How to Wear a Velvet Dress to Work

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You might think that velvet is a style piece of the past, something more suited to the glam rock of David Bowie or a '90s coffee shop. In fact, though, velvet has made a major comeback: not only did it feature prominently in Fall 2016 runway shows like Balmain and Stella McCartney, but it can be seen worn casually on city streets around the world.^[1] You too can jump on this trendy bandwagon by incorporating velvet pieces into your everyday wardrobe, accessorizing with velvet jewelry or accents, dressing down a velvet dress with some boots and a jacket, or popping a timeless velvet blazer on top of your outfit.

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   Browse online shops for a velvet dress you like. Dresses are one of the easiest ways to wear velvet. Not only are velvet dresses available at numerous trendy clothing shops in many different cuts and styles, but they're also easy to dress down with accessories and accent pieces. Any cut will work for your casual velvet look, but slip dresses and short-sleeved dresses can be particularly easy to accessorize casually.^[2]

   • You also might want to avoid plunging necklines, exposed shoulders, or long skirts, as these cuts can read as formal.
   • If you're having a hard time finding a dress you like, check out mass, internationally available retailers such as boohoo, Forever21, or ASOS.

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   Slip on some cowboy boots or sandals. Footwear can set the tone for an entire outfit and switch a night-look into a day-look in one fell swoop. To do so, grab your favorite, worn-in pair of cowboy boots or some basic, no-frills sandals. Brown or black matte-finish leather in particular will immediately make a dress more casual.^[3]

   • For an edgier but still daytime look, pair your velvet dress with combat boots or some studded booties.
   • For example, pair a short velvet slip dress with some black combat boots or a pair of colorful ballet flats. Alternatively, take a burgundy or hunter green short-sleeved velvet dress and add some light brown cowboy boots to play down the rich, jewel tones of the dress.

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   Add some brass or stone jewelry to your outfit. Like shoes, jewelry can dress an outfit up or down. Rhinestones, diamonds, shiny gold, and pearls will make your dress look fancier, while brassy, coppery, or turquoise stones will make it more relaxed. In general, you want your jewelry to complement your velvet dress rather than compete with it, so avoid statement jewelry with sparkles or glossy finishes.

   • Stud earrings, cuff bracelets, and long pendant necklaces in brassy tones are all excellent options to dress your velvet piece down while still making you look put-together.

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   Wear your favorite blazer or light jacket on top. If you're still feeling overly formal in your velvet dress, toss a light jacket over it. This addition will break up the solid velvet, as well as add visual interest and structure to the overall look.

   • Leather or bomber jackets are perfect for a casual day out with your friends, while a fitted blazer is a great, ever-appropriate look for the office or other professional events.^[4]

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   Avoid tights with sheen or strappy heels. Tights and strappy shoes can work wonderfully with a casual velvet look, but you should be careful which bottom-half accessories you use. Shiny, sheer tights will slant your velvet dress toward a nighttime look, as will stiletto or chunky heels with lots of straps or ties. Opt instead for opaque sweater tights and flat gladiator sandals.

   • Also keep your purse or bag in mind! An embossed or shiny clutch will make your dress look more formal, whereas brown, slouchy hobo bags will dress it down.

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1. 1

   Choose the right jacket. A velvet blazer is a timeless look that you can wear well after the velvet-revival trend has passed. Some cuts and colors will be more versatile than others, though. Jewel tones like deep reds and blues look gorgeous in velvet and carry the added bonus of transitioning seamlessly from day to night.^[5] A form-fitting, structured blazer is most versatile as far as cut goes, while a cropped velvet bomber jacket can be rocked recreationally.

   • Vintage and thrift stores are great places to look for velvet blazers, or you can check out modern retailers

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   Look for fabrics with different, subtle textures. Though your velvet blazer is undoubtedly a versatile piece, your go-to velvet jacket can't go with just anything. Since it has such a conspicuous texture, you need to pair it with subtler textures which will offset the velvet rather than competing with it.^[6]

   • Cotton, wool, and cashmere are good, neutral-texture options, while shiny silk, tweed, or lace should be avoided. Also avoid wearing velvet with corduroy, sequins, or another velvet garment.^[7]

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   Wear a casual tank top or sweater under the blazer. In order to make your velvet blazer look chic but still casual, you should wear something casual or understated underneath. A neutral camisole or tank top are always solid options for work or play, while a funky band t-shirt can add an edge to the classy, velvet vibe.^[8]

   • Stripes are also a great way to make a look more casual without being boring. A striped sweater, tee, blouse, or tank top beneath a velvet blazer adds an interesting, sporty twist to an otherwise formal look.

4. 4

   Slip on a pair of dark-rinse jeans. A velvet blazer can go with practically anything, including formal trousers, dresses, skirts, and jeans. In order to make it casual, though, you'll want to pair it with some jeans. Distressed and light colored jeans are in style, so feel free to experiment with these trendy looks. When in doubt, though, go for a solid, dark-rinse that looks appropriate in a variety of places and milieus.

   • Boot-cut, skinny, and straight leg jeans will pair well with any blazer. Flared jeans are also making a comeback, but be aware that a dramatic flare under your velvet blazer might make your look overly vintage or costumey.

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   Wear flat boots, wedges, or chunky-heeled booties. Depending on your personal preference, you can top off your look with a variety of footwear. Flat combat boots or knee-highs will create a particularly laid-back feel to your ensemble, while wedges or heeled booties will add some height and polish to your look while still keeping it low-key.

   • Platforms are back in fashion and can play up to the vintage feel of your velvet blazer without seeming overly retro or antiquated.
   • Chelsea boots also go great with a velvet blazer.^[9]

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1. 1

   Check out a velvet choker. You may have noticed that chokers are all the rage this season. They come in all different widths, colors, and materials, but one of the most popular is the classic velvet choker. These iconic '90s pieces look great out on the town at night, but they're also doable in the daytime. Pair them with a flowy daytime dress or slouchy sweater to look easygoing but also on-trend and put-together.^[10]

   • A narrower width will be more subtle than broader versions. You can even find chokers that mimic bolo ties or ribbons, creating a longer line that doesn't read as such a bold choker-choice.

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   Put on some velvet ankle booties. Velvet ankle booties combine luxe sophistication with a retro rock n roll attitude. And, since they're a relatively small part of your ensemble, they can be a good way to ease into the velvet trend. Pair them with some skinny jeans or boot-cut trousers to highlight the lush velvet while remaining casual and cool.^[11]

   • You'll find that most velvet booties have platforms or chunky heels, so you might want to look for a different velvet accessory if you're uncomfortable with heels.

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   Add a small velvet accessory, such as a headband or cuff bracelet. Chokers might be the most popular velvet accessory, but they're not the only ones available. In fact, you can find a wide variety of hair accessories and jewelry in velvet, such as headbands, retro scrunchies, cuff bracelets, and baseball caps. Since these components are fairly small, you can incorporate them into almost any casual outfit without feeling like you're making a fashion statement.

   • Don't forget about handbags! Even though you might not wear them on your body in the same way that you wear a dress or a hat, they can constitute important and attention-grabbing elements of your ensemble. Velvet clutches and backpacks are particularly in vogue at the moment, as well as small, cross-body purses and pocketbooks.

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   Find a top or bottom with velvet accents. If you want to incorporate some velvet into your outfit without committing to a whole piece, look for jackets, belts, or bottoms with some velvet accents. A velvet trim on a dress or blouse, a velvet ribbon or stripe around the waist of a blazer, or velvet buttons on a jacket can all add flair to your ensemble while remaining subtle and casual.

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• Question

  How should a guy wear a velvet blazer?

  

  Erin Micklow is an independent wardrobe stylist and image consultant based in Los Angeles, California. She has worked in the acting, beauty, and style industries for over 10 years. She has worked for clients such as Hot Topic, Steady Clothing, and Unique Vintage, and her work has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Millionaire Matchmaker.

  

  Professional Stylist

  Expert Answer

  Pair your blazer with some nice slacks and Chelsea boots. This would also work for a velvet bomber jacket.

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Velvet works the best during the fall and winter seasons.^[12]

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