Off shoulder sleeve dress in velvet, lurex, linen

Bare shoulders, covered arms. That’s the whole idea of an off shoulder sleeve dress, and we sew it with short sleeves for summer, three-quarter sleeves in velvet and full-length sleeves for the coldest nights. Pick the sleeve first and the rest gets easy.

Three-quarter sleeves in velvet for the big evenings

Most of our floor-length velvet gowns are built this way. The neckline runs straight across the shoulders, the sleeve stops below the elbow, and a slit opens on the leg. We make that cut in emerald, white and burgundy. A three-quarter sleeve leaves your wrist free, and a thin bracelet goes there.

Shorter versions follow the same logic. There’s a red velvet with dropped shoulders that finishes around the knee, a lilac one at knee length and a beige mini. The red pleated velvet midi is our pick when the wedding has a dance floor, because its fine folds catch the light as you move. Lift your arms at the fitting. If the neckline doesn’t slide, it’s your size.

Full sleeves in black velvet, lurex knit and polka dots

Want your arms covered to the wrist? The black velvet maxi does that, and we’d choose it for a wedding, a dress-code evening or an awards ceremony in the cold months. This velvet is dense and has a soft pile, so the black looks deep even in evening light. A hem that long needs heels.

For more shine, the black midi in lurex knit has draping and a leg slit, and it sparkles in any light. The knit stretches, so stay with your usual size if you’re between two. A black knee-length dress with slits is the all-year option. For summer there’s a long-sleeve mini in black with polka dots and a ruffled hem.

Short sleeves in muslin and linen once it’s hot

Summer changes the fabric. We sew white off-shoulder minis from cotton muslin in small prints, cornflowers among them, and it’s light enough for noon. After a wash muslin comes out a little crumpled, which is normal. A steamer sorts it out. The white linen midi is the calm one, made for vacation dinners on a terrace with leather sandals. These are summer-collection styles, and we list them again when the warm season starts.

Every style here needs a strapless bra, and every one is cut in XS to XL. Your bust measurement decides the size, since the neckline hangs on it. Is one bare shoulder more your thing? See our one-shoulder dresses. Every length and fabric we sew with this neckline is under off-shoulder dresses.