Satin dress styles with a silky sheen

Every satin dress here is cut from smooth polyester satin with a soft sheen, the fabric you’ll often see sold as matte silk, though there’s no silk in it. Most are short wraps and floral minis for warm evenings. Only a few go down to midi or stop at the knee.

A red slip for a date in November

The one you’ll see on the page right now is the red satin slip mini. Thin straps, a deep V, no sleeves. It slides over the body, and we made it for a date or a cocktail party. In winter, throw a black oversized blazer on top, add sheer tights, and leave the blazer on if it’s the office New Year party.

Under that neckline go for a stick-on bra or one without straps. Strappy stilettos, a small bag. Skip the necklace.

Wraps, florals and polka dots when the warm months come back

Our summer satin styles return to the catalog in March. Most of them wrap across the front into a V-neck. You tie them at the waist yourself, a bit tighter or a bit looser, so your size comes from the bust and the tie looks after the waist. Some are plain. Others have roses or tiny flowers on a black or pale blue ground.

A satin dress doesn’t have to be shiny party wear, either. The white one with black polka dots has a bow at the neck and a midi hem, and there’s 2 % elastane in the mix, enough that it gives a bit when you reach or sit. Black flat sandals and a black bag pick up the dots. The chocolate wrap midi with long sleeves looks right on a summer terrace and again in a restaurant in fall, with gold jewelry and caramel heels.

There’s also a white bandeau mini with a blue floral print and no straps at all. It holds at the bust, so that’s the only measurement that matters for it. Flat sandals and a woven bag by the sea, a white jacket after sunset.

Going to a friend’s wedding in July? The lemon midi in sateen has an open back and flutter sleeves. Wear your hair up so the back shows, and choose a bra without a back clasp. More ideas sit on our page about dressing for a summer wedding.

Short or long is the next question. Compare the short satin cuts with the longer midi versions, or go back to every dress we sew.

Frequently asked questions

Is it silk?

No. It’s polyester satin with a silky face. On several styles the description gives the mix as 98 % polyester, 2 % elastane.

What goes under a satin dress?

Smooth underwear without lace. For the slip and the white bandeau mini, a strapless bra.

How should I wash satin?

Hand wash it, or put it on the delicate program with cool water. Lay it out to dry somewhere shady, skip the dryer, and iron from the inside with a warm iron.

Where did the floral styles go?

They’re summer pieces, so the catalog hides them through fall and winter. You’ll see them again in March.