Sheath dress in rib knit, angora and velvet

No flare at the waist, no full skirt, just one straight line close to the body from the shoulders down. That’s a sheath dress, and we make ours in rib knit, angora-blend knit, jersey and velvet, nearly always with long sleeves. Hems stop at mid-calf or somewhere above the knee.

Monday meeting, Saturday christening

Monday, nine sharp, a meeting you can’t walk into late. We’d send you in the black midi. Round neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a close fit that never pinches. Jacket on top. Pumps on a low heel.

Because the sleeve ends above the wrist, your watch actually shows. We don’t make this one for a single season either, and it’ll come out of the closet again in March.

Its twin in powder pink has the same straight line. That’s the color we’d take to a christening or a long Sunday lunch at your mom’s, with pearl studs, nude shoes and a small bag on a chain, and a camel coat thrown over it when October turns cold.

A drafty office with the window right behind your desk calls for angora. Our beige angora-blend knit has a turtleneck collar and long sleeves, and it’s as warm as a sweater while still being a proper sheath dress for the workday. Brown blazer and loafers there. On Saturday, a white puffer and tall boots. The gray one looks good with a belt.

Our sleeveless rib midis in black and white work all year too. Layer a thin turtleneck underneath and a jacket on top for the office. The black one is just as happy with a denim jacket on a weekend coffee run.

Hips first when the fit is this close

Measure your hips first. Honestly, that number matters more than any other here. A sheath has no flare to hide behind. When the tape measure gives you two different sizes, trust the hips, and the skirt won’t pull at your thighs as you walk. For the white velvet midi, which sits snugly all the way from the shoulders to the hem, go by whichever of your measurements is the widest, and our manager can help if you’re unsure. We sew every sheath dress on this page from XS to XL, and an M is about a US 6–8.

Underneath, seamless underwear in your skin tone. White knit and white velvet show everything else.

Velvet and a slit for the evening

The white velvet midi ends just past the knee and suits a winter civil wedding, an engagement party or a dinner in December. Pearls and nude heels with it, a light straight coat on top. Want something louder? The red rib turtleneck has a slit at the leg for walking room. Stilettos and sheer black tights, hoop earrings instead of a necklace, done.

Prefer the tightest possible fit? Our body-hugging bodycon styles go further. For the five-day week there’s a page of dresses for the office, and the coziest knits sit with our sweater dresses.