Glamorous Velvet Cocktail Dresses: 5 Favourites for the Holidays

Nothing says holiday party season like a gorgeous velvet cocktail dress. It’s my first choice, hands down, because of its rich, opulent look and soft, plush feel. No wonder it’s always been associated with royalty!

Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite velvet cocktail dresses for parties and weddings at Christmas, during the holidays, and throughout the winter. But first, let’s talk about the different kinds of velvet.

Blue velvet cocktail dress

Glamorous Velvet Cocktail Dresses: 5 Favourites for the Holidays

Types of Velvet

Silk velvet, made purely from silk, is the most luxurious type of velvet and the most expensive since it is very labor-intensive to produce. This rare velvet has a high pile, is silky soft when you caress it, drapes beautifully, and has a gorgeous sheen.

Cotton velvet has a shorter pile, is stiffer but more durable than silk velvet, and has a similar plush look and feel.

Modern “silk velvet” is synthetic velvet: polyester, nylon, viscose, acetate, or blends of synthetics combined with natural fibers like cotton (Velveteen).  Synthetic velvet is soft, silky, drapey, and reflective.

A small percentage of spandex is sometimes added to make silk velvet stretchy.

Why do some velvet dresses look cheap?   

We’ve all seen low-quality velvet. It’s rough, has a faded or flashy color, and a low or unnatural-looking shine. 

Check to make sure it’s even real velvet. Velour, for example, is not the same as velvet. It is woven differently, making velour heavier and less shiny.

Now that we understand the different velvet types, let’s look at what’s trending in Velvet cocktail dresses and How to style one!

The Latest Velvet Cocktail Dresses

Velvet Sparkle Midi Dress

1. Red Velvet Cocktail Dress

When red is the color of Santa’s velvet suit, it is no wonder that red velvet cocktail dresses are the first to get snapped up this year and every year.

Bright Christmas red is fun and festive for a cocktail dress when you want to make a grand entrance. However, mature fashionistas prefer a quieter, more sophisticated shade of red, like burgundy or wine.

Midi dresses are trending, and this red velvet one, with its high neck and sprinkling of sparkles, feels thoroughly modern.

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2. Black Velvet Cocktail Dress

When you want to play it safe, there’s always black. Black is slimming, chic, and versatile because you can wear it to other events without looking Christmasy. This off-the-shoulder velvet cocktail dress is a beauty.

It’s classic and alluring, perfect for the gal who wants to look a little sexy over 40 without revealing too much.

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Dark, rich Christmas Tree Green is the other obvious color for a velvet dress this time of year. If you usually wear black, consider this color since it’s dark and slimming like black but just a touch livelier.

A classic velvet dress can be worn for years. Just update your accessories to stay looking modern and on-trend. 

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4. Blue Velvet Cocktail Dress

Blue Velvet cocktail dresses are harder to find but so worth it if you snag one. This deep blue color feels rare and unique and looks stunning paired with silver. The wrap style is always so flattering on so many figures.

Blue velvet reminds me of an icy cold winter night. Did you see the blue velvet cocktail dress I like to wear at Christmas?

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 Floral Velvet Dress

5. Burnout Velvet Cocktail Dress

Burnout velvet is unique and beautiful. The fabric is created by cutting away surface piles from velvet in specific areas, leaving a sheer backing visible behind the outer velvet design. The print design of the fabric may be floral, geometric, or abstract.

If you love wearing velvet and want to try something different, this velvet burnout dress is for you. It also features a beautifully draped back neckline cut from sparkling burnout velvet with elegant side gathers.

This fuchsia color is fairly new both in velvet and at holiday time, and it’s quickly becoming one of the latest holiday colors.

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Accessories to Wear with Velvet Cocktail Dresses

Gold and silver look fabulous with Velvet because they accentuate the beautiful sheen. Black, of course, is also always great. If you want to look a little more fashion-forward, you might try this look above.

Since brown is popular this season, we’ve accented this dark green velvet cocktail dress with brown patent leather sling-back pumps and a very elegant-looking gold clutch. It’s a fresh take on a Holiday classic.

Will you be wearing a velvet cocktail dress this fall?