Sexy dinner dress in fitted velvet, mini or midi

A sexy dinner dress spends most of the night at a table, so the top half matters more than you’d expect. Ours are nearly all velvet, cut close, in midi and mini lengths. Each one shows a single thing, a leg through a slit, both shoulders, or just one.

Date night with a high collar and a slit

Here’s the trick we like best for a first dinner out. Take the blue velvet midi. Its collar stands high and its sleeves are full length, so everything above the waist is covered. Then there’s a slit at the leg. Because the top is closed, that slit looks daring without being too much for a restaurant.

Pin your hair up with this one, since the collar frames your face, and put the jewelry in your ears. Sheer tights are worth choosing with care. The slit will show them.

Powder pink does the same job more softly. It has a round neckline and full sleeves, and the skirt parts over one leg as you walk. We’d add nude stiletto pumps, because that slit puts your shoes on display.

Bare shoulders for an anniversary or a birthday table

Sitting down, people see you from the waist up. That’s the case for an off-shoulder neckline. Our black velvet midi leaves both shoulders open, and the gathered fabric at the hip ends in a slit on one side. The three-quarter sleeve keeps your wrist free for a thin bracelet or a watch. When you try it on, look at two spots. The drape should rest flat on your hip, and the neckline shouldn’t slip down your arms.

Red velvet with dropped shoulders is the birthday version. It ends around the knee and needs earrings and little else.

A short sexy dinner dress for when the table turns into a dance floor

Some dinners don’t stay dinners. For those we sew velvet minis that cover one arm to the wrist and leave the other shoulder open, in black, burgundy, emerald and blue. The fit is tight, so you’ll need a strapless bra and smooth underwear.

Is it a chilly evening with friends? Our pink mini in angora-blend knit, slit included, means you won’t miss a sweater. A fitted green midi with lurex thread is here too, if you’d rather have sparkle than pile.

All of these are cold-season dresses. Compare more necklines on the date night page, or see our other daring cuts.

Frequently asked questions

Won’t velvet be too hot in a restaurant?

It’s a dense fabric, so we wouldn’t pick it for July. In the cold months it means you can sit with bare shoulders and not shiver.

Mini or midi for a dinner?

Midi if you’ll sit most of the night, because it stays put on a chair. Mini if there’s dancing after.

What do I wear under fitted velvet?

Seamless underwear in a smooth fabric. Velvet shows every line.

How should I choose the size?

Take your hip and bust measurements and go by the larger one, since a close cut has no spare room. We make them in XS to XL. Other fits are on the velvet page.