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What to wear with sleeveless velvet dress?

32 replies

CardiOnCardiOff · 24/11/2025 09:10

I have a dress I got from Vinted, pretty much like this one, and I’d quite like to wear it to an event - but I’m not sure that sleeveless will be warm enough. I feel like I might need to have something with me at least to start with to cover shoulders/arms. But the dress has a nice waist and fit, and any sort of cardi looks a bit frumpy, as do pashminas, somehow just not working with velvet or overwhelming me or just covering up so much of it that I could be wearing anything.

is it really only a dress suitable for indoors with lots of heating? (By later in the evening, it might well feel warm) Or is there anything I can wear with it that might look ok, that I can take off as it warms up. (I will have to wear some kind of black camisole/vest under, as it’s a bit too low cut for me - I’m only 163cm and short torso!). I guess I’d wear black low heels and maybe black tights.

What to wear with sleeveless velvet dress?
OP posts:
Ohthatsabitshit · 24/11/2025 15:38

Sewing a soft fabric neck a bit is not beyond most people’s skillset. Nobody knows if a dress is second hand.

lindyloo57 · 24/11/2025 16:29

You could try a little cropped fluffy cardigan they look more evening than a every day one.

Words · 24/11/2025 17:46

A shrug? They were all the rage a short while ago.

Londonmummy66 · 24/11/2025 17:51

CardiOnCardiOff · 24/11/2025 11:00

oh, thanks for the ideas.

I was wondering about a sheer cardi/crop sort of thing or lace, but the fur or cashmere would look quite luxurious.

I hadn't thought about an underlayer, but that could be worth trying something on - maybe I will go in wearing the dress after all! or at least carrying it in a bag - as I do have to wear something under anyway in order to make it not quite so low cut. So maybe there would be a suitable top that does both things. I'd been assuming a black sort of camisole as actually matching would be hard to find, but teal is very in these days so there could be things that would work.

Something like this gives you a layer on your arms whilst keeping the shape of the dress - wear it under the camisole so the front doesn't show in the V neck. I have several of this sort of thing - there are a number of different styles on Amazon and Etsy and black lace will be fine with green velvet if you can't find a green one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/EMOTTOS-Cropped-Hook-Eye-Closure-Embroidered/dp/B0DRVRVWK8/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nE64na-SZh330Gog0EodxUg2F57XVwy02mHMttI3pIJiVgYvH93lKSg7ptz0sOQfD9CsW5Cjc5t22jcNbDB4-HE-deKfJf9x6yHfNz_PNx1MzSFWbEos_x7FMxZgsNpVpUumKQ5LpQrA-PjJGsR5RNIoBI8UO-NYO87wYLAgkYlT8jOsJAUqgP2MQ-tLtENvgI-Lqe7yPZBuTfsIjPQZHHkVj5DT774sDc7i52DEDKsHoOc-jb935XvHFukQ8Rpg28KA3cVmsZUDcI791QH6CjOuXqdjijEgJUN9Lryd-ts.2OPL8PWv2Ram4eTxrQZ_WZ0pz59SLPxMOemPN8cLCJA&dib_tag=se&keywords=lace%2Bsleeves%2Bfor%2Bunder%2Bdresses&qid=1764006474&sr=8-5&th=1&psc=1

CardiOnCardiOff · 24/11/2025 18:40

Thanks for all the ideas! I'll try ordering a few things and also basting the V-neck a bit, and see how things are looking. There is still time to consider other options if necessary! :)

OP posts:
tokennamechange · 24/11/2025 22:50

Please don't wear a camisole under it, that didn't even look good as a style in the early 2000s when it was in fashion. Either accept the cleavage, sew it up or don't wear it - a top underneath is pure frump

CardiOnCardiOff · 25/11/2025 07:19

Yes I think I'm going to try to sew it up a bit! I hadn't realised quite how bad it might look. I might try some different underwear as well, as that might help the shape more and stop some of the gaping.

OP posts:
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