Navy blue short dresses in velvet, rib knit and sparkle

At a party, a navy blue short dress does what black does, only with more color in it. Ours are mostly velvet minis with long sleeves, plus rib knit for daytime. If you’d call it a short navy dress, you’re on the right page too.

Velvet minis for birthdays and December nights

Most of the velvet ones are plain on purpose. Round neck, long sleeves, a close fit. The pile makes navy look deep under lamps, so we add no trim at all, and covered arms mean you can leave the shawl at home when dinner is at a restaurant.

Want more going on at the neckline? One velvet mini wraps into a V that shows your collarbones. Another has a stand collar and a marbled pattern that shifts as you move, and it’s 87 cm long. There’s a turtleneck too, at 88 cm from the shoulder. Velvet like this doesn’t need ironing, so that one travels well in a suitcase.

Then there’s the one-sleeve mini. One arm covered, one shoulder bare. It asks for a strapless bra or clear straps. When you try it on, raise an arm to see whether the bare shoulder stays where it should.

Rib knit and a glitter wrap for the rest of the week

Not every short navy dress has to wait for an invitation. Our rib knit wrap has a V-neck, a sleeve that flares toward the wrist and a skirt that swings clear of the hips. It’s warm. Wear it to work with nude tights and loafers, then switch to suede ankle boots at night. The second rib style fits closer and has a small cutout at the chest, so smooth underwear without lace is the way to go.

For a louder evening we sew a wrap mini in glittery knit. It’s draped at the waist and long-sleeved. For July there’s a knee-length wrap in polka-dot satin (98 % polyester, 2 % elastane) with short sleeves and ruffles. It’s part of the summer line, so it comes back with the heat.

Silver, tights and a coat that suits navy

Silver looks best next to navy. Gold tends to feel heavier. Sheer black tights and heels dress a velvet mini up, while opaque tights and tall boots carry the same navy blue short dress through a freezing night. What about the coat? Keep it short and dark so the hem isn’t swallowed, or go knee-length in gray.

All of them are sewn in XS through XL, with XL roughly a US 12. With a wrap, choose by your bust. With the fitted velvets, measure bust and hips, then look them up in our size table.

Frequently asked questions

Is navy as easy to wear as black at a winter party?

It’s every bit as dark and slimming, and it shows more color in photos. That’s why we cut so many party minis in it.

How short is short on this page?

The velvet minis we quote lengths for run 87–88 cm in length, which lands above the knee. One summer wrap reaches the knee.

Can I wear one of these to the office?

Our pick is the rib knit wrap with loafers. The velvet minis are better saved for a business dinner. Calmer daytime cuts are with the casual navy styles.