Formal long dresses in velvet for galas and winter weddings

Deep colors for a hotel ballroom

Think about the light before the shade. Hotel ballrooms and restaurants run on warm, low light, and deep shades get even deeper in it. Our burgundy with a round neck turns almost wine-dark by the second toast.

The emerald version has a slit on the left leg. Small thing. You’ll notice it the first time you climb out of a car in it.

For a winter wedding with a strict dress code, look at the blue gown with a boat neck and long sleeves. It’s warm enough that you won’t need a stole in the hall, and for a formal long dress at a December wedding that matters more than any sparkle. Silver earrings with a few stones are all it wants.

Slits, stairs and the heel underneath

Every hem here wants a heel under it, thin or chunky, high enough that the velvet clears the ground while you’re standing still.

Our black maxi with a slit shows your shoes at each step, so pick a pair you actually like looking at. The red floor-length gown works differently. We set its waist high, and because that velvet has a good stretch, it lies smooth from the bust all the way down. On the burgundy off-shoulder style the slit is on the side and it’s a big one, and you can dance all night without it getting in your way.

Give your formal long dress a trial run at home before the night. Ten minutes in the real shoes, a walk to the kitchen and back. If the hem drags, the shoes go up, not the hem.

One bare shoulder and nothing around the neck

A single sleeve leaves one shoulder open on a formal long dress, and that open shoulder already does the job a necklace would. On our black one-sleeve maxi we’d gather your hair into a low knot at the nape and leave it at that. The white one wants champagne heels under its long hem, and a light coat or a short white faux fur for the drive afterward.

Powder pink in the same cut? Pearl studs.

If the velvet creases in the car, steam it from the inside and keep any iron well away from the pile.

Frequently asked questions

Would white velvet work at a gala?

At a gala, a ball or your own engagement party, yes. For someone else’s wedding, pick another color.

Where should the hem end?

Just clear of the floor in the heels you’ll actually wear. A maxi sits a bit higher, near the ankle.

What do I wear over it when it’s freezing?

A short fur jacket, or a coat you can drop at the cloakroom in one move.

Is there anything shorter for a dress code?

Try formal dresses in other lengths, the full gown collection or what to wear to black tie.