Short winter formal dresses with long sleeves
A short winter formal dress has two jobs, to look dressed up under the lights and to stop you shivering in the parking lot. We sew most of them short in velvet, sleeves down to the wrist, and a few in angora-blend or rib knit. If you’d type winter formal short dresses instead, you’re in the same place.
Velvet minis that cover your arms
The plain black one is the easiest to explain. Round neck, long sleeves, short hem. The pile gives a soft shine by itself, so rhinestone jewelry would be too much, and big earrings with a patent clutch are plenty. Round-neck velvet minis like it come in red, blue, emerald, white and burgundy too.
Prefer some pattern? Our blue marble velvet runs 87 cm long and closes in a stand collar, and the dense fabric stretches enough to follow your figure. With the neck covered, pinned-up hair and large earrings look best.
The chocolate velvet mini is quieter. Its fabric is gathered in soft folds between waist and hip, and the hem crosses on a diagonal, so it opens a little at the leg when you walk.
A skirt that spins, and one with bare shoulders
Not every short winter formal dress here is a mini. One emerald velvet dress comes with a half-circle skirt. It’s knee length, and it lifts each time you spin. It’s the one for a night with real dancing. A mid-height heel gets you through the last song.
The red off-shoulder velvet ends at the knee or slightly under it, and it has three-quarter sleeves plus a little slit. Earrings are enough with it.
Angora and rib knit for a cold hall
Knit is less dressy than velvet, and we won’t pretend otherwise. Still, our high-necked mini in cream angora-blend knit turns into an evening dress once you add heels and a small champagne bag. The collar hides your neck, so a necklace has nowhere to go, and a watch or a bangle does the job.
Whichever fabric you choose, order early enough to try the dress on with your tights and shoes. For longer hems, see the formal dress page, and for more short velvet there’s our velvet mini selection.
Frequently asked questions
How cold will a short hem feel in January?
Fine once you’re inside, and velvet with long sleeves helps. For the trip there, thin black tights and a short coat or faux-fur jacket do the rest.
How do I choose a size in fitted velvet?
By your hips. If the hips fit, the hem won’t ride up when you walk. We cut these in XS to XL.
Which tights go with a short velvet dress?
Sheer black, or nude with a slight sheen. With the cream knit, thicker tights in nude or cream look better.
Where can I see other cold-weather styles?
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