Formal gowns and evening dresses with sleeves, floor to mini

Black tie on the card means velvet to the floor

Let’s be straight about the word gown. Only part of this page reaches the floor, and those styles are velvet. Our blue boat-neck gown has sleeves to the wrist, and it’s what we’d wear to a winter wedding that asks for evening dress. Forget the wrap. A navy mermaid cut follows your figure to the knee and then widens, and that flare is what lets you walk without tiny steps.

Prefer some skin? Black velvet with bare shoulders still has long sleeves. Under any of these hems you’ll want heels, so the fabric doesn’t brush the ground.

Midi and mini lengths for formal dinners and work galas

Most sleeved styles here are midis and minis, and plenty of formal evenings don’t ask for more. Think of an awards dinner or an anniversary. Our blue lurex wrap midi catches candlelight, a belt holds the waist, and since the knit has give, nothing digs in after three courses. In the UK the search is usually shorter, something like formal evening dress sleeves, and it brings up these same dresses.

Short can be formal too. Does your evening start at the office? Our chocolate velvet mini hides shoulders and arms and leaves the legs on view, a balance that works when you go straight from your desk to a restaurant. Soft folds gather the fabric from waist to hip. Our marble-print blue velvet mini has a stand collar and is 87 cm long.

Sleeve length changes what you add. A three-quarter sleeve gives your bracelet or watch somewhere to sit. Full sleeves do the job of a shawl.

We make every style in XS to XL. For long only, see formal gowns to the floor or gowns with full-length sleeves. The wider picture is on our formal dress page.

Frequently asked questions

Are all of these dresses floor length?

No. The maxi and floor-length ones are velvet gowns, and the rest stop at the calf, the knee or above it. If you only want long, use the links above.

Will a lurex knit be comfortable through a long dinner?

It stretches, so sitting and dancing are both fine. Our purple and blue lurex midis are made from that knit.

Which jewelry works with a covered neckline?

Earrings. A stand collar or a turtleneck already frames your face, so leave the necklace at home and pin your hair up.

Is sleeved velvet right for a spring event?

Our velvet is made for fall and winter. For a spring date, we’d look at the lighter styles on the formal page instead.