Burgundy formal dresses for black tie and evening receptions

Read the dress code first, then pick the hem. Every burgundy formal dress here is velvet in a deep wine shade, and the length you need depends on whether the card says black tie, formal or cocktail.

Black tie on the invitation

That means floor length. Each of our long burgundy gowns is split at the leg, which is what lets you dance after dinner instead of shuffling.

If you’d like your arms and neckline covered, the round-neck gown with sleeves to the wrist is the one. You won’t need a shawl in a chilly hall. Prefer to show some skin? Two gowns leave the shoulders open and stop the sleeve at three-quarter length, so a bracelet or a slim watch suddenly has a job. We’d pin your hair up with those and leave the neck bare.

There’s a maxi with a slit, too, a little shorter than the floor-sweepers. It’s easier on steps, and its long sleeves mean a winter wedding without a wrap.

Whichever you choose, try it on in your event heels. We cut long hems to clear the ground in them, and a heel stops you treading on the velvet.

Formal, but the evening ends at a restaurant table

For a jubilee dinner, a corporate gala or a night at the theater, a midi does the work. It covers the knee, it’s fine for sitting through three courses next to older relatives, and it leaves room for boots when there’s snow outside.

Our belted midi pulls in at the waist, and its V stays modest. Want something closer to the body? Our fitted V-neck midi is it, and a pendant on a chain sits right in that neckline. Need to move fast? The slit midi gives your stride a bit more room.

A short burgundy formal dress works where the card says cocktail. The marsala wrap mini is 88 cm long, a shade deeper than burgundy, with long sleeves that keep it from looking too casual. Every cut on this page comes in XS through XL. Velvet barely stretches, so your bust and hip measurements matter more than your usual size.

Want the whole wine-colored range in one place? Head to our burgundy dresses, or check the long burgundy styles on their own.