High-Low Hem Mini Cocktail Dress, Sleeveless with Flared Skirt

A high-low hem mini cocktail dress made for the dance floor

Short at the front, longer at the back. That is the whole idea of this Numoco dress, and the maker says it plainly: the skirt with the longer back is meant for dancing.

The front measures 86 to 87 cm and the back 101 to 102 cm, depending on the size. The dress is sleeveless with a round neckline, closes with a covered zip at the back and comes in red or navy blue, in sizes XS to XL.

At a glance

The piece: models 175030 and 186696 by Numoco

Numoco lists the red dress as model 175030 and the navy one as 186696. The supplier files both under evening dresses and states that they are Polish production. The size table is the same for both colours.

In the photos the bodice is fitted and ends in a seam at the waist. From there the skirt opens wide and falls in soft waves. The front hem sits above the knee on the model, and the back drops to around the calf.

A note on the red one. The supplier's text mentions brocade, but the photos show a smooth fabric without any woven pattern. We describe what we see: a plain, deep red.

Who it's for

For you if you want to show your legs and still feel covered when you turn around or sit down. The longer back takes care of that.

It is also a good pick if you like a high neckline. With bare arms and a closed front, the attention goes to the waist and the movement of the skirt.

Closer look: what the maker's data and the photos show

• Skirt with a longer back (maker's data)
• Covered zip at the back (maker's data)
• Sleeveless, with a high round neckline (photos)
• Fitted bodice with a waist seam (photos)
• Wide skirt that falls in waves (photos)
• Small metal tag at the waist on the left (photos)

The maker's data says nothing about a lining or pockets.

Fabric and feel: polyester with 5% spandex

The composition is 95% polyester and 5% spandex. The supplier calls the material pleasant to the touch. In the photos it is matte, with enough body to hold the waves of the skirt instead of hanging flat.

The spandex gives the bodice a little stretch. We have no fabric weight, so we cannot tell you how thick it is.

Fit and silhouette: fitted bodice, wide skirt

Only the bodice needs to fit, since the skirt is wide in every size. The chest runs from 78 cm in XS to 96 cm in XL and the waist from 68 to 84 cm. The step from L to XL is larger at the chest (88 to 96 cm) than between the smaller sizes, so check that row if you are in between.

The length is nearly the same in every size: 86 cm at the front and 101 cm at the back in XS, one centimetre more in S to XL. How short the front looks on you therefore depends on your height.

Size chart (cm)

Source: the maker's size table. It does not say whether these are garment or body measurements, so compare them with a dress that fits you. Length is given as front/back.

Styling: shoes matter here

With a hem like this, people look at your legs and feet. In the photos the model wears strappy sandals with a slim heel and carries a small clutch, and that is all it needs.

The navy one works with nude or metallic heels and a short jacket for a winter party. The red looks good with black pumps and sheer tights. If you would rather dance in flats, pointed ballerinas keep the line of the leg long.

Occasions

The supplier lists it as an evening dress and mentions dancing. Think of a wedding party, a prom or gala evening at school, a Christmas party at work, or New Year's Eve. The red one is an easy choice for December.

Because the neckline is high and the back is long, it also passes at a more formal dinner where a mini dress would feel too bare.

Care: follow the label

The maker's data has no care instructions, so follow the label sewn into the dress.

A general habit for a wide skirt: hang the dress on a hanger by the shoulders right after washing, so the hem dries evenly.

The wow detail: the back hem

There are 15 cm between the front and the back of the skirt, going by the maker's table. You see it when you walk and even more when you spin, because the long back swings out and the short front stays out of the way of your knees.

Fashion that gives back

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. You pick it at checkout, from causes that are matched to 11 of the 17 SDGs, the goals the United Nations set for the world.

Our promise

Ships from the maker's wholesale partner in Poland, inside the EU, with tracking. The wholesaler lists up to 3 days to prepare an order; within the EU delivery usually takes 2–7 business days after dispatch. Delivery is free within the EU on orders from €69; below that it costs €4.95 in the Netherlands and €6.95 elsewhere in the EU.

You have 14 days after delivery to ask for a return, as long as the dress is unworn and still has its tags. Our promise is plain: if what arrives does not match what this page says, send it back within 14 days and we refund you.

More party and day dresses are in our dresses collection.