Collection: Gothic Black Velvet Dresses

Choosing your black velvet dress

If you want something you'll wear all season, start with a long-sleeved style. Velvet with a lace neckline or lace sleeves works as well at a gig as at a family dinner, and embroidered velvet and lace styles give you something a little more formal.

For full drama, go long. Floor-length velvet maxis and off-the-shoulder mermaid shapes are made for occasions. If heavy velvet isn't your thing, look for burnout velvet, where the pattern is etched into the pile so the fabric is lighter and partly sheer. And if black feels too safe, we often have deep burgundy and wine-red velvet too.

Most of our velvet dresses come from Dark in Love, with pieces from Punk Rave and Banned Apparel.

Sizing

Our velvet dresses run from UK 8 to UK 22, though not every style covers the full range. Dark in Love and Punk Rave use combined sizing, which we've mapped to UK sizes as closely as we can, but please check the garment size chart in the product images before you order. Punk Rave in particular tends to come up a little small, and each product description tells you where a style does or doesn't. If the fit isn't right, exchanges are free.

How to style velvet

Velvet needs very little help. Add opaque or patterned tights, a pair of gothic shoes and silver jewellery from Alchemy Gothic, then finish with a shawl or a proper winter coat for the walk between venues.

When to wear it

Christmas parties, New Year's Eve, winter weddings, Yule gatherings, the theatre, or any night when you want to look like you stepped out of a gothic novel. Black velvet is formal enough for an occasion but comfortable enough to dance in.

Looking for more? Browse our full gothic dresses collection or our plus size gothic clothing.