Hand-Embroidered Black Bee Silk Velvet Evening Dress

As seen inBritish Vogue · Tatler · Grazia

In stock and ready to ship. Each Velvet Atelier dress is hand-embroidered in Vietnam and produced in very small numbers, held in our UK warehouse and dispatched promptly — order confirmation sent by email within 24 hours.

Some details are made to be discovered slowly. Across this black velvet slip, a scattering of golden bees waits to be noticed — and once seen, never quite forgotten.

The Noir Bee is cut from pure black silk velvet, the most quietly luxurious of fabrics. Its deep pile holds the light softly, giving the black real dimension — never flat, always rich.

Hand-embroidered across the dress is a scattering of honey bees, each one worked individually by artisan hands. Ivory and cream wings, bodies striped in navy and gold, finished with the faintest pearl-white highlights — small, precise and full of character. They are placed sparingly, the way real bees settle: here at the bodice, there at the hip, drifting toward the hem.

Beneath the embroidery, the cut is pure and confident — a bias-cut slip with fine straps, a soft V neckline and a low back, falling to a full maxi length that follows the figure closely.

Styling. A pearl necklace and pearl earrings, as styled here, echo the highlights in the embroidery. Keep everything else simple: bare shoulders, a fine sandal or a heeled mule. A black velvet or silk wrap completes the look for cooler evenings.

Craftsmanship. Each Velvet Atelier dress is hand-embroidered in Vietnam by heritage artisan makers. Every bee is stitched by hand and placed individually, so no two dresses carry quite the same constellation. Produced in a very limited run.

Occasion. Evening events, dinners, gallery openings, the theatre, and celebrations where a black dress is expected but a memorable one is preferred. A collectible piece for those who love artisan detail.

Hand-embroidered evening dresses of this quality are typically priced from £400 to £800. At £475, the Black Bee sits at the considered end of that range — a price that reflects the hours of skilled hand-embroidery, the quality of the silk velvet, and the fact that no two pieces are identical.

• Fabric: Deep black silk velvet with a deep, softly light-catching pile — 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 honey bees scattered across the dress; ivory wings, navy-and-gold striped bodies, pearl-white highlights.
• Silhouette: Bias-cut slip gown with fine straps, a soft V neckline and a low back.
• Fit: Fitted — cut close to the body and runs small; 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).
• Finish: Cut from silk velvet with a smooth inner face; the low back is best worn bare or with a low-back bra.
• Occasion: Eveningwear, dinners, the theatre and celebrations.
• Handmade: Hand-embroidered in Vietnam in a very limited run; each piece subtly unique.
• Care: Specialist dry clean only. Store on a padded hanger away from sunlight; steam gently to refresh the pile.