4 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Cocktail Dress

Cocktail wedding dresses are one of my absolute favorite types of dress. Like the styles themselves, the occasions in which one might find yourself donning a cocktail dress can vary in many ways. When we think of cocktail parties, we usually think of Friday night martinis and little sequined dresses. However, Sunday brunches, holiday parties and numerous other events can also require a great dress that meets all the requirements of a cocktail soiree.

1. Know Your Setting

Deciding the right type of party dress for any event takes some thought. Luckily, cocktail dresses are a necessity for many women’s wardrobes, so no matter what particular event you’re shopping for, you’re likely to get good use out of your dress. Take the time of day and the season into consideration when shopping for your dress. It’s unlikely that you’d wear the same nighttime mini dress you once wore on a sexy date to a midday get-together with your girlfriends. A little common sense goes a long way in determining the qualifying factors for an appropriate cocktail dress.

2. From Historic To Contemporary

When creating the kind of look for a cocktail party or other type of social event that’s less formal than black tie, it’s helpful to start with an idea of historical fashion perfection. Most of us women like to feel sexy to a certain extent at any social gathering, but our over-sexed society can sometimes blur the line of appropriateness when it comes to creating a stand-out look. A general rule of thumb is beauty over sex-appeal. Keeping the idea of looking beautiful as the backdrop for your cocktail look can help you mold and shape a look that will turn heads for all the right reasons.

3. Accessories Are A Girl’s Best Friend

So we’ve thought about our event…the time of year and what the occasion is all about. We know our setting; have looked into the weather and what kind of venue we’ll be visiting. We’ve also considered a classic guide of style to help shape our look to be beautiful and avoid any missteps in our quest to look our best. But how do we embody beauty without risking becoming a bore? We’re young (even if just at heart) and want to feel unique and progressive. The little black dress and string of pearls are timeless, but surely there’s more we can do for our cocktail look, right? Absolutely.