Cocktail dresses are a type of
occasions dresses that are preferred by ladies for events which are a little less formal than black tie.
But what should you look for in a cocktail dress and which events are suitable for them? Read on for the information you need:
Cocktail dresses are generally characterized by their short length as opposed to the most formal dresses which are almost always ankle length. They usually range from above the knee, tea length and ballerina length. Above the knee dresses usually finish about 5cm above the knee, tea length 5cm above the ankle and ballerina length at the ankle.
Despite the ballerina length dress being pretty similar to a formal ball gown in terms of looks they are a little more relaxed as they usually offer more comfort and breathing space!
Since cocktail dresses are supposed to be quite glamorous and classy you will find that common materials are silk, chiffon and satin. All of these materials have a luxurious and silky touch and sheen to them, and if you choose a dress thats really flattering for your shape then youll find that these materials really show of your figure and look great under the lights.
However cocktail dresses do tend to be less detailed, lacking the sequins and crystals of ball gowns and other formal dresses. Rather they are quite simple, lacking heavy detail like ruffles and pleating, so for extra detail it is a great idea to team up your dress with a chic handbag and some eye-catching jewelry.
Finally the style is important, so depending on your figure youll need to do some research. The easiest option is to choose a timeless style that matches all peoples figures. Great choices for cocktail dress styles are A-line and V necked, but before you buy try some on to decide which makes you look best. Also remember that black is slimming, so this is the safest color if youre not totally confident about your figure.
There are as ever many options with color. The ubiquitous little black dress is indeed a type of cocktail dress, so you probably already own one of these! Black is a safe bet at all times, which demonstrates why the LBD has become popular all around the world.
But you can choose many different types of color depending perhaps on the event, season and your skin tone.
In the spring and summer you can choose lighter colors like pale pastels and also flowery prints which are really popular right now. However during the darker months you will benefit from darker, richer colors such as reds, crimson, black and grays.
If you are attending a corporate event then you could consider a cocktail dress in the color of the corporate logo, or perhaps a dark or black dress with a clutch which matches the events color.
If you have a light skin tone then to be safe choose lighter fabric and vice versa, this will help avoid a color clash.
Cocktail parties and other semi-formal events are really common these days, especially for business people. Many networking events are classed as cocktail parties where men will wear a black suit and ladies will wear their cocktail dress. If you have been invited to a semi-formal event then choose a cocktail dress.
Other possible events could be a birthday party, fundraiser, awards ceremony, company kick-off meeting and prize giving.
You can try on any number of styles and colors of cocktail dresses in your local stores as research, but if you really want to save money and time when buying a cocktail dress, especially if youre busy at work, then online is the place for you. Youll be able to get any style of dress that you want in any color, but youll save lots of money over shopping in town and the dress is delivered to your door.
