Formal cocktail dress, velvet midi or lurex wrap

A formal cocktail dress sits between a party mini and a full gown, dressy enough for an engagement dinner and short enough to dance in. Most of ours are velvet, with lurex, satin and rib knit for the rest. Hems stop at mid-thigh, at the knee or at mid-calf.

Velvet midis when the invitation says formal

Velvet gathered into fine pleats shifts as you walk and glows a little under lamps. In powder pink, with a round neckline and sleeves to just below the elbow, it’s covered enough for an anniversary or a dinner with your partner’s family. Warm restaurant light makes that shade brighten your face.

Prefer one bare shoulder? Our white velvet midi keeps a single long sleeve and opens the other side. The asymmetry is the only decoration, so a pair of noticeable earrings does the job of a necklace. It’s the one we’d send to an engagement party.

Red rib knit with a turtleneck is another mood entirely. This midi has a slit on the leg for an easy stride and keeps you warm on the way to a December party.

So which formal cocktail dress fits a dress code that says festive but not black tie? A midi in velvet is the safest answer we know.

Shine and shorter hems for the cocktail hour

Lurex gives a quiet sparkle, the kind that suits a birthday dinner or a toast at home on New Year’s Eve. We cut a powder lurex wrap short, with full-length sleeves, and it looks calmer than silver or gold would. Its green cousin in lurex goes down to the middle of the calf.

Can velvet be short and still formal? It can. The chocolate wrap mini uses stretch velvet that hugs the figure, and the drape at the waist hides the tummy.

Satin wraps in emerald or white come short with a tie, so the V gets as deep as you like. The red satin slip is a cold-season piece, and in winter a black oversized blazer goes over it.

Frequently asked questions

What length counts as formal cocktail?

Usually knee to midi. Our minis lean toward a party, so for a dressier invitation we’d pick a midi. You’ll find every length on the cocktail page.

Isn’t velvet too warm indoors?

The long-sleeved styles are warm, and that’s a plus in winter. If the room runs hot, a one-shoulder or sleeveless cut is easier. More in that fabric is under velvet dresses.

How close should a velvet midi fit?

Snug but not tight. Check your hips against the size chart, and a manager can look at your numbers if you’re between two. We cut every style XS to XL, around US 2 to 12.

Where do I find satin only?

Try our satin cocktail styles or the broader formal range.