Mini dress and short dress styles, velvet to satin

A mini dress stops above the knee, and past that the styles on this page don’t have much in common. There’s velvet on thin straps for New Year’s Eve, rib knit with a zip collar for a gray Monday in February, and in summer a short dress in satin-look fabric or muslin.

Thin straps and one sleeve for the club or a birthday

If you’re after a sexy mini dress, it’s the emerald or black velvet on skinny straps, and there’s nothing to fuss with. Bare shoulders, short hem, that’s the whole idea. Underneath, go strapless or pick a bra with see-through straps. Stilettos and a thin chain finish it, and on a winter night you’ll want a cropped faux fur or a big blazer for the trip over. Take it off when the dancing starts.

One-sleeve velvet cuts cover one arm and leave the other shoulder bare. Skip the necklace. Silver earrings with the blue one, a bracelet on the bare arm with the red. Sheer black tights look right under both. Before you commit, raise your arm in the mirror and make sure the neckline stays put.

Need sparkle more than velvet? Our shimmery short styles are on a page of their own.

Rib knit with a zip, a keyhole or ruffled shoulders

The black rib mini with a stand collar zips up the front of the bodice, so you open the neckline as far as you like, and below the bodice it flares instead of hugging your hips. You also pick its length when you order, 80, 88 or 93–94 cm. The shortest is good if you’re petite, and the longest one covers your knees.

Keyhole rib minis come in red, white, mint and several other colors, with the small cutout set at the chest. With red, keep the rest simple. Black opaque tights, black boots, a little bag. Jewelry goes on your ears or fingers, since the cutout already sits where a pendant would.

The black angora-blend mini has ruffles on the shoulders. Choose a coat without padded shoulders, or the ruffles get squashed. Want more of the dark ones together? There’s a black short dress page, and every covered-arm style is grouped as minis with sleeves.

Frequently asked questions

Is a mini dress okay for work?

With a round neck or stand collar and long sleeves, yes. Add tights and loafers. Velvet straps can wait for Friday night.

What summer minis do you make?

Light ones, back in March. The satin-look styles with flutter sleeves are great for a garden birthday party. There’s also white muslin with bare shoulders, which is soft cotton and nice in real heat, so put your hair up and wear small pearl studs.

Which size if I’m between two?

On the zip rib mini, go by your bust, because the bodice is fitted. On a bandeau, too. The full range of other lengths is in all dresses.