Floor length black formal dresses in velvet

Bare shoulders, one sleeve or a slit at the leg

Want open shoulders without freezing? The off-shoulder maxi has long sleeves, so your arms stay covered while your collarbones show. Wear your hair up with it. A fine necklace works, or leave the neck bare and choose big earrings.

The one-sleeve style makes the shoulder the main event. Put the necklace away. We’d wear this one to an awards ceremony or an anniversary, and at a prom it suits the graduate and her mother alike. At the fitting, check how the sleeveless side lies.

Two more keep both arms covered and open at the leg instead. One has a boat neck that frames your collarbones and a high slit that parts with each step, which is why you can walk and dance freely in a long skirt. The other is plainer on top, and its long sleeves let you go to a winter party without a wrap.

Our fifth is the most fitted. It’s cut close through the waist, bares the shoulders and has a slit. Size it by your waist and bust, since a tailored waist should lie without folds.

Getting the hem right in your evening shoes

A long hem needs a heel. Put on the very pair you’ve planned for the night, then try the dress and walk across the room. The skirt shouldn’t brush the floor, and your heel shouldn’t catch its edge. That’s the whole test.

Where there’s a slit, your shoes are on display. Patent leather or a metallic finish looks right against the pile. A small clutch in black or silver is enough.

Black velvet looks deep even in evening light, and in photos it doesn’t glare. For pictures, pick a backdrop paler than the dress, and the silhouette comes out clear. Silver and crystal jewelry sit well on it.

We make each floor length black formal dress in XS to XL. Creased velvet after the car ride? Steam it on the reverse, and don’t let an iron touch the pile. For shorter hems or other fabrics, see black formal dresses of every length, the wider set of black velvet styles, or our evening gowns in other colors.

Frequently asked questions

Is a black maxi formal dress fine for a wedding?

For an evening wedding with a dress code, yes. The off-shoulder velvet maxi was made with exactly that kind of night in mind.

What do I wear over bare shoulders in winter?

A coat or a wide wrap. Choose something that slips off easily once you’re inside.

Will the slit make it hard to walk?

It does the opposite. The slit opens as you step, so a long narrow skirt doesn’t hold your stride back.

Which measurements matter for a fitted velvet maxi?

Compare your bust and hip measurements with the size chart, then check the shoulders at the fitting. Velvet that clings should lie smooth, not strain.