Satin mini dresses in florals, slips and bandeau cuts

The red slip on a cold December night

Thin straps, a deep V, real shine. Throw a big black blazer on top for the office New Year party and take it off when the music starts. Red looks best next to black and gold, so stilettos and a gold chain on the wrist are plenty.

Under it, a strapless or stick-on bra. Thin tights for the walk from the taxi.

Flutter sleeves and a baby doll for a garden birthday

A friend turns thirty in her backyard. It’s three in the afternoon and warm. That’s when we’d reach for the pink satin mini dress with flutter sleeves, which lift a bit at the shoulder, and a square neckline that sits straight across, nice and simple for a day when you’ll be carrying cake plates around the lawn. The same cut comes in floral prints on white and on light blue.

A thin gold chain sits right on your collarbones in that neckline. Need more ideas for that neckline? Look at our square-neck styles in other fabrics.

Our white baby doll with pink flowers is cut loose below the bust and doesn’t touch your waist. It’s sewn from a silky fabric called Crystal, and the full sleeves end in a cuff.

Real heat calls for less fabric. The white bandeau with blue flowers is strapless, and it holds on at the bust by itself. A straw hat. Flat sandals.

How the wraps tie and how to size them

Lots of these minis are wraps. The tie crosses at the front and forms the V. How snug it sits at the waist is up to you. Go by your bust measurement when you order. The tie does the rest.

The black wrap with long sleeves is the one for a Saturday that starts at a flea market and ends at a bar. Its satin stretches softly and hardly shines, and that’s exactly why heavy boots and a beat-up leather jacket don’t look strange with it at noon, while heels and a fine chain take it to the bar after ten.

Lilac’s a rare color at parties. You’ll get noticed. The green wrap with short sleeves gives a little when you move, and gold earrings suit that deep shade.

After a night out, wash satin by hand or on a delicate program in cool water. It dries in the shade, never in the dryer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear a satin mini dress in winter?

The red slip, yes, with tights and a blazer. Everything else on the page is a summer style and comes back in spring.

Will a wrap gape at the chest?

It shouldn’t if you pick the size by your bust.

What goes under the strapless and strappy prints?

A strapless bra. The light blue print with red flowers has an open back too, so skip anything with a clasp that’d show.

Where are the longer satin styles?

On our main satin page. More cuts with thin straps are on the slip dress page.