What to Wear: 22 Long and Short Winter Formal Dresses
Valerie Mekki
Updated Article 1/6/2025
Winter formal is the perfect occasion to showcase your style in a stunning dress, offering a night filled with endless selfies, dancing, and unforgettable memories with your besties. Whether you’re aiming to recreate the good vibes of homecoming, see this dance as a ‘rehearsal’ for prom, or simply looking forward to a fun night out with friends, finding a formal dress that stands is key.
Perhaps you’re considering a twirl-worthy short party dress or a long, sparkly gown that shines in pics and #IRL. We’ve got you covered. Our curated list features trendy short and long dresses that will help make your winter formal look truly unforgettable.
Short Winter Formal Dresses
Short party dresses for a winter formal bring a fun and flirty vibe, so when it comes to choosing the right style for you, there are two key silhouettes to look out for— skater and fitted. Skater dresses are designed with an a-line skirt that’s shaped in a circle, making it pretty irresistible not to do a few twirls- whereas fitted silhouettes shape the body. Go with a style that you feel most comfortable wearing throughout the night as you dance and enjoy your time with friends.
Whether you go with a skater or a fitted mini dress, you may be interested in exploring different necklines and sleeve lengths to land that picture-perfect look for a Winter formal. Try a trendy square neck silhouette that instantly creates a beautiful frame around the face and is the perfect display for necklaces. If you’re looking for a dress that gives haute wintery vibes, try a long sleeve velvet dress with a wrap front skirt. The plush textured fabric effortlessly creates a luxe Winter aesthetic, especially in deep rich colors like dark green or blue.
Formal Skater Dresses
Twila Satin Lace-Up Corset Skater Dress
Celebrate Good Times Sequin Halter A-Line Mini Dress
So Your Vibe Strapless A-line Mini Dress
Andie Velvet Drop Waist Skater Dress
Want to learn how to style a strapless mini dress for a Winter formal? Our stylists curated a style guide featuring their fave mini dresses and how to wear them during the cooler months to help inspire your best look for Winter Formal.
Mini Formal Dresses
Emma Faux Pearl Beaded Long Sleeve Mini Formal Dress
Eliza Sleeveless Rhinestone Mini Formal Dress
Kathleen Strapless Sweetheart Satin Ruffle Party Dress
Leila Sequin Bodycon Mini Dress
Explore the best colors for Winter formal dresses in our latest article featuring the top seven hues for your next school dance.
Long Winter Formal Dresses
If you’re looking for a floor-length gown and envision your Winter formal ‘fit to have a slightly sophisticated and elegant vibe, you’ll love the variety of long formal dresses this season. Consider a satin dress with its luxuriously soft glow or a sparkly glitter dress that shimmers in the light. For the ultimate glam look, try a dress trimmed with sparkling rhinestones at the neckline or side slit or an all-over sequin dress.
These gorgeous fabrics look stunningly beautiful in seasonal colors like hunter green, navy blue, and burgundy— which are also the hautest trending colors of the year. However, you can never go wrong with choosing a dress in classic shades like black, red, or metallic, like silver, for an elegant and timeless look.
Long Satin Dresses
Carolina High-Slit Bow Wrap Long Formal Dress
Daria Strapless Wrap Slit Slim Satin Formal Dress
Stella Satin Cowl Neck High Slit Formal Dress
Darla Halter Open Back Bow Slit Formal Dress
Long Formal Glitter Dresses
Vivienne Strapless Slit Glitter Formal Dress
Patricia Cowl Neck Mermaid Glitter Formal Dress
Harley Sleeveless Cutout Mermaid Glitter Formal Dress
Athena Corset Mermaid Glitter Formal Dress
Long Sequin Dresses
Estella V-Neck Mermaid Long Sequin Formal Dress
Jillian Formal Sequin Slit Mermaid Long Dress
Stacey Strapless Satin Sequin Mermaid Formal Dress
Marisol Lace-Up Mermaid Sequin Satin Formal Dress
We hope this list of 22 stylish short and long dresses inspires your most gorgeous Winter Formal look. If you’re inspired to explore more styles, check out our full collection of Winter formal dresses online or at a store near you.
We love a gorgeous Winter Formal look! Don’t forget to tag your Windsor dress with @windsorstore or use #WindsorStore on Instagram to submit your photo.