Short winter ball dresses with sleeves for a cold night

Velvet minis in chocolate, burgundy and blue

Start with the chocolate brown one if you’d like to skip black this year. It closes at a round neck, with light gathers running from the waist down to the hip, and its hem crosses at a slant, so a bit of leg shows as you walk. Under the lights brown velvet gives off a copper sheen. Small gold hoops are enough.

Our wrap minis come in burgundy, blue, beige and that same chocolate. Does a pale color feel festive enough for a ball? We think so. Beige velvet photographs well next to warm string lights, and the V of the wrap frames a small pendant nicely.

There’s also a blue mini in marble-pattern velvet. The pattern plays in the light, so keep your bag and shoes plain. Silver sandals and a small clutch are what we’d take to a formal dance.

Angora blend and rib knit for a drafty hall

Some venues never warm up. For those, the red angora-blend mini, with its ruffled bottom edge, keeps you warm enough that you won’t want a sweater over it, and those ruffles move with every step. Its round neck needs one pair of earrings or a fine chain, nothing more.

The beige rib mini is the plainest piece here. It fits close through the waist and hips, so we’d add heels with a thin stiletto and a small clutch to take it from daytime to a ball. Rib stretches. Order your usual size with no extra room.

Tights, boots and the coat over a short hem

Sheer black tights make burgundy and red look deeper, and skin-tone ones look lighter with brown or beige. The cold part is the trip over. Wear tall boots to the door and change into heels inside. Over a mini we’d choose a short dark coat, because it won’t hide the hem. A longer coat in black or gray works too if you’d rather be covered to the knee.

Winter formals tend to cluster around the holidays, so try on your short winter ball dresses a few weeks ahead.

Frequently asked questions

Is a mini formal enough for a winter ball?

In velvet, usually yes. If your invitation says floor-length, we have long styles on a separate page.

Which measurement decides the size of a wrap mini?

By your hips. The wrap adjusts over the bust, so the hip measurement decides it.

Should I iron velvet the day before?

Don’t press the pile. Steam the dress from the inside and let it hang.

Where are the longer and dressier options?

Every length is on our winter ball page. You can also compare short winter formal styles, velvet minis and the wider ball range.