By Stephen Todd


Cocktail dresses, also referred to as a cocktail gown, are a woman's garment that usually displays a shorter length and worn when one has been invited to a cocktail party. Cocktail dresses are suitable for wearing to events such as a semi-formal, prom, or other formal occasion. Cocktail dresses come in a variety of shapes, sizes and lengths, but one of the most popular choices is the well-known "little black dress."

When choosing from the many available cocktail dresses, you should familiarize yourself with some of the lengths that you may encounter. Depending on the current fashion trends of the year or wardrobe acceptability, the length of a cocktail dress varies. Some cocktail dresses stop just above the knee, while other selections end around two inches from above the ankle, known as a tea length cocktail dress. When a cocktail dress touches the ankle, it is "ballerina length" - this is commonly associated with being an evening gown, with the differences between the two hard to tell.

Today, cocktail dresses come in an array of beautiful materials, with silk, satin, and chiffon these being the most popular choice.

Some people receive an invitation to an event or party and have no clue what to wear. The fear of over or under dressing for the occasion begins to set in. There are some clues to follow when you are puzzled on what to wear to an event. When using the invitation as a clue, you are more likely to casually dress if the invitation arrives through email or by telephone. If the invitation arrives through the mail, chances are you may be in need of a cocktail dress.

When invited to attend a benefit or event held by a charity or other association, a cocktail dress is probably the attire you should be thinking of. Sometimes deciphering what sort of wardrobe to raid is as simple as reading the entire invite. More than likely, you will find phrases, such as "casual dress," "semi-formal attire" or "formalwear required" on the invitation. Moreover, the last resort if you are unsure is to call the phone number that is included on the invite and ask to make sure.

When attending a cocktail party, you shouldn't wear a sequined gown - they are for a more formal occasion, such as a wedding or anniversary party. Cocktail dress lengths can range from a mini length to something that stops above the ankles. The type of material sends a message - satin and silk are popular choices, accompanied by flattering jewelry, handbags, and other accessories. The shoes that you select can also set off a cocktail dress - especially if you are sporting a shorter length and the shoes become an important focal point.

When choosing the color of your cocktail dress, you should keep in mind that during the summer season, floral prints, light pink, sky blue, pale green and yellow, as well as other pastels look good during this time. For a winter get-together, gray, crimson, black, dark brown and dark blue cocktail dresses are quite flattering. And for one of the number one tips regarding cocktail dresses: do not try to fit into a dress that is cut too low or is too tight; the results could be disastrous.

By Sasha Lemarcon


In the past, cocktail dresses were only used on special evenings and for high class parties. Nowadays, even if they are still considered formal wear, some women put their newly discovered versatility to good use. These dresses are now used for late afternoon and early night parties, social happenings, and other events.

The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a cocktail dress is that it must look fashionable. More than simply looking fashionable, it should be fashionable for your body type. The market's formal dresses are not meant for every woman. Different dress designs are available for every individual figure. While most women have a regular figure, some could easily pass as supermodels.

A woman should consider her body type when shopping for formal clothing which will compliment her. The formal dress should highlight and give equal proportion to her figure.

Pear shaped women (having more to show downwards from the waist) should draw attention to the top part of their bodies and their facial areas. Spoon-shaped women (who are heavier upwards from the waist) should highlight the bottom part of their bodies and showcase their legs.

A cocktail dress that is suitable for a woman who is bottom-heavy would be one that fits snuggly, yet not too tight at the waist. A flared look is desirable because it makes hips and thighs look better.

The skirt should be full rather than too short, as you don't want to be embarrassed by people seeing too much. The flares may be created with ruffles at the bottom or layered tiers. Another option would be to have a slight flare at the hem of a sparkling tank dress.

Women who are heavy at the bottom should opt for a higher waistline which covers the entire body. In this case, a strapless or sleeveless top helps the flared skirt. In other words, this helps her figure to be highlighted by the arms rather than the hips.

A nice fashionable look for a cocktail dress for women who are heavy at the top would be one that highlights their legs. The use of clothing with solid colors would assist in accomplishing this. To help people concentrate on her legs, a woman could acquire a cocktail dress with a short skirt. Nowadays, it is possible to easily locate dresses that end right above the knee.

If you want focus on cleavage, you can show skin at the top part of the dress, making it more revealing. This can be accomplished through a low V-cut or plunging neckline. Strangely, a more discreet top can actually be more revealing. With that in mind, a bubbled hemline accentuates the dress.

Nowadays, showing cleavage may be considered fashionable by some women. It gives them a sexier look. Numerous female celebrities have been embracing this trend for some time now.

Wearing a fashionable cocktail dress is about more than just the dress. Women need accessories to make their wardrobe complete. Women can dress up using earrings, bracelets, chokers, necklaces, and small handbags. However, the dress's neckline may make a choker or necklace unnecessary. It's a good idea to start with the dress and then choose accessories that will match it.

Cocktail dresses can look good on any woman with a few effortless touches.