Long elegant dresses in velvet, floor-length and maxi

Winter weddings and anniversaries

You’re a guest, it’s December, and the venue could be drafty. Take sleeves. Our burgundy floor-length velvet has a round neck and long sleeves that keep you warm, so a shawl isn’t needed. Velvet turns that wine shade even darker under warm hall light.

The powder pink dress is the softer choice for a wedding, with one bare shoulder and a long sleeve on the other side. Pearl earrings suit it. We sew a similar silhouette in white too, but that one’s for a bride at a registry ceremony or for a ball, never for a guest.

Emerald velvet with bare shoulders and three-quarter sleeves looks rich in evening light. Gold is the metal for it.

Dress codes, receptions and award nights

When the invitation says formal, go darker and more covered. The navy mermaid dress stays close as far as the knee and then widens, so walking is easy and so is standing for photos. Neck and arms are covered, and silver earrings are all we’d add.

Black has two answers here. One maxi bares both shoulders and keeps full sleeves. The other has a boat neckline, so collarbones show while the arms are fully covered. Which is more you? If you rarely wear your hair up, take the boat neck, because open shoulders ask for an updo.

For a New Year’s ball or a prom, there’s a dark navy dress with draping and an off-shoulder neckline. Under warm lamps that blue looks almost like ink. Long earrings finish it.

Hem, heels and the right size

A floor-length hem is planned for heels. Try the dress on with the pair you’ll actually wear, and see that the fabric clears the floor. With an off-shoulder neckline, size matters twice, since it only stays in place when the fit is right.

We cut each long elegant dress from XS to XL, and an L is close to a US 10. Check all three measurements, bust, waist and hips, in the size chart, and only then decide. Then pick a direction. Stay with long velvet, or see the long elegant styles with sleeves side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Is velvet formal enough for black tie?

In floor length, yes. Dense velvet with a soft pile gives color real depth, so the dress doesn’t need sequins.

Can I wear a long elegant dress with flats?

We wouldn’t. The hems are planned for heels or platforms, and in flats the fabric will touch the floor.

What goes over a long velvet dress outdoors?

If warmth comes first, your coat should end somewhere past the knee. For a white dress, a pale coat or a faux-fur jacket looks right.

Which colors do you sew?

Black, burgundy, red, navy, emerald, white, powder pink and gold. Shorter options are in our elegant dresses, and other fabrics in long dresses.