White shift dresses in angora knit, rib and velvet

Ask for a shift white dress and you could mean two things, a straight easy cut or a closer sheath. We sew both in white, and nearly all of them are cold-weather dresses with long sleeves.

The easy cut and the closer one

A true shift hangs loose from the shoulders. Our knee-length turtleneck in angora-blend knit is that dress. It’s cut with room to spare, so no folds gather when you pull a coat or a down jacket over it, and the collar can stand tall or be doubled over. Choose your usual size by your bust.

The sheath is another story. Ours is white velvet, fitted from shoulder to hem, and it ends just below the knee. We made it for winter events, like a civil ceremony, an engagement or a festive dinner in December. Because it sits close, go by your widest measurement, whether that’s bust or hips.

Between those two you’ll find a milk-toned angora-blend midi with a turtleneck for work, and a sleeveless rib midi with a round neck that’s meant for layering.

Short white knits for cold days

Can you wear a mini in winter? In angora-blend knit with long sleeves, yes. One of ours has a slit placed at the front, off to the side, and a plain round neck. Thick skin-tone tights with tall, milk-colored boots make it a daytime outfit.

Another mini has ruffles and is sewn from double-faced angora-blend knit. The ruffles add volume, so we’d keep the coat straight and simple. A third short style is a fitted rib knit with a high collar.

Underwear, coats and jewelry for white knit and velvet

White shows everything beneath it. Seamless underwear in a skin tone solves that, and with rib knit or velvet we wouldn’t skip it.

Over the top, light colors work best. Think of a beige blazer for the office and a pale straight coat for the street. Silver jewelry sits better against white knit than heavy gold does.

Every shift white dress here comes in XS to XL. Check your numbers in the size chart first. After that, have a look at shift dresses in other colors or everything we make in white.

Frequently asked questions

Is a shift the same as a sheath?

Not quite. A shift falls straight and loose, and a sheath follows the body. We make both in white.

Will white angora knit feel scratchy?

No. It’s soft and warm against the skin.

Which white style suits an evening event?

The asymmetric velvet midi, which covers one arm and bares the other shoulder. It calls for a strapless bra, and one pair of noticeable earrings beats a necklace.