Maxi dress and floor-length gowns in velvet

We sew a maxi dress for two very different seasons. In the cold months it’s velvet, long to the ankle or the floor, for winter weddings, awards nights and New Year’s Eve. Come summer, it’s muslin or lightweight viscose with a wrap front, and those come back to the catalog once it’s warm.

Long velvet sleeves and a slit for a January wedding

Here’s the problem with most long gowns in winter. You end up hugging a pashmina all night. Our velvet maxi dresses in black, burgundy and emerald have long sleeves instead, and a slit on one leg that only opens when you walk. You’ll dance in them. The stairs up to the terrace are fine too, no need to hold your skirt.

Those slits show your shoes, so choose them on purpose. Patent or suede in the same shade works on the burgundy. With emerald, we’d go gold, both the earrings and the clasp on your clutch. Heels matter for a second reason, too. They keep you from stepping on the hem.

Prefer your shoulders out? The off-shoulder one in black velvet still covers your arms to the wrist. Put your hair up, pick big earrings or one thin necklace, and choose a coat that comes off in two seconds at the door.

For the emerald and the burgundy, we’d go for a coat long enough to pass the knee.

One bare shoulder, in black, red, white or champagne

When a dress has a single sleeve, the shoulder does the decorating. Skip the necklace. Hair goes up or over the covered side.

Black one-sleeve velvet works for a dress-code dinner or an awards night, and at prom it suits the mom as well as the graduate. Red is the loud one, made for a big anniversary or a wedding. White velvet with one sleeve is what we’d suggest for city hall or a bridal photo shoot, with champagne-colored heels, and the white comes out warm on velvet rather than cold. Gold and powder pink go floor-length with a slit.

At your fitting, lift the arm on the sleeve side. The line across the bare shoulder should stay flat. If you’d rather have both arms covered, there’s a whole page of maxis with long sleeves.

Frequently asked questions

Which measurement matters for the navy mermaid gown?

By your hips. It’s fitted all the way to the knee and flares below, so that’s the number that counts.

Will a floor-length hem drag?

Not if you wear heels. Bring the actual pair to your fitting and make sure the velvet just touches the floor. For the most formal nights, compare our ballroom-length evening gowns.

What’s a summer maxi dress from you like?

Light and wrapped at the waist. White muslin with a floral print or with little pink hearts, or a pink floral in viscose. Flat sandals, a straw hat, a woven bag.

Is there velvet in a shorter length?

Yes, in midi and mini. You’ll find them across the whole dress catalog.