fashion

The 20 Best Velvet Dresses for All Your Holiday Bashes

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice everything, cozy movie nights and all the velvet dresses a gal could ever want. We’ve been known to sport a velvet ballet flat in fall or velvet headband come spring, but in all honestly, winter is this comfy material’s time to shine. So we put together a list of the best velvet dresses to wear from now through April for every holiday party, winter wedding and festive get-together you have on your calendar.

21 Holiday Party Outfits for Every Type of Festive Occasion…Including Nights on the Couch


Hill House Home

1. hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress

We were over the moon excited in October when Hill House Home released a new velvet version of its viral nap dress for the ultimate in comfy holiday apparel. It comes in the dark green above as well as a burgundy hue.

Available in sizes XXS to 2XL

Eloquii

2. eloquii Dolman-sleeve Velvet Dress

This V-neck mini comes in three more gorgeous colors—black, sapphire blue and hot pink—but our favorite by far is this stunning emerald hue which is perfect for the holidays without feeling too on the nose.

Available in sizes 14 to 28

Anthropologie

3. anthropologie Velvet Shift Mini Dress

The pattern on this flowy mini is even more beautiful up close, but what really sold us on this frock is the lace-up detail at the back. (Don’t worry, it’s definitely still bra-friendly.)

Available in sizes 00 to 16, also Petite

Macy's

4. alex Evenings Plus-size Ruched Velvet Dress

The drape detail and embellished hip help create the illusion of a nipped-in waist. Plus, thanks to all that glitter, all you need to finish your look is a pair of statement earrings and you’ll be good to go.

Available in sizes 14W to 24W

Reformation

5. reformation Leonie Velvet Dress

We’re getting major Bridgerton vibes from this button-up midi, especially because of the square neckline. That said, if you want to amp up the sexy vibes, just pull the sleeves down for an off-the-shoulder silhouette.

Available in sizes 0 to 12

Nordstrom

6. rhode Pia Velvet Dress

Balloon sleeves help to balance out the ruched skirt to create a fun and flattering silhouette. We highly suggest adding a pair of logo or polka dot tights and some ankle booties, or a bold, glittery necklace to finish the look.

Available in sizes XS to XL

Revolve

7. norma Kamali V-neck Rectangle Gown

Velvet isn’t just for holiday parties, it’s also a great choice for winter weddings. Keep it simple with some dangly earrings or a lariat necklace, or add a glitzy belt to really cinch your waist in.

Available in sizes XXS to L

Eloquii

8. eloquii Velvet Wrap Dress With Tie

This midi is a true wrap dress, so you can adjust it to fit exactly the way you like. Plus, you could always wear it undone as a duster to get double the use.

Available in sizes 14 to 28

Revolve

9. hemant And Nandita Veena Dress

We love the unexpected combo of a wintery fabric like velvet and a springy floral print. Play up the cold-weather vibes by adding some jewel tone accessories, like a deep purple clutch or emerald green pumps.

Available in sizes XS to XL

Diane von Furstenberg

10. diane Von Furstenberg Tulisa Two Asymmetrical Midi Velvet Wrap Dress

There’s a lot to love about this party-ready frock—the flattering wrap silhouette, the contrasting adjustable belt, the fact that it’s bra-friendly—but our favorite is definitely the subtle mismatched stripes that add texture to the blue velvet.

Available in sizes 00 to 16

Ralph Lauren

11. Polo Ralph Lauren Silk-blend-velvet Puff-sleeve Dress

Très parisien, non? Of course, you don’t have to style this mini with a beret, but we’d definitely keep the chic knee-high boots.

Available in sizes 00 to 18

Target

12. Ava & Viv Velvet Long-sleeve Dress

This midi can be worn two ways, either as a square neck or an off-the-shoulder style.

Available in sizes X to 4X

Reformation

13. reformation Nyla Velvet Dress Es

The high halter neck is great for elongating your frame, and while the back is pretty open, you can definitely still wear a strapless bra without it peeking out.

Available in sizes 1X to 3X

Net-a-Porter

14. Rixo Iris Floral-print Devoré Silk-velvet Wrap Mini Dress

We don’t know what we love more, the notched collar, the flared sleeves or the stunning floral pattern around the hem and cuffs.

Available in sizes XXS to XL

Anthropologie

15. let Me Be Burnout Velvet Maxi Dress

This asymmetrical cut-out design is super trendy right now, but if you’re worried about showing too much skin, we have an easy solution: Simply layer a mesh or lace top underneath for some extra coverage that still highlights the cut of the dress.

Available in sizes XXS to 3X, also Petite

J.Crew

16. j.crew Boatneck Italian Velvet Dress

The simplicity of this dress is what makes it really sing. Skip the necklace and play around with fun earrings or a headband instead.

Available in sizes 00 to 24

Reformation

17. reformation Livia Velvet Dress

Demure from the front and sexy from the back, this dress works best with a backless bra and funky accessories, like a feathered handbag or glittery heels.

Available in sizes 0 to 12

Anthropologie

18. jenny Yoo Ryland Velvet Dress

Don’t worry about any incidental nip-slips or drooping shoulders thanks to a sheer panel at the front that helps keep everything in place and offers just a touch of coverage.

Available in sizes 0 to 26

Johnny Was

19. johnny Was Stardust Velvet Wrap Dress

This star-studded frock can be easily dressed up or down depending on the event you’re headed to. Stick with flats and delicate jewelry for a chill cookie exchange, then slip into some sexy slingbacks and add dangly statement earrings for cocktails with your girlfriends.

Available in sizes XXS to XXL

Anthropologie

20. hutch Velvet Wrap Maxi Dress

We came for the stunning floral pattern but stayed for the fun ruffled skirt and dainty ties on the puff sleeves. Plus, there’s an extra length of fabric on one side of the dress to ensure you don’t flash too much leg while walking in this wrap.

Available in sizes XXS to 3X, also Petite

The 26 Best Winter Jackets to Buy Right Now, from a Classic Puffer to a Textured Teddy Coat


Abby Hepworth

Editor

Abby Hepworth is an RRCA-certified running coach who has worked in fashion for over 10 years. Want to know what shoes are in this season? She's got you. Need recommendations on...
read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.