3/4 sleeve dresses from pleated midis to velvet gowns

Why a three-quarter sleeve works at a party

It’s about the wrist. With the forearm partly bare, a bracelet or a watch shows right away, and you aren’t pushing cuffs up all night. The sleeve still covers enough that you won’t be cold in a big hall. That’s the reason we put it on our red pleated velvet midi with open shoulders, a dress meant for evenings with a lot of dancing.

Most of the evening styles pair this sleeve with an off-shoulder neckline. Burgundy, emerald and white come floor-length in velvet with a slit on the leg, and navy has soft draping instead. Leave the necklace at home, wear your hair up, and let a bracelet do the talking.

Pleated velvet midis with a round neck

Closed at the top, moving at the hem. Our pleated midis come in white, powder pink and blue velvet, each round at the neck, and the fine folds swing as you walk. White is the one for engagements and winter photo sessions. Blue is calmer, and with a thin gray sweater over the shoulders it goes to work. There’s a beige pleated midi for the city as well.

Pleats dry best on a hanger and want a steamer, never a flat iron.

Sheath cuts for the office and shorter velvet

Need a 3/4 sleeve dress for Monday? Two sheath midis, black and powder pink, are the everyday answer. The cut follows the body without squeezing, so choose your size by the hip measurement. Black has no season. It goes to a meeting under a blazer and to a restaurant without one.

Shorter hems exist too. Red velvet with dropped shoulders ends around the knee, and so does a lilac one, which is handy for dancing and for full-length photos. The shortest are a beige velvet mini and a V-neck mini in green lurex.

We make all of them in XS to XL, and an L is about a UK 14. To see this sleeve only with bare shoulders, go to off-shoulder styles with sleeves. For folds, there are our pleated dresses, and if you want the arm covered to the cuff, switch to full-length sleeves.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does a 3/4 sleeve end?

Between the elbow and the wrist. Your wrist and part of the forearm stay bare.

Is a 3/4 sleeve dress warm enough for winter?

Indoors, in velvet, yes. For the walk outside, take a warm wrap or a coat.

What jewelry suits this sleeve length?

A bracelet or a watch. With open shoulders, add long earrings and skip the necklace.

Do you make this sleeve for warm weather?

Mostly not. The velvet styles are for the cold months, and the two sheath midis are the ones you can wear all year.