Silk Evening Gowns: One Shoulder, Bralette and Draped, and How to Choose One

A silk evening gown is a full length dress cut from silk, which drapes close to the body, carries colour with depth and moves when you walk, and it is the most traditional choice for black tie. Three new full length gowns from Scanlan Theodore, including the Silk Lily One Shoulder Gown, join our edit of designer dresses and evening gowns.

Key facts

• Silk satin shines and clings; silk jacquard has a woven pattern and more body; printed silk twill is matte
• A one shoulder neckline suits a strong shoulder and needs no necklace
• A bralette bodice with crossback straps gives support without boning
• Side pockets now appear on many silk gowns, including all three new Scanlan Theodore styles
• Evening gown is searched about 74,000 times a month worldwide, with a January peak of 110,000

The silk, and what it does

Satin is the high shine weave; it shows every line beneath, so it wants a clean cut and smooth underwear. Jacquard weaves the pattern into the cloth, which gives more body and hides less than perfect seams. Printed silk carries colour and pattern in a light, matte surface and is the easiest to wear for hours.

The new gowns, compared

The Turban Gown is included as the non silk comparison: a polyester gown with a funnel neck and sharp shoulders, and the most formal of the four.

Our picks

1. Silk Lily One Shoulder Gown in Chocolate Jungle

Loose to a trapeze hem, with a one shoulder neckline that adjusts on a shoestring drawcord. The lily print in chocolate and olive reads as evening without sequins.

2. Silk Desert Gown in Cobalt Black

A C cup bralette bodice on adjustable crossback straps, with a tie back and an elastic channel at the waist, so the fit is set to you. Pair it with the matching Silk Desert Scarf across the shoulders.

3. Silk Jacquard Gather Dress in Indaco Blue

Deep blue silk jacquard, gathered at the shoulder, with a shoestring tie and a self belt.

4. Turban Gown in Martini

Martini green, a narrow funnel neck, small shoulder pads and turban draping at the waist.

5. SemSem One-Shoulder Asymmetric Pleated Solid Silk Gown

A pleated one shoulder silk gown with an asymmetric line.

6. Christopher Esber Vapour Overlay Silk Gown in White

A white silk gown with a sheer overlay.

7. Ulla Johnson Avalina Ruffled Silk One Shoulder Gown in Celadon

A ruffled one shoulder silk gown in pale celadon.

Matching the gown to the dress code

Black tie: floor length, in silk satin, jacquard and solid colours; the Turban Gown and the Silk Jacquard Gather Dress fit here. Black tie optional: a printed silk gown is right. Evening wedding: avoid white and ivory, and avoid a print that reads as bridal. Summer gala outdoors: choose a looser cut and printed silk, which breathes. For the full rules see the white tie dress code and the best wedding guest dresses.

Fit

A silk gown should skim, never pull. Check the bust and hip seated as well as standing, because silk shows strain lines. A one shoulder neckline needs a strapless bra; a bralette bodice with a C cup and crossback straps may need none. Scanlan Theodore sizes in Australian numbers, which match UK sizes: an AU 6 is a UK 6, a US 2 and an EU 34; an AU 8 is a UK 8, a US 4 and an EU 36; an AU 10 is a UK 10, a US 6 and an EU 38. Full conversions are in our Scanlan Theodore size guide.

Care

Dry clean silk gowns, and store them on a padded hanger in a breathable cover, never plastic. Steam out creases on a low setting from the inside.

Wearing it around the world

Scanlan Theodore designs in Melbourne, so its spring and summer pieces land in November, when the Gulf is at its most comfortable and the northern hemisphere is planning winter sun. In Dubai, Riyadh and Doha the lightweight fabrics here suit the cooler months outdoors, and long sleeves and full lengths cover easily for the souq, the mosque visit and the family lunch. In London, Paris and Milan they pack for a January escape and come back out in May. In New York and Los Angeles they cover resort season. US shoppers subtract four from the Australian size; Europeans add twenty eight.

Frequently asked questions

Is silk good for an evening gown?

Yes. Silk drapes, breathes and holds rich colour, so it photographs well and stays comfortable through a long evening.

What is the difference between a silk gown and a satin gown?

Silk is the fibre and satin is the weave. A silk satin gown is both; a polyester satin gown has the shine without the fibre.

What bra do you wear with a one shoulder gown?

A strapless bra in your skin tone, ideally with a silicone grip along the top edge.

Do silk evening gowns have pockets?

Many do now. All three new Scanlan Theodore silk gowns have side pockets.

Can you wear a printed gown to black tie?

Yes, when it is floor length and the print is rich in colour rather than casual. A solid colour is the safer choice for strict black tie.

Read next: Scanlan Theodore evening wear, One shoulder dresses, Scanlan Theodore silk prints, Designer silk scarves.

By Coveti Editorial. Updated 15 November 2026. Product details are taken from each house's own garment and care notes.