Ah yes, finally; it’s velvet season. While it’s getting cooler outside and the notion of wearing bright colours starts to feel more and more ridiculous as you open your curtains each morning to increasing dimness, the opportunity to reach for something luxurious and plush starts to feel a bit like a very small happy reprieve. Velvet is here to save us, darlings, and it’s looking damn good doing it.

Dress: Harley Cabernet Velvet Wrap Dress C/O Joanie Clothing
Faux Fur Shawl: Green Antonia shawl by Joanie Clothing
Brooch: Gift
Bag: eBay
Shoes: Viviene by Hotter

You’ll all know by now that I love a good burgundy–maroon, claret, wine, no matter what you want to call it, that dark moody shade of autumnal red makes me happy year round. At this time of year, and in velvet form, it thrills me. The fact that this perfect shade of burgundy velvet is used on a wrap dress, the most versatile and easy to wear of all dresses, is a joy.

This Harley dress has short flutter sleeves to give you elegant upper arm coverage that helps make this dress a wonderful party piece. It’s one of those almost-true wrap dress styles, so the bust is a cross-over V-neckline and the waist fastens on the inside with a hidden button, leaving the fabric belt to tie in the front rather than thread through one side of the waistband to encircle you entirely. The skirt flows gently from the hips, neither pencil skirted nor swing, and it’s a flattering midi length that will look dainty with heeled party shoes or can still by styled casually with a pair of boots, tights and additional layers to work for daily wear in cool weather.

The velvet fabric is nice and stretchy, making it a really comfortable wear that would even serve you brilliantly for Christmas day, if you’re already on the look out for your holiday outfit. (I know, I know; for many talking about Christmas before Halloween, or even Thanksgiving, is practically blasphemy, but I love Christmas and I don’t celebrate either of those other occasions, SO MY BRAIN IS ALREADY EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS, OKAY? Just deal with it!)

I asked for this in a size 18 and it’s very true to size. It’s a bit of an awkward piece to try to confirm the flat measurements listed in Joanie’s size chart because of the wrap design and fabric stretch, but the waist does measure approximately 37 inches flat with at least a couple inches of stretch allowed before you would begin to have gaping problems in the front at the hem of the dress. The size chart lists the bust as almost 47 inches, and while my flat measurement attempt came out at approximately 44 inches, my 46 inch bust fit fine and I think up to 48 inches would probably fit without an extremely ‘booby’ result. Following the size chart for this piece should ensure you receive a lovely fit.

The Harley Velvet Wrap dress comes in 3 colours, Cabernet, Green and Blue, in UK sizes 8-22.