Navy blue ball dresses for a formal evening

In warm candlelight, a navy blue ball dress in velvet looks almost ink-dark, and the blue comes right back the moment someone takes a photo. We sew our navy for the cold months, which is why most of these styles have long sleeves. In the UK it’s the same dress, whether the night is a college ball or a charity gala.

Coat check, dinner, then the first dance

Here’s how the evening tends to go. You get there around seven, hand over your coat, find your table, and then there’s dinner and a round of speeches before anybody gets up to dance. A long velvet gown with sleeves gets you through all of it without a wrap. Our boat-neck navy blue ball dress is a dense velvet that stays warm in a drafty hall.

The mermaid cut fits close down to the knee and opens up below it. Walking’s easy. Posing too. Put your hair up for it and wear silver earrings with a matching bracelet. A small clutch in silver or black is plenty. Deep blue velvet doesn’t need help.

Wear heels with any of the long ones. The hem shouldn’t touch the floor, and nobody wants to step on velvet all night. More long shapes in other colors are on our page of gowns that reach the floor.

When the card says formal, not black tie

Not every ball wants floor-length. If yours doesn’t, a navy blue ball dress in midi length is easier to dance in and still feels dressed up. One of ours has a slit at the side that opens as you walk, with a round neck and long sleeves keeping the top modest. Another has a stand collar right under the chin. Want some shine? Our navy lurex wrap midi has a V-neck and a belt, and its knit stretches, so a three-course dinner won’t feel tight. And if you’d like something that moves, the pleated velvet midi has tiny folds that swing out every time you turn on the dance floor and settle again when you sit back down at the table.

Thin tights and heels show off the slit. A strict black tie evening is different, though, and there you’ll want to go long. Not sure which is which? Our page of dresses for a black tie night helps.

Frequently asked questions

Will navy just look black in the pictures?

In a dim room it gets very dark. With a flash or near a window the blue shows up, and silver earrings make it even more obvious.

Which measurement matters for the mermaid gown?

Your hips. It’s fitted down to the knee, so that’s where it has to sit right. Same for the long boat-neck velvet.

What goes over velvet on a freezing night?

A short faux-fur jacket, or a straight coat that won’t crush the velvet and lets the long hem hang free.

Is there a brighter blue?

Yes, a royal blue that’s much louder than navy. Have a look at our royal blue gowns for balls and compare the two. We make every style on both pages in XS to XL.

Styles: 20

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