Floor-length black tie dresses in velvet

Sleeves for a January wedding, one shoulder for the gala

Winter weddings get cold between the car, the photos outside and the reception hall. A round neck with long sleeves fixes that, and our burgundy and emerald gowns in that cut still have a slit at the leg. Nothing stiff about them. Our navy mermaid is another warm option. It hugs you to the knee and flares out below, and we’d pick its size by your hips.

Awards nights and balls are where bare shoulders belong. You’ve got two ways in. Both shoulders out with sleeves that stop at three-quarter length, which leaves your wrist free for a bracelet, or one shoulder out and one long sleeve covering the opposite arm. Leave your neck bare. Long earrings, hair up, that’s it.

Pick a floor length black tie dress with a slit if you plan to dance for hours. The slit opens on every step, and your shoes get seen.

Want something in between? A boat neck shows your collarbones and keeps your arms covered, and we have it in black and in blue.

For a wedding with this dress code, see our gowns for black tie wedding guests.

Picking a shade for a room full of tuxedos

Black’s the classic, of course. Burgundy and red feel warmer under chandeliers.

Emerald and gold earrings get along fine. With blue, we’d reach for silver, and on New Year’s Eve the earrings can have stones in them. White velvet is for your own engagement night or a snowy photo shoot. Pearls with the powder pink.

Our second navy gown is the draped one, soft folds gathered across bare shoulders and sleeves to three-quarter length. Skip the necklace there. And if you’d rather glow than shine, champagne gold velvet with one long sleeve is waiting too.

Heels aren’t optional here. Every floor length black tie dress we sew is cut long enough that flats would leave the hem under somebody’s shoe by the second song. For the trip over, a short fur jacket or a wrap coat that comes off in one move.

Not sure about velvet at all? Then start over in every dress we make.

Frequently asked questions

Is a long gown the only option at black tie?

It’s the traditional answer, and long never looks out of place there. Our main black tie page has the full picture.

What heel height do these hems need?

Stand in the shoes and look down. The velvet should just clear the floor, so put the gown on at home with the exact pair you’re planning to wear.

My velvet creased in the car. What now?

Hang it up and steam it from the inside. Never put an iron on velvet pile.

My bust says S and my hips say M. Which one?

For the mermaid and the boat-neck blue, follow your hips. With the off-shoulder navy, your bust matters more. Anything else, ask our manager.