Long evening formal gowns in velvet to the floor

Long evening formal gowns on this page are all velvet, sewn by us to reach the floor. The soft pile gives black, burgundy, emerald and navy that deep color you see in candlelit photos. They’re cut for the cold season, so a wrap is often optional.

One shoulder, both shoulders or fully covered

Start with the neckline. It’s the first choice, and it changes the whole look. Our one-sleeve gowns in black, red, white, powder and a champagne gold leave one shoulder bare, and that asymmetry is decoration enough. Skip the necklace. Earrings are enough, and it’s worth pinning your hair to the side that’s open.

Off-the-shoulder styles show both collarbones. Some keep a long sleeve, some stop at three-quarter length, and a navy one has soft draping across the front that looks almost inky under warm light.

Would you rather stay covered? Choose a boat neck or a round neck with sleeves to the wrist. The blue boat-neck gown is warm enough for a winter wedding without a shawl, and the navy mermaid fits close to the knee before it flares, so it’s easy to walk and pose in. Emerald and burgundy also come with round necks and full sleeves if you’d like color with the same coverage.

Slits, heels and getting the length right

Most of our long evening formal gowns have a slit on the leg. It opens as you step and lets you dance without hitching the skirt up. Your shoes will be on show, so we’d go for a thin heel. It also keeps the hem from catching under your feet.

Fit matters more than size on paper. In two of the one-sleeve styles, a red and a burgundy, the dense velvet has good stretch. They’ll lie smoothly along the body. With the closer cuts, check bust and hip against the chart before choosing between two sizes. We make every gown in XS to XL.

At the fitting, put on the shoes from the event and take a few steps. Sit down once too, since a slit sits differently on a chair. A coat below the knee will cover the hem on the way there, and you won’t drag the velvet through wet streets.