Red maxi dresses in velvet for galas and weddings

The red maxi dress is the gown people remember from a party, and we make ours in deep red velvet with one bare shoulder. There are three. Two go all the way to the floor and have a slit.

Reception at seven, a photographer at the tables

This isn’t a brunch dress. It’s for a wedding reception after dark, a fiftieth anniversary in a restaurant hall, a company awards dinner, the big ball on New Year’s Eve. Picture someone walking between the tables with a camera while the lamps are low and warm, and a red maxi dress in velvet looking even richer than it did at home in daylight.

One of the floor-length gowns sits high at the waist. Your legs look longer. Its velvet is dense and stretches well, so it lies smooth over your body. A side slit takes care of walking.

On the second floor-length style the slit opens with every step, and we cut the single sleeve long. Strappy sandals on a thin heel, since people will see them.

The third red maxi dress is the quiet one. Dense velvet with a soft pile, one shoulder out, and a winter party in a drafty hall won’t bother you. We’d put it on for a graduation or a family milestone, with pumps on a steady heel and your hair pinned up to show off that one shoulder.

Earrings, yes. Necklace, no. A black or gold clutch.

Before you order a fitted red gown

Write down your bust and your hips. Find both in the size table. These gowns follow your shape, and you don’t want them tight across either spot. We make all three in XS to XL, and our S runs close to a US 4.

Once it’s on, raise your sleeved arm as if you’re reaching for a glass on a high shelf. Nothing should twist at the shoulder. If it does, the next size is the one.

Then the coat. A long one that covers the knee keeps the velvet from poking out at the bottom, and a short black faux fur works just as well over the gown. For the bare shoulder on the way from the car, bring a stole or a little bolero. It comes off at the door, and the photos start right after.

For more ideas there’s our red dress page, shorter cuts in the red velvet range, and other colors among our floor-length evening gowns.

Frequently asked questions

Is red too bold for a wedding guest?

At an evening reception with a formal dress code, it’s fine. A small morning ceremony is a different thing, and there we’d choose a softer color out of respect for the bride.