Black off-shoulder dresses with long or three-quarter sleeves

Bare shoulders, warm arms

That combination is the trick of this page. Our black velvet maxi with open shoulders has sleeves to the wrist, so you can go to a winter wedding or an awards night without a shawl. The velvet’s dense with a soft pile, and the black stays deep in evening light. It needs no sequins.

The knee-length black style with slits also pairs open shoulders with long sleeves. It’s an all-season dress, so we’d wear it with strappy sandals in summer and heeled ankle boots with opaque tights when it’s cold. A small black or metallic bag is enough.

Three-quarter sleeves are another way to go. The velvet midi with draping leaves your wrists free, and the drape runs into a side slit. Long earrings and hair worn up make the most of the neckline. You’ll want a slim bangle where the sleeve ends.

How to keep the neckline in place all night

Size by your bust. An off-shoulder top has to hold on the shoulders without slipping, and the bust measurement decides that. If yours sits between two sizes, ask us before ordering. We sew each black off shoulder dress in XS to XL.

Wear a strapless bra underneath. With the lurex midi it’s a must, because the fabric hugs the body and the shoulders are fully open. That one’s knit with metallic thread and draped, and the slit shows your shoes, so stilettos or strappy heels are the natural pick.

Don’t add a necklace. Big earrings, gathered hair and an open neck look cleaner than any chain. For the one-sleeve velvet minis, lift your arms over your head at the fitting. The open edge should lie flat.

For a long gown, the floor-length velvet with a slit has a fitted waist and fits best when you order by waist and bust. More cuts like these are on our main off-shoulder page.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be cold in an off-shoulder dress in winter?

Less than you’d think, since most styles here have long sleeves. For the walk in, bring something easy to slip off, like a cropped faux fur.

Do you make printed ones?

Yes, for warm weather. The dotted black mini has long sleeves and ruffles at the hem, and the one with small blue flowers has short sleeves and a playful short length.

Is one shoulder the same as off-shoulder?

Not quite. A one-shoulder cut has a sleeve on one side and nothing on the other, and our one-shoulder dresses are gathered separately. In white? See the white bare-shoulder styles.