As temperatures cool and festive events fill your calendar, velvet pieces in your wardrobe take centre stage, beautifully combining both elegance and warmth. Whether you’re heading to a Christmas celebration or a quiet dinner, velvet offers an understated luxury that works effortlessly across the season’s many occasions.
Our curated style guide explores how to make velvet a defining element of your winter style, offering insights on selection, styling, colours and accessorising.
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Choosing the perfect velvet designer dress
The rich texture of velvet offers a perfect blend of elegance and comfort that is perfect for the winter months. Classic black velvet offers unmatched versatility for any occasion. Black velvet dresses enhance the fabric’s natural sheen, creating a look that is both striking and versatile. The Eve silk-blend velvet dress by Jasper Conran London exemplifies this, combining the timeless elegance of black velvet with sharp tailoring and a luxurious silk blend.
The Gianna Velvet Skirt provides another elegant option and is a perfect alternative if you would prefer the versatility of pairing a skirt with a top. This velvet separate effortlessly pairs with everything from cosy knits to tailored blouses, allowing for a chic, adaptable look throughout the season. Whether worn as part of a coordinated ensemble or as a statement piece, the Gianna skirt brings warmth and sophistication to your wardrobe, making it an essential piece for versatile, stylish winter dressing.
For those seeking a refined alternative to velvet styles, classic black long sleeve dresses from Jasper Conran London —Celia, Esther, and Emily—are sophisticated choices that exude elegance. Each design offers a unique take on timeless winter attire. The Celia Silk Full Skirt Shirt Dress is crafted from pure silk, combining the soft fluidity of the fabric with a cinched waist and full skirt for a silhouette that flatters every movement. The detachable belt adds versatility, allowing you to adjust the shape to suit your mood or occasion. Perfect for those who value understated opulence, Celia radiates effortless glamour.
Meanwhile, the Esther Jersey Scoop Neck Dress brings a contemporary, pared-back elegance. Its minimalist design in soft, stretch jersey makes it as comfortable as it is chic. The clean lines and gentle drape allow you to accessorise boldly or keep it simple—Esther transitions seamlessly from day to evening with just a change of shoes.
The Emily Pintuck Full Skirt Shirt Dress is a delicate, feminine piece featuring pintuck pleats and a structured full skirt. This elegant long sleeve midi dress adds texture and movement to your wardrobe. The button-front design and classic collar make it a versatile option for formal occasions or elevated workwear, all while maintaining a graceful presence. Whether you’re stepping into a festive soirée or attending an elegant dinner, these black dresses offer the same sophistication as velvet but with a lighter feel. Find out more about choosing the perfect festive dress here.
What occasions is velvet suitable for?
Velvet’s versatility makes it a natural fit for various settings. Whether you are choosing an outfit for a theatre trip, a meal out or an important work meeting, velvet dresses can be styled differently to match the occasion:
Professional and stylish workwear
The Eve Silk Blend Velvet Shirt Dress is your go-to piece for achieving a professional yet stylish look in the workplace. Its luxurious texture and sleek silhouette provide a polished appearance when paired with a tailored blazer and heeled boots. Whether you’re leading a meeting or catching up on emails, this ensemble strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. Its refined design makes it suitable for both corporate environments and more relaxed office settings, allowing you to move seamlessly from professional to after-work events with ease. Read our tips on choosing the perfect workwear bag here.
Effortless daytime chic
Running errands doesn’t mean compromising on style. Layer your velvet dress with a cosy knit for a relaxed yet put-together vibe. Add ankle boots, and you’ve got an effortlessly chic look that transitions seamlessly from the farmer’s market to a casual coffee date. Whether you’re running errands, enjoying a stroll in the park, or meeting friends for brunch, this ensemble ensures you feel effortlessly stylish without ever trying too hard. Available in both black and navy, our V-neck Merino Wool Jumper creates a perfect additional layer for embracing the cooler weather.
Festive gatherings
Velvet dresses are an obvious choice for festive celebrations. Whether it’s a carol service or work Christmas drinks, this dress makes an elegant statement. Enhance its luxurious appeal with bold statement jewellery, an eye-catching purse and your favourite heels to complete the look. It's a celebration-ready outfit that feels as good as it looks.
Pair with a coat for casual evening outings
Heading to the theatre or an evening concert? The Eve Silk Blend Velvet Shirt Dress is a beautiful piece. Style back with a sophisticated tailored coat to keep warm while maintaining a polished appearance. It’s a versatile option that’s sure to turn heads wherever the evening takes you. For a uniform style, choose a black or navy coat to match your winter palette, or consider a camel shade for a striking contrast
Crafted in a blend of wool, the Geraldine Wool Blend Coat offers both warmth and style, allowing you to switch between belted or unbelted looks to suit the occasion. It is the perfect finishing touch to your velvet winter outfit.
New Year’s Eve celebrations
The velvet dress delivers equal parts elegance and ease, making it an ideal choice for ringing in the new year. Pair it with metallic accessories to make a lasting impression as the clock strikes midnight. Shop our partywear section for a full selection of festive outfit ideas.
Why velvet deserves a place in your wardrobe this winter
Investing in velvet is as practical as it is stylish. Velvet’s soft texture offers a sense of luxury that feels as indulgent as it looks. Offering seasonal versatility, the richness of velvet complements winter tones beautifully while allowing you to wrap up warm and stay comfortable during the cooler months.
If you are looking for an outfit that can be worn for many winter occasions, velvet dresses are an effortless choice, taking you from casual outings to formal events. A velvet blouse paired with tailored trousers creates a polished daytime look, while a sleek velvet dress transforms into an evening showstopper. Modern velvet pieces combine luxurious appeal with enhanced durability, making them practical for both everyday wear and special occasions.
Whether you lean towards bold jewel tones or classic black, velvet brings depth, texture, and elegance to any wardrobe, ensuring its place as a versatile staple for years to come.
How to style velvet dresses with confidence
The beauty of velvet lies in its adaptability. Here are some ways to style it to perfection:
Brave the winter with a luxury designer coat
A structured coat in neutral tones such as camel or charcoal enhances velvet’s luxurious appeal. Our Geraldine wool blend long coat can make a flattering accompaniment to your winter skirt or dress.
Match your velvet dress with a designer handbag
Choose a sleek clutch or a structured tote in complementary shades like black or silver. Our Gaby velvet clutch provides elegance and sophistication and can perfectly complement your velvet attire.
Complete your winter look with the perfect finishing touch—choose from handbags in classic black, elegant silver, timeless cream, or rich chocolate to effortlessly tie your outfit together.
Read our guide to choosing an evening bag here.
Add glamour to your velvet with complementary jewellery
Metallics work beautifully with velvet—opt for delicate pieces in gold or silver, or go bold with statement designs. A pair of elegant gold hoops make the perfect addition to a winter outfit without being too busy, whereas a large, eye-catching necklace can create a striking contrast against a dark velvet palette.
Create a layered look with a velvet shirt
Not ready to commit to head-to-toe velvet? The Gianna Shirt allows you to experiment with texture. Pair it with a fine-knit jumper or a silk blouse for a layered look. Our Gianna shirt can be styled alongside some smart workwear trousers for an understated, classic outfit. Finish your look with some sophisticated, elegant heels. The Gianna Velvet Burn Out Shirt can be paired alongside some smart workwear trousers for an understated, classic outfit. View our full workwear selection here for more inspiration.
Velvet dresses and alternatives from Jasper Conran London
From dresses like the versatile Eve to separates like the Gianna Shirt, the Jasper Conran London collection captures the essence of timeless winter style. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to integrate seamlessly into your wardrobe, offering countless opportunities to embrace the season’s elegance.
Pair your winter dress with our eye-catching accessories, such as the Gaby clutch or our sophisticated gold jewellery pieces to finish off your look.
Shop our complete collection of dresses today.
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