Royal blue ball dresses in velvet for winter galas

A royal blue ball dress stands out in a room full of black gowns, and on this page that blue comes mostly in velvet with long sleeves. The longest style goes to the floor, and there are midis and minis for a ball with a looser dress code.

Black tie, a charity gala or the winter formal

Black tie on the invite? Then your royal blue ball dress should go long. Our velvet gown with a boat neck reaches the floor and covers both arms, and that dense velvet is warm in a big drafty hall. Try it on in heels. The hem should clear the floor, and it shouldn’t drag.

Charity balls tend to be looser, and so do most school formals. A midi’s fine there. We’d start with the velvet one that has a side slit, and it shows your shoes as you walk, so pick heels you like. The stand-collar midi covers you right up to the chin and has a slit at the leg too. Pleated velvet in blue moves with every step, and it’s the one we’d pick if you plan to dance more than you sit.

Short is fine too, if the invite allows it. A marble velvet mini with a stand collar and a blue velvet turtleneck mini both cover the arms, and a sparkly knit wrap mini with drape at the waist is the one for a ball that turns into a party around midnight.

Partner, metals and a coat for the drive

Silver is the safest metal with this shade of blue. With a high collar, earrings do the job a necklace would, and a small silver or black clutch is enough to carry. Your partner doesn’t need a matching blue tie. A white shirt and a dark suit look better next to you than a copy of your color.

It’s cold walking from the car to the hall in December. Throw a long coat over the velvet and leave it at the coat check. Long sleeves are what you’ll be glad of out there, more than any wrap.

Picking between two lengths of the same royal blue ball dress? Think about the stairs, the dancing and the heels you already own. Then decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is royal blue too bright for a formal ball?

Not in velvet. Under chandeliers the pile turns the shade deep and rich instead of loud, and next to all the black it looks like a jewel.

Which size works for the floor-length velvet gown?

Measure your hips first, they decide the fit on a long velvet dress. Then check the table on the dress page. We cut every style here in XS to XL. Our S is about a US 4.