Hand-Embroidered Bordeaux Gold Silk Velvet Halter Dress

As seen inBritish Vogue · Tatler · Grazia

Two velvets, one dress. The Bordeaux Gold pairs a long column of black silk velvet with a halter overlay in deep bordeaux — the colour of old claret — that falls loose from the neck to the hip and moves with you as you walk.

The overlay is embroidered entirely by hand in pure silk thread. A spray of flowers and leaves in ivory, champagne and gold sits just below the halter neck, and a larger bouquet blooms across the hem, trailing down one side. Silk thread carries a soft natural sheen that cotton cannot match, so against the dark bordeaux pile the flowers glow like old gold and catch the light as you move.

The halter neck leaves the shoulders bare and fastens at the back of the neck, opening to a cut-away back. Beneath, the black column falls straight to the ankle with a slit at the back hem for ease of walking. Hidden side pockets keep your hands free.

Styling. Gold earrings and an arm cuff, as here, or a silk scarf around the shoulders for warmth. Hair worn up shows the halter neck and bare shoulders at their best.

Craftsmanship. Each Velvet Atelier piece is hand-embroidered in Vietnam by heritage artisan makers. This dress is worked in silk thread rather than cotton — finer, more lustrous and slower to stitch — with every petal drawn slowly into the velvet by hand, a process measured in hours rather than minutes, and produced in a very limited run. No two dresses are ever quite identical.

Occasion. Christmas parties, black-tie dinners, winter weddings, the theatre and New Year's Eve. A striking choice for a wedding guest or the mother of the bride at a winter wedding.

• Fabric: Silk velvet with a deep, light-catching pile — bordeaux overlay and black column — 30% mulberry silk, 70% viscose. Most fabric sold as “silk velvet” contains around 18% silk; ours carries nearly twice that, which is what gives the pile its depth and the way it holds the light.
• Embroidery: Hand-embroidered in pure silk thread — flowers and leaves in ivory, champagne and gold at the neckline and across the overlay hem.
• Silhouette: Halter neck with a cut-away back; loose swing overlay attached at the neck over a straight black maxi column with a back hem slit. One piece.
• Pockets: Hidden side pockets.
• Fit: Relaxed through the overlay; straight through the column — size up if you are between sizes. Full maxi length. Available in UK sizes 8, 10, 12 and 14 (US 4–10 · EU 36–42 · DE 34–40), or made to your own measurements from a UK 6 to a UK 18.
• Occasion: Christmas, black tie, winter weddings, eveningwear and special celebrations.
• Handmade: Hand-embroidered in Vietnam in a very limited production run; each piece subtly unique.
• Care: Specialist dry clean only. Store on a padded hanger away from direct sunlight; steam gently to refresh the pile.

Pre-order — dispatched from our UK warehouse from Monday 23 November 2026. Order confirmation sent by email within 24 hours.