Green formal dresses with sleeves, shine and depth

Emerald velvet with sleeves down to the wrist, made for a cold evening out, is usually what a green formal dress from us looks like. There’s also lurex if you want more shine, and a couple of satin styles, with hems from mini all the way to the floor.

Sleeves, collars and how covered you’d like to be

Plenty of formal invitations don’t really want bare arms. Our emerald velvet midi has a closed round neck and long sleeves, and the hem falls below the knee. You can sit through a concert in it, hug your grandmother at her anniversary and nobody thinks twice about the length. Nude pumps by day, knee boots when it’s freezing.

The rib knit midi covers even more. Its turtleneck collar goes right up, so skip the necklace.

Want a bit of skin after all? There’s a velvet mini cut on one shoulder, with a single long sleeve on the other side. Thin straps on another velvet mini. Going to a wedding? The floor-length velvet gown leaves both shoulders open, keeps three-quarter sleeves and adds a slit at the leg. For a strict invitation, that’s the green formal dress we’d send you to, or have a look at our black tie gowns.

Velvet glow at the theater, lurex sparkle at midnight

Velvet has a short soft pile. It soaks up light and gives a little of it back, and on camera the emerald comes out rich instead of flat. Lurex is louder. Metallic thread is knitted right into it, so it sparkles by itself every time someone takes a photo.

Honestly, that changes how you dress the rest. With lurex, keep shoes and bag matte, and pick tiny rings over big earrings. The lurex wrap mini ties into a V at the waist, and its long sleeves let a short hem work even where the crowd’s on the conservative side. The lurex midi stops at mid-calf. Ankle boots on a steady heel go well with it.

Satin is the warm-weather pick on this page. The green satin midi has short sleeves and soft ruffles around the middle, good for a June banquet or dinner on a terrace. Throw a light jacket over your shoulders when the sun goes down.

Yellow gold suits every one of these greens.

Compare the shades in emerald across every fabric, or see formal styles in other colors.

Frequently asked questions

Isn’t velvet too warm for a heated ballroom?

It’s warmer than satin, yes. For a hot room, look at the strappy velvet mini or the pleated midi with short sleeves.

Can I wear a green formal dress to the office party?

The velvet wrap midi handles it. Between seasons, put a blazer over it and it’s fine for a business meeting.

How should I choose my size?

For the fitted velvet styles, measure bust and hips and match both to the chart. Wraps are easier, since the belt sets the waist. A medium is close to a UK 10–12.