Off shoulder cocktail dresses for winter and summer parties
Collarbones on show and no necklace needed, that’s the promise of an off shoulder cocktail dress. We make two kinds. There are velvet ones for cold-weather parties and light printed minis for summer evenings.
Velvet for parties from fall to New Year
Red first. Our dropped-shoulder velvet dress has three-quarter sleeves, stops around the knee, give or take, and a short slit lets you move freely. The velvet is dense, and that keeps you warm indoors even with your shoulders out. We’d wear it to a birthday dinner with earrings and a black or gold bag.
Planning to dance? The pleated red midi moves with you. Its fine velvet pleats catch the light, and its three-quarter sleeves take the chill off in a cool room. Pleats don’t like pressure, so give the dress space when you travel.
Three more are asymmetric, with one shoulder bare and a full sleeve on the opposite arm. There’s a red mini, a little black dress and a white midi. On the red one, skip the necklace and hang one big earring next to the open shoulder. With the white midi, sweep your hair toward the side that has no sleeve.
Printed minis for a terrace or a date
Summer changes the fabric. The black mini with small blue flowers is satin, with 2% elastane mixed into the polyester. That small stretch keeps you comfortable through dinner and dancing. Silver earrings pick up the blue in the print.
We also sew this neckline in beige and in light blue, both floral, both with short sleeves. Beige loves gold jewelry and a tan. For the blue one, try a high ponytail so the shoulder line stays clear.
And the polka dots? That’s a black mini, long-sleeved, with a ruffled hem. It feels a bit retro. An open neckline makes the upper body look narrower, so this cut sits well on broad shoulders or a full bust.
What goes under and over bare shoulders
Underneath, it has to be a strapless bra or clear straps. Put both on together a few days ahead. Velvet hugs the figure, so compare bust and hips with the chart, and remember that an off-shoulder neckline only stays put in the right size. We cut all of these in XS to XL, about UK 6 to 16.
For the walk from the car, a short coat or a cropped fur jacket covers you and leaves the hem in view. In summer, a short denim jacket does that job.
Like the neckline but not the dress code? Our full off-shoulder range has everyday cuts, and the cocktail collection covers other necklines.
Frequently asked questions
Do I wear a necklace with an off shoulder cocktail dress?
We’d leave it off. The neckline is already the decoration, so earrings do more.
Mini or midi for a cocktail party?
Both pass. A midi is easier at a work event, and a mini with thin black tights suits a birthday or a club. Compare the off-shoulder midis if you’re unsure.
Can I wear the red velvet to a wedding?
Yes, the pleated midi is a good guest dress when there’s dancing. Pick shoes with a steady heel for a long night. There’s more red in this neckline in red.
How do I store pleated velvet?
On a hanger. Don’t iron the pleats flat, and freshen them with a steamer on low heat.
