Elegant white dresses sorted by occasion

Milky angora and rib knit for weekdays

Start with the angora blend. It’s soft and warm, and the milky shade is a little kinder to your face than bright white under gray January skies. The midi with a turtleneck collar goes to work or class, keeps you comfortable in a drafty building, and you won’t need a sweater with it. There’s also a knee-length one cut loose that slides under a puffer without bunching up.

Short and white in January? Sure. Our angora mini has its slit off to one side at the front, and for a daytime walk we’d add skin-tone opaque tights and tall milky boots. By evening it’s heeled ankle boots and earrings you can see across the room.

Then there’s the double-sided angora mini with ruffles. Ruffles add volume. Keep the coat straight and plain over it, and on a date try caramel suede boots.

Rib knit is a different story. Our sleeveless white rib midi stretches and follows your body closely, and that bare arm leaves room for layers once October comes, a thin turtleneck underneath and a long cardigan or trench on top. Seamless nude underwear only. In the office it’s happy with a dark jacket.

White velvet for the engagement dinner and the ball

For evenings, velvet’s the elegant white dress fabric we’d pick, because the pile gives white some depth in photos and it won’t look flat. The long-sleeved sheath midi traces your shape from the shoulders to just below the knee, and pearls sit right at its round neck. For an engagement we’d look at the midi with one sleeve and one bare shoulder. One pair of earrings, no necklace.

Dancing? Go pleated. Our white pleated velvet midi moves on every step, and the three-quarter sleeves leave space at the wrist for a bracelet. Pearl earrings, champagne shoes or silver sandals. And careful with red wine at dinner, because white velvet shows every drop.

A civil ceremony, a ball or a wedding shoot is when the long ones come out. In wedding photos, long white velvet makes the bouquet look brighter. There’s a single-sleeve maxi, and there are floor-length gowns where a slit opens as you walk. Put your hair up for any of them. For black-tie nights, see our white gowns for galas.

Frequently asked questions

Does angora itch?

Not ours. It’s a soft angora-blend knit and it doesn’t prickle.

Are there any summer whites?

A few, and they’re back in March. One’s a short satin wrap with long sleeves, and the elastane in it makes moving around easy.

How do I care for white angora?

Wash it cool with a little mild soap, in the sink or on delicates, and don’t rub. It dries flat, spread over a towel. Pilling happens, and a fabric shaver fixes it in a minute.

I can’t decide between velvet and knit. Any advice?

Evening means velvet and a workday means angora or rib, and from there it’s down to your measurements, XS to XL. You can also browse elegant styles in darker shades or open all of our white dresses.