Maxi velvet dresses with a slit, one sleeve or bare shoulders

One sleeve, bare shoulders or covered to the wrist

Start with how much shoulder you’d like to show. Our red maxi on one sleeve leaves a single shoulder open, and we cut that same shape in white and in black. Skip the necklace with it. The champagne gold and powder pink styles follow the idea too, with one long sleeve, a close fit and a slit at the leg.

Want both shoulders out and warm arms anyway? Our black off-shoulder style runs its sleeves all the way down. Its navy cousin gathers the velvet into soft draped folds, and it’s the one where sizing matters most. An off-shoulder neckline only stays up if the size is right at the bust, so that’s the measurement to take first.

Then there’s the covered group. Our burgundy and emerald gowns close at a round neck and have full sleeves, and the dark blue mermaid gown follows your figure down to the knee before it flares. A boat neck on the black one shows your collarbones and nothing more.

The slit, the hem and the shoes underneath

Nearly every slit here opens only when you take a step. Stand still and the skirt closes. That’s why you can dance in a full-length velvet skirt without lifting it, and why your shoes count more than usual, since everyone will see them. We’d pick patent or suede in a shade close to the dress.

Heels aren’t optional with the longest hems. They lift the fabric just off the ground. Do the fitting in the exact pair you’re planning to wear, because a couple of centimeters decide if the hem skims the floor or drags behind you. We sew each maxi in XS to XL, and the XL fits up to about a US 12.

If that feels like too much skirt, look at velvet that stops at the calf. Every length in one place is on the main velvet page, and long gowns in other fabrics sit with our floor-length evening styles.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between maxi and floor length?

A maxi ends around your ankle. Floor length touches the ground until you put heels on. Several of ours are listed as both, since your height decides which one you get.

Do I need a wrap over a long-sleeved velvet maxi dress?

Indoors, no. The sleeves keep your arms warm all evening. For the street in winter, bring a long coat or a cropped fur, so the hem isn’t cut off halfway.

Which jewelry goes with which color?

Gold sits warmly on burgundy, and silver looks better with the dark blue. With one bare shoulder, earrings are enough.

How do I wash a maxi velvet dress?

Inside out, on a delicate cycle, in water that stays at 30 °C or cooler. Creases come out with steam from the wrong side, never with an iron on the pile.