Cocktail Dresses
Cocktail dresses have perhaps the most variety of any style of dress out there. These are dresses designed for both the young and the old and for a variety of body shapes. Cocktail dresses come short or long, jewel toned or in solid black and are made from a variety of fabrics and shapes.
These types of dresses are popular in black, in jewel tones and in black and white combinations. They are designed to be fun and flirty, with ruffles on some and more severe shapes on others. Shoes that match are often high heeled but can be flats, particularly if you're tall.
Hemlines tend to be high, but not as high as club dresses. The skirts are fuller and many have ruffles on the bottom. They come to about mid-thigh in many cases and are designed to swing when you move.
Think about the occasion before buying a cocktail dress. Is it a stuffy cocktail luncheon in which case you don't want to be very flirtatious? Or is it a cocktail party among young friends, where your skirt can be a bit shorter and your neckline more plunging? Evening cocktail parties just scream the color black, so you'll want to consider cocktail dresses that are black and more refined.
The necklines are all over the place with these types of dresses. You can go strapless, although these are less popular than spaghetti strap dresses, sleeveless dresses or perhaps with short or long sleeves. The neckline itself tends to be higher than with club dresses and these dresses are definitely more refined than other styles of club dresses.
Big prints and animal prints are popular with this style of dress. There can be a solid skirt and a matching leopard print top half, making the dress especially current and fashionable. Big floral prints are also acceptable, especially with ruffles and a unique neckline. The waistlines can be of the empire style or a regular waistline. Princess cut cocktail dresses are also acceptable for a fun and flirty look.
A few cocktail dresses are long dresses and they tend to be more for evening occasions. Popular colors are black and jewel tones, although prints are for sale at some online stores. Interestingly, several cocktail-variety dresses have the bubble-style hemline, usually reserved for the youth and for homecoming dresses. Nevertheless, they are acceptable for cocktail parties and look really cute.
Beading is popular on this style of dress, either involving the entire bodice or just a beaded belt. Nevertheless, they give the dress an evening flare and are probably better for fancier, evening-style cocktail parties.
The color of dress you choose is up to you. Red dresses, jewel-toned dresses, black dresses and print dresses are all available. If you are heavier, you may wish to avoid the print dresses and head for a solid dark jewel tone or a black dress. Some women wear black tights beneath their leggings for a nice look, while other women go bare legged to show off their beautiful legs. Cocktail dresses are designed to be fashionable, yet fun, to wear.
