Party dresses to dance in, from short minis to velvet gowns

Short velvet with long sleeves, the December workhorse

Start with our plain velvet mini. Round neck, sleeves to the wrist, a short skirt. We sew it in black, red, white, emerald and blue, and there’s a chocolate cousin with soft folds over the hip and a diagonal wrap at the hem that shows a bit of leg on every step.

At the office do, go big on the earrings and small on everything else, a patent clutch and stilettos. Heading out with friends after? A cropped jacket and ankle boots, two minutes in the restroom. Velvet already has a soft shine. Leave the rhinestones at home.

Size it by your hips. A short velvet party dress that’s snug there creeps up every time you cross the room.

We also make an emerald velvet with a half-circle skirt that stops at the knee. Spin once and it flares right out. The sleeves are long, no bolero needed, and a mid heel will last you until the lights come on.

Lurex after dark, and one red slip

There’s metallic thread running all through lurex. Candles, a disco ball, the flash on someone’s phone, it catches every bit of it. Our black lurex wrap mini has a V-neck and long sleeves, and on a Saturday afternoon we’d throw an oversized blazer over it and wear chunky boots.

The black lurex midi leaves both shoulders bare, with draping and a slit at the leg. That one needs a strapless bra. Heels or strappy sandals, hair up. For a concert or a work dinner there’s a softer gray lurex midi with a round neck and a slit.

And then red satin. Skinny straps, a plunging V, bare arms. It’s the boldest party dress on the page. You’ll want an adhesive bra. In December, keep an oversized black blazer on until the toasts.

Care’s simple, cool water and no wringing for lurex, a hand wash and no dryer for satin. The night before, put on the fitted ones with your actual party shoes and do a few laps of the hallway.

Frequently asked questions

Any underwear rules for the sparkly purple mini?

Seamless underwear. It’s a fitted lurex knit and shows every line.

Which dress for my own birthday dinner?

Something with color, like red or chocolate velvet. Our birthday picks are sorted for exactly that night.

Is angora too warm for a party?

Not for a winter dinner. The red angora-blend mini with ruffles at the hem is cozy enough that you won’t miss a sweater, and it looks great by the tree in phone photos.

What about a first date or a night in the city?

Try our dresses for date night, or the wider going out page. Every size goes from XS to XL.