Winter white dresses in cozy knit and soft velvet

A winter white dress stands out against dark coats and gray slush, and it brightens your face on a short December afternoon. We sew this page in warm fabrics only, angora-blend knit, rib, cotton jersey and velvet, and nearly every style has long sleeves.

Milky angora and rib for workdays in the snow

Milk white is softer than pure white. It’s the shade of our angora-blend turtleneck mini, and on a gray morning it looks tender next to beige boots and a light coat. Wear thick tights in nude or milk under the short hem. For the office there’s a turtleneck midi in the same knit, warm enough that you can leave the sweater at home.

Would a short dress work in January? In angora with long sleeves, yes. On one white mini the slit sits toward the front, off to one side. Pair it with tall milk-colored boots and nude tights. Another is double-faced angora with ruffles, and we’d wear it instead of a sweater on a weekend date with caramel suede boots.

Rib hugs the body and stretches. We also cut a white keyhole mini from stretchy cotton jersey (it’s 95 % cotton), one you can wear in any season. Under white rib, choose seamless underwear in a nude shade, otherwise lines show through. The knee-length rib style moves easily at a desk or behind the wheel.

White velvet for a winter ceremony or an engagement

Velvet has a soft sheen, and white looks warm on it. Our velvet sheath midi follows your figure from shoulders to just below the knee, made for a small city-hall wedding or a holiday dinner. The V-neck midi pairs nicely with champagne pumps and a thin chain in the neckline.

Two velvet styles go to the floor. One bares a shoulder and has a single long sleeve, the other has an off-shoulder line with three-quarter sleeves, and each has a leg slit that shows champagne heels as you step. They’re our picks for a winter ball or an engagement shoot. A stole over the shoulders gets you from the car to the door.

The knits are cold-season pieces, so check the catalog when the weather turns and have your bust and hip measurements ready. You’ll find other shades of white on our white dresses page, plus white knits and the full cold-weather range.