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How to Style a Velvet Dress: 4 Easy Steps for Christmas and Holiday Parties

How to style a velvet dress in 4 easy steps: pick a jewel tone, add tights and boots, go tonal with burgundy and finish with a bow and a tiny bag.

By How Do You Fashion · Updated · 3 min read

How to Style a Velvet Dress: 4 Easy Steps for Christmas and Holiday Parties

Velvet is the fabric I wait for all year. It feels soft, it looks rich in photos and it is warm enough for a December party. A velvet dress is basically made for Christmas dinner.

But velvet can look a little old fashioned if you style it like a prom dress. These 4 steps use real outfit photos to show how to make it feel modern and easy.

Quick answer: Pick a velvet dress in a jewel tone, add sheer black tights and knee boots or pumps, try a tonal look with matching tights or bag, and finish with one sweet detail like a bow and a small bag.

Step 1: Pick a rich jewel tone

Curvy woman in a teal and copper velvet wrap maxi dress with flutter sleeves1Deep V neck2Flutter sleeves3Jewel tone velvet
Photo: kiyonnacurves on Instagram

Velvet looks best in deep colors like emerald, teal, sapphire, burgundy and red. These shades glow under holiday lights. A wrap or V neck shape flatters almost every body type.

Quick tip: If you only buy one velvet dress, pick burgundy or emerald. Both work for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Step 2: Add sheer tights and knee boots

Woman in a red velvet strapless mini dress with sheer black tights and knee boots by a Christmas tree1Strapless neckline2Red velvet mini3Sheer black tights4Knee boots
Photo: chasekennedy_ on Instagram

Sheer black tights make a velvet mini feel polished and keep you warm. Knee boots make it modern and easy to walk in. This is the outfit for office parties and hotel Christmas events.

Quick tip: Pick tights with a little sheen. They look richer next to velvet than matte ones.

Step 3: Go tonal with burgundy

Woman in a burgundy blazer dress with patterned lace tights and a red clutch1Burgundy blazer dress2Lace tights3Red clutch
Photo: rosee.lola on Instagram

A tonal look means you wear shades of one color from head to toe. Burgundy dress, burgundy lace tights and a red bag look very chic and grown up.

Quick tip: Patterned tights in the same color as your dress add interest without looking busy.

Step 4: Finish with a bow and a tiny bag

Two women walking in velvet mini dresses, one red with a big back bow and one black, with black tights and heels1Big back bow2Mini bag3Black tights4Pointed heels
Photo: toriacurbelo on Instagram

Velvet already looks fancy, so keep accessories small. A bow on the dress or in your hair, a tiny bag and pointed heels are all you need.

Quick tip: Match your tights with your friends for cute holiday photos.

Velvet dress mistakes to avoid

  • Adding chunky jewelry that fights with the fabric
  • Wearing it with bare legs on a cold night
  • Picking a very shiny cheap velvet that shows every crease
  • Ironing velvet flat, steam it instead
  • Mixing velvet with lots of other textures at once

FAQs

What shoes go with a velvet dress?

Knee boots, pointed pumps and simple heeled sandals all work. Boots are best for winter parties.

Do you wear tights with a velvet dress?

Yes, sheer black or tonal tights look great with velvet and keep you warm.

What color velvet dress is best for Christmas?

Burgundy, red and emerald green are the most festive velvet colors for Christmas.

How do you make velvet look modern?

Keep the shape simple, add knee boots or pointed heels and skip big jewelry.

Final thoughts

A velvet dress is one of the easiest ways to look festive this season. Pick a rich color, add tights and the right shoes, and keep the extras small so the velvet can shine.

More ideas: Christmas dinner outfits, Christmas party outfits, winter wedding guest dresses and how to wear tights in winter.

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