Cocktail mini dresses that end above the knee

A cocktail mini dress shows your legs, so we usually balance it with long sleeves or a closed neckline. Most of ours are velvet, plus a red satin slip and a powder pink lurex wrap. In the UK it’s more often called a mini cocktail dress.

Long sleeves to balance a short hem

We sew most of these minis with long sleeves, and there’s a reason. Covered arms with bare legs feel right at a work party or a New Year’s table, and you won’t need a shawl indoors. The red velvet wrap lets you change the depth of its V as you pull the tie. On the black velvet wrap, soft drape gathers over the tummy.

Emerald velvet is the bold one, and it’s soft to touch with drape that follows the body. Pair it with gold earrings and a cropped coat, so the short length still shows when you walk in. Powder pink velvet makes sizing easier. Between two sizes? Take the smaller one and loosen the wrap.

Tights decide a lot with a short hem. Thin black ones look right with red and black velvet, while nude matte ones suit powder pink and chocolate. On really cold nights, tall boots that meet the hem keep you warm from the car to the door.

One shoulder, thin straps or a satin slip

Not every mini needs sleeves. Red velvet with a single sleeve leaves the other shoulder bare, and one big earring on the open side is plenty. The little black velvet works the same way, so skip the necklace. Our black and emerald velvets on thin straps show the collarbones. Plan a short faux fur you’ll drop on a chair once the music starts.

Our red satin slip is cut for a date or a cocktail bar, with a deep V and nothing on the arms. It’s a cold-season style, which means sheer tights and an oversized blazer on the way there. Powder lurex has a softer glow than gold would, and it’s the dress we’d send to a birthday where silver feels too loud.

Our printed minis, the polka dots and flowers on wrap and off-shoulder cuts, return with the warm weather. Everything comes in XS to XL, and the XL is about 10% more. For a short hem, measure your hips, then sit and stand once in front of the mirror at home.