One-shoulder maxi dresses in floor-length velvet

Every one shoulder maxi dress we make is velvet, with one arm in a long sleeve and the opposite shoulder bare. They reach the floor and open in a slit at the leg. You’ll find them in red, black, white, powder pink and a champagne gold.

Why we cut the long sleeve on one side only

When there’s just one sleeve, the bare shoulder becomes the main detail. That’s the idea. The covered arm keeps the dress from feeling exposed, and the open side gives you the evening line without a low neckline. It also means the dress brings its own decoration. Put the necklace away and wear earrings, long ones if you like, since they balance the uncovered side.

Our velvet has a thick, soft pile, and on the fitted styles it stretches well, so it lies flat along your figure and doesn’t hold you back when you dance. All of these are cold-season dresses. Under ballroom lamps the color looks deeper than it does by day.

What the slit does on a floor-length hem

Do you want to show your shoes? That’s settled here. The slit opens with every step and makes a long skirt easy to walk in, and on the red style the high waist above it lengthens your legs. Thin-heeled sandals look right there. The powder pink dress sits close to the body, and nude stilettos carry the line of the leg down to the floor.

Three colors, white, red and black, come in two cuts each. Compare the photos of both before you choose. One of the black ones was made for a dress-code evening, an awards ceremony or a milestone birthday, and a small bag is all it asks for.

Choosing a color for the event

Red gets seen across a hall, so it’s the one for a ball or an anniversary. Champagne gold glows in evening light and likes gold earrings with shoes in the same tone. Powder pink is softer and pairs with pearls. White velvet suits a civil ceremony or a wedding photo shoot if you’re the bride, and we’d add champagne-colored heels. Guests should choose another shade.

Because the fit is close, measure around your bust and hips, then check both numbers against the size chart before ordering. We sew XS to XL. At the fitting, walk in the heels you plan to wear, so you can check the length. Then look at one-shoulder styles in other lengths, velvet maxis, long dresses with a slit or floor-length evening gowns.