This Timeless Dress Trend Revives Itself Every December—26 That Are So 2024

French fashion influencer Sabina Socol wearing a velvet mini dress

(Image credit: @sabinasocol)

Without even looking at the calendar, I can always tell when the holiday season is fast approaching. Mariah Carey's vocals echo throughout every public space. Decorations start to line the lobbys of every building you walk into. And every kind of velvet fashion item is suddenly flooding new arrivals sections everywhere. It wouldn't be the holiday season without the arrival of outfits that are a little more festive and formal than our everyday ensembles, and the most classic among them is, of course, a velvet dress.

The holiday-ready fabric is as timeless as they come and it only seems to get chicer with every passing year. To prove it, I've put together an edit of the most forward styles to showcase just how "2024" they can be. From boat-neck silhouettes to rich oxblood hues to styles reminiscent of the '90s, these are the dresses to have on our radar—we already do. Simply scroll on to peruse the edit.

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Senior Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.