Sexy birthday dresses with one bare shoulder or a slit

The table’s booked for nine

The girls are already texting from the restaurant. Red velvet with one sleeve is the easy pick for a night like that. Under the lamps, the red on that soft pile gets even richer. Black tights, stilettos, a clutch on a thin chain. If it’s cold, bring a short black jacket you can drop at the coat check.

Going dancing after? Then it’s the black lurex midi. It hugs the body and has a slit up the leg, and the fabric’s draped. Shoulders are open, sleeves are long. The metallic thread sparkles in pretty much any light, from the bar to the dance floor, and a plain matte bag keeps it from getting busy.

There’s a little black one in velvet with a single sleeve, too. Loose waves, heels, a tiny bag. Out the door.

Birthday in December, short hem anyway

Winter birthdays are tricky. You want to show your legs, and it’s freezing outside. A sexy birthday dress in red velvet that covers your arms all the way to the wrist solves half of that, and opaque tights with tall boots handle the rest. The pink mini with a slit is angora-blend knit, warm enough that you’ll leave the sweater at home.

Dinner with your family is a different crowd. For that one we cut red velvet with dropped shoulders, three-quarter sleeves and a hem around the knee with a small slit. Festive, not too much. Thin heels, and a black or gold bag.

Beige velvet with open shoulders is the softer option for a birthday photo shoot. Put your hair up in a high bun so the neckline shows, and let a bracelet sit at the wrist where the sleeve stops. In the cold, a camel coat goes over it nicely.

More ideas live on our main birthday page and among the dresses that bare one shoulder.

Frequently asked questions

Is black too dark for birthday pictures?

Not really. Black velvet soaks up light and looks deep, and black lurex shines. Red shows up best against a dark background. If you’d like the photos softer and more romantic, go beige.

What goes under the off-shoulder styles?

A strapless bra. With the lurex midi it’s a must.

Should I size up in the lurex midi so I can dance?

No need. The knit stretches, so if you’re between two sizes, stick with your usual one. We make it from XS to XL.

How do I wash a lurex sexy birthday dress?

Delicate cycle, inside a mesh laundry bag. If it really needs pressing, put a cloth on top and keep the iron on its lowest setting. For a red cut with long sleeves, see our red velvet range.