust across the toe, making me sense that it must be slightly thicker there or have some internal reinforcing. They’re quite a heavy boot, which is amplified but that thick, all-weather sole; a style I think would work in a pinch even on a snow day (with some leather protectant!). There’s an elastic gusset on either side, with pull tab at the back of the shoe to pull them on. They slip on and off effortlessly when wearing socks.

Another shoe style that fits true to size. I took my usual size FR40/US9/UK7 and find that they’re roomy enough to accomodate a thick sock. Helps that they don’t pinch my wide feet (with bunion). Very comfortable, and haven’t gotten a single blister while wearing them.

Styling wise I like them best paired with leggings or juxtaposed against a longer, feminine skirt.