Formal midi dresses for theater, dinners and celebrations

Velvet in emerald, black and white for evenings at the table

Velvet makes up most of this page, and it doesn’t need decoration to look like an occasion. The emerald wrap lets you set the waist with the belt yourself, and the V it makes is shallow. Wear it to the office party in December, then with a blazer to a meeting in spring.

The black velvet turtleneck midi is for anyone who’d rather feel covered. It’s warm under a coat, the way a sweater is. With the collar right up under your chin, a necklace has nowhere to sit. Go for a wide bracelet instead, and trade the pumps for knee boots in January.

White comes with a twist. One shoulder’s out, the other arm has a long sleeve, and we’d send it to an engagement party. You’ll need a strapless bra under it, plus a wrap for the walk from the car.

Navy velvet with a boat neck ends about mid-calf. On that blue, we’d go with silver or pearls over gold.

Our milky white angora-blend knit has a high collar too. It stays warm even in a badly heated room, which matters at a January family birthday. Put a beige blazer and pumps with this formal midi dress and you’re set for the office the next morning.

Pleats, lurex and the sheath you keep all year

Pleated velvet swings as you walk. The powder pink one closes at a round neck, with three-quarter sleeves that leave the wrist free for a watch. There’s also a black version in a marble print where the pattern does the work, so keep your accessories plain. Pleats hate a flat iron. A steamer on its lowest setting brings them back, and the dress lives on a hanger.

Lurex knit belongs to New Year’s Eve. Our blue wrap ties with a belt. That knit stretches, too, and after a four-course holiday dinner you’ll be glad it does. The gray one, slit at the leg, shines more softly. We’d wear it with black heels or ankle boots and small earrings.

Then the sheath, in black or powder pink. It’s cut straight and close, the sleeves stop above the wrist, and it’s the formal midi dress here that you can wear in any month of the year. Blazer at work, stilettos and a small clutch for a holiday dinner.

Longer gowns and other shapes are on the main formal page. If you want a midi for regular weekdays, look at our everyday midis.

Frequently asked questions

What shoes work under a mid-calf hem?

Pumps on a steady heel or ankle boots. Both look right.

What measurement matters for the sheath?

By your hips. When your chest says one size and your hips another, follow the hips. Then the skirt doesn’t tug when you’re walking.

Will angora itch?

Not this one. The white angora-blend turtleneck is soft and warm, and your usual size generally fits because it stretches. More cold-weather options are among our long-sleeve midis for colder days.

Why don’t I see the summer midis?

Warm-weather styles leave the catalog for fall and winter. You’ll see them again once spring starts.