Party dresses are an extremely popular form of formal wear. Whether you are looking for a party dress for a summer wedding or prom event, or something even more formal for a Christmas or New Year’s event, a party dress is always a popular option.
There are different types of party dresses available. One of the most popular styles is the cocktail party dress often called evening party dresses. Although the term has changed greatly in recent years, generally a cocktail dress is meant to mean a mid calf length dress that is dressier than a typical frock that you would wear to work. Party dresses that are cocktail length can be found with or without sleeves. Fabrics can vary greatly, but tend to be more towards the silky draping types of fabrics that flow loosely from the body.
In recent years, the term cocktail party dresses has come to include so many more styles than just the typical mid calf length. Depending upon where you shop and who you ask, a cocktail party dress can now include a mini dress that is cut above the knee, a fancy party dress that sits right at the knee, or even a full length party dress that is more casual in styling but fancy in its form of fabric. It takes a bit of detective work for customer service associates now in clothing stores to find out exactly what their customer means when that customer advises that they are looking for a cocktail party dress. The first thing that needs to be determined is what length of cocktail party dress before the selection process can continue.
Many young women that are looking for a dressy outfit for prom will consider the ensemble that they end up choosing to be from the cocktail party dresses category. Whether their outfit is a mermaid cut sheath or a fresh and flirty frock that just barely skims the hips, often times these young ladies will still consider themselves to be wearing cocktail apparel.
Party dresses can also include full length highly formal styles opposed to the less formal summer party dresses. These are the types of outfits that would be suitable for wearing to a red carpet affair or an evening at the opera. The styles tend to be a bit more regal or subdued in nature, but some ladies are stretching the boundaries of what true formal wear is by wearing ensembles with low cut backs or even side cutouts. A great determining factor in choosing the right apparel for a formal occasion is not only what the event calls for but also what a woman looks best in and can carry off with supreme style. Just because a dress is formal in nature, if it does not do justice to the woman wearing it, the full effect of it can be lost. She is better off wearing something less formal but more flattering to her shape and style and then dressing it up with appropriate jewelry to still fit the formal attire requirements of whatever event she is attending.
Party dresses can also include ensembles that are more suited to the pageant stage or fashion model runway. Although this is not necessarily a style that most women wear, it can be appropriate for the right occasion. A New Year’s Eve ball would be the perfect opportunity to try out a glamorously styled outfit. Whether a woman chooses to opt for sequins and rhinestones or they prefer simple black and white party dresses it is up to her, but the key to these party dresses is that they are figure hugging and very fluid in nature. One trend in party dresses in the basic theme of black and white, you can find black and white dresses in almost any shop, it use to be hard to find a black and white dress but not more. Along those lines the white party dress is now making a come back, so much so you’ll find white party dresses in the same number as the black and white party dress. Let alone colors, the choices just keep expanding.
No matter which style is chosen, it is easy to see just how many variations there are to the elegant feminine party dress.