Occasion dress styles for weddings and parties

An occasion dress is the one you buy for a date that’s already circled on the calendar, like an anniversary dinner, a gala, a wedding or the office party in December. Most of ours are velvet, and the rest come in satin, lurex knit and a few softer knits.

Floor-length velvet for a gala or a big birthday

Some nights want the long hem. Our navy velvet mermaid gown hugs you to the knee, then widens toward the hem, and it’s easy to walk in and easy to pose in for photos. Round neck, long sleeves, arms covered. Wear heels high enough that the hem stays off the floor, with silver earrings and a small silver or black clutch.

The champagne velvet gown is the warm, golden one. One shoulder’s bare, the other arm gets a long sleeve, and there’s a slit at the leg. Gold earrings and shoes in the same shade as the fabric. It’s a close fit. Measure your bust and hips before you order.

At the fitting, walk around in the exact shoes you’ll wear that night. That’s the only honest way to check a long hem. If the celebration is someone else’s wedding, our guest outfits for weddings are sorted by season and color.

For an engagement dinner, the white velvet midi with one sleeve is the one we’d pick. You’ll need a strapless bra under it and a stole over your arms between the parking lot and the restaurant door.

Red satin, blue lurex and the December party list

The red satin slip mini is all thin straps and a deep V. Wear a strapless or stick-on bra with it, plus stiletto sandals. Come winter, an oversized black blazer goes over it, and as long as that stays on, the mini’s fine at the office party too. There are more short evening cuts with the cocktail looks.

Rather keep your arms covered? Our blue lurex midi is a wrap with a tie belt. Its knit has some stretch, and it won’t dig in when you’re sitting at a long table for three hours. Silver sandals or black pumps.

Red velvet with a little belt and a V-neck works for a family New Year and a business dinner alike. Grey lurex with a leg slit is the quieter shine, good for a concert. Walk up and down the hallway in it and check that the slit falls straight.

Pleated velvet lives on a hanger, and the pleats come back with a steamer on low heat, never an iron.

Frequently asked questions

Is an occasion dress the same as a formal one?

Close, not quite. A formal gown usually means a long hem, while an occasion dress can just as easily be a velvet mini, as long as it’s made for the event.

What works for a winter wedding after dark?

Floor-length velvet. Either the mermaid or a one-shoulder gown.

Can I find something for July here?

The satin wraps and floral midis come back in March. Velvet stays a cold-weather fabric.

How do I choose a size in close-fitting velvet?

We make everything from XS to XL, and an M is about a US 6–8. With the mermaid, your hips decide. Still deciding? Then browse the whole dress catalog and compare the size tables on a couple of styles you like.