Sparkly formal dresses with long sleeves and lurex shine

Sitting through dinner, then dancing

A long formal evening has two halves. First you sit for a couple of courses and a few toasts, then the music starts. The lurex knit in most of these stretches, and that’s the part you’ll be grateful for around dessert. Both the blue wrap midi and the purple round-neck midi give a little at the table, and the electric blue wrap with a tie belt is stretch lurex too.

Midi is the safer bet when the invitation looks serious. Short works once the tables are cleared, and a sparkly formal dress in mini with long sleeves still covers enough for a work party, like the emerald wrap or the green one with three-quarter sleeves and a V-neck.

For a wedding as a guest, try that electric blue midi with black pumps and silver earrings. The grey lurex midi has a slit at the leg and a round neck, and ankle boots look good in the slit. On the black off-shoulder midi there’s draping and a slit as well. Wear your hair up and pick simple hoops.

Gold, silver or black accessories for each color

Emerald wants yellow gold, and so does the green midi, which shines evenly and asks for matte shoes and a matte bag. Blue looks right with silver or pearl, and purple sits well next to black and grey, so black heeled ankle boots are fine with it.

Powder pink is the quiet one, a short wrap that crosses into a V and has a softer shine, for a birthday or New Year’s at home, with nude or gold shoes. The beige midi with long sleeves goes to an anniversary dinner with gold earrings and brown shoes. Black and silver lurex with a V-neck is the party mini of the group.

Two more short ones. The purple mini with a round neck fits close, so seamless underwear is a must, and it’s great for a birthday at a club. Then there’s the blue sparkly mini, with draping along the waist and a wrap skirt. It doesn’t need a single extra piece of jewelry.

Tights under the short ones? Matte black. Shiny tights and shiny fabric fight each other. If you want more shine at other lengths, see the full sparkly page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a sparkly formal dress okay for a black tie event?

In midi with long sleeves, yes. For a stricter dress code, look at our floor-length gowns.

How do I wash lurex?

Cool water, by hand or on delicate inside a mesh bag, no bleach. Dry it flat in the shade and don’t wring it.

Can I iron it?

Better not. When a crease won’t drop out, put a cloth over it and keep the iron at its coolest.

My bust and hips are different sizes. Which one wins?

On the wraps, go by your bust, since the belt takes care of the waist. We make every one in XS to XL, and our S matches a US 4. You’ll find other fabrics for evening on the formal page.