Cocktail Dress

Many women find that some events call for a formal dress. While a dinner or business affair may deserve a long and elegant dress, a cocktail party calls for a short, fun, and flirty dress. The dress that you wear to a cocktail party can say much about your personality and style. Therefore, choosing a dress that will turn heads is essential. However, locating a popular dress that looks great is not always so simple.

Most people stick with dresses that are no more than three or four inches above their knee. If you have slender legs, short above the knee dresses are a popular choice. Women with larger legs often go for an at-the-knee length rather than going for shorter styles. Either way, short is popular for a night out at a party.

The most chosen materials for cocktail dresses are silk, satin, taffeta, and chiffon. All of these fabrics feel nice against the skin and give you a comfortable feeling. If you do not plan to spend the money that some of these materials require, choose polyester or rayon. Both materials are great at imitating silk. Sleeker fabrics lead to a sexier look, while chiffon and taffeta can be flirty and fun.

The most popular of short length cocktail dresses have very little sleeves, if any. Strapless and spaghetti straps are the most commonly seen dress styles. Some of the most drama creating dresses are over one shoulder. Women who are larger at the top should choose dresses with upper support. Shawls are also common accessories used for coverage and warmth on cool nights.

When considering the image that women want to portray, sexy is often the most chosen when it comes to selecting a short cocktail dress. These dresses are frequently sleek and tighter fitting. Many have a slit on the side. Rich cut fabrics are popular. While ruffled or layered short cocktail dresses are acceptable, they often give lead to a younger and more youth style.

Black cocktail dresses in any style are also a favorite at parties. No matter which fabric you choose, black can be appropriate. It is often thought to be a very formal color yet at the same time also serves as being neutral for those that do not want to venture too far into the color wheel.

Next in popularity color choices are red and white. While cocktail dresses come in a variety of colors, these choices are considered to be the most commonly sought when it comes to a short dress.

Most dresses for cocktail parties are fairly simple. They are not covered in elaborate appliqués or sequins. Shiny fabric accessories or sashes are the popular for adding pizazz to a short cocktail dress.

Choosing and wearing a short cocktail dress can be great fun for those that dare to feel confident in the length. The key to choosing the right one is to show off your best assets without overdoing it. A too tight dress only leads to bulges and an uncomfortable night. Go for a good look without trying too hard to impress.

Cocktail Dress

A blue and white envelope just arrived in your mailbox. Inside is an invitation to your friend's house warming party next week. She is going to have wine, cheese, hor dours, and entertainment. It's going to be a dazzling event and you know you should dress up, but you have no idea what to wear.

Deciding what to wear to any social event can be overwhelming, especially when you have party favors, decorating, and baking to worry about--in addition to your day-to-day work. Fortunately, an attractive cocktail dress is suitable for many occasions.

If you are looking for versatility, the little black dress is a classic. It's attractive, simple, and stylish. You can wear it to almost any evening occasion, and you can personalize it with high heels, jewelry, and a handbag. And the little black dress can be quite attractive--just think about Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," wear she wears a black cocktail dress with lace trim.

When you are shopping in search of the perfect little black dress, pay attention to the small details (below):

What to Look for in a Little Black Dress:
- Length. The dress should hit at the thinnest part of your leg above the knee.
- Cut. Make sure the dress flatters your body type. The dress should accentuate a woman's curves and waist, but never ever be too tight.
- Fabric. Jersey fabric is comfortable and stretchy, but it may not hold its shape. Invest in a dress with a soft, flattering fabric such as silk or satin.

If you prefer new, trendy styles, try an updated version of the little black dress with a modern touch.

The Little, Black Dress with a Modern Touch:
- Sleeve length: Try a sexy strapless dress. Or, try a dress with long sleeves for the winter-time.
- Tights: Wear patterned tights. Or, wear opaque tights, which are very trendy right now. Note: Opaque tights may dress down an outfit.
- V-shape: Try on dresses with a plunging V in the front to accentuate your attributes. Also, V-shaped backs can be very sexy and sophisticated.
- Lace: A black dress with lace can be very attractive and elegant. If the dress is very detailed, keep your accessories limited and wear classic makeup (red lipstick, mascara, and eye-liner).

Cocktail Dresses:
If you want to avoid black altogether, try on cocktail dresses! Cocktail dresses can be silver, plumb, gold, cream, etcetera. Wearing a stylish, colorful evening dress will make you more memorable, and it is much more festive than black. For the wintertime, try on dresses that are dark red, dark blue, ruby, gold, purple, or emerald green.

Choosing a Cocktail Dress:
To choose a unique, sexy cocktail dress, get an idea of what kinds of dresses exist. A simple online search works well. Consider dresses with lace, patterns, sequins, and satin. One-sleeved dresses and metallic are also popular, so don't shy away from them, Also, look for rich fabrics such as velvet and silk.

If you are unsure what kinds of social events and special occasions call for a cocktail dress, use the suggested guidelines below:

Occasions where a cocktail dress is recommended:
- Cruise ships
- Work-related parties (make sure the dress is knee-length and not too short)
- Semi-formal
- New Years
- Anniversary parties
- Holiday parties
- Charity events
- Dinner at an expensive restaurant

Occasions where a cocktail dress may be worn:
- Prom (cocktail dress designers make great, flirty 2009 prom dresses)
- Class reunions
- Evening weddings
- Dinner parties (ask the host in advance)
- Evenings out (to the theater, the ballet, or the Opera. Note: different parts of the

United States are more formal or more casual than others)

Events where a cocktail dresses is not recommended:
- Business dinners (know your company's culture)
- Job interviews
- White Tie events
- Quinceanera events (cocktail dresses are different than Quinceanera dresses)
Now you can take a breath, relax, and look forward to your next social event. Once you have the basic black dress and one stylish cocktail dress, you will be set to party all night long.