Cocktail Dresses: the best available varieties

A dress, also known as a gown, is a type of a garment that is made up of bodice and attached to a skirt, to make an effect of a single garment from top to bottom. Since the earliest days of the existence of the dress, these garments have been considered as items specifically for women and girls as apparel wear. The dress is composed of a number of elements that give it a distinctive appearance as compared to other forms of female apparel wear. There elements have over the years undergone different transformations by different designers in an aim to improve the overall appearance of the dress. For example, the hemline of the dress in the earliest days was as low as the ground as too much exposure of the body was considered indecent. However, this has changed to as high as the upper part of the female thighs with the aim of making the dress appear fashionable and trendy plus fitting it to a specific type of occasion. The height of the hemline has also changes from the two different heights above, to everything in between. Currently, industrial advancements, social changes and advancements in the fashion industry have had a big impact on what the dress looked like back in the past, and the years of change and improvement have made it possible to have many different types of dresses, each with its own unique style in appearance and design. These differences are brought out by the specific functions of the dress as well as the wishes and artistic whims of the designer, plus the preference of the wearer. Today, with the many functions that we attend, and a fashion-aware culture, the way you dress speaks a lot about you. Dresses may come in different shapes and designs including A-Line dress, Empire dress, Coat dress, Jumper dress, Maternity dress and many other types. Still, each of these dresses is designed for a particular purpose and occasion. These include Ballet dress, Ballroom dress, Cocktail dress, Dinner dress, Formal dress, Prom dress and Wedding dress.

Which cocktail dress will suite your occasion?

With the cocktails dress, this is specially designed for women for cocktail parties, black tie occasions and other semi-formal events. Just as many other dress designs, the length of the cocktails dress varies depending on the wishes of the wearer, local customs and fashion trends. However, the general length of the dress varies from the mid-thigh section or slightly above the knee, and may extend all the way down to ankle. Cocktail gowns with lower hemlines are known as “Tea length” dresses. Anything longer is an evening gown. Before the 20th century, the cocktail dress was known as the 'late afternoon'. By the 1980's, categorizing the cocktail dress was no longer based on its length, but more on the level of sumptuousness that is brought forth. However, the height still plays a big role in the decision making process of which cocktail dress to wear, and when. At semi-formal events and occasions, shorter cocktail dresses that are less elaborate may suite the occasion. Still, with the cocktail gown, there are many designs and styles for different white tie events. For example, in the mid-20th century, some designers started describing cocktail gowns with full skirts as "dancing costumes". These gowns are considered suitable for events like formal dances, but not for other white tie events that see more ball gowns being used. So for the many who go around with questions like what is a cocktail gown, there is a simple answer to that as stated above, though it comes with much explanation as will be stated.

One popular type of cocktail dress is the little black dress that was brought forth in 1926 by the French designer Coco Chanel. The first design was a sleeveless gown that fell slightly above the knee. Today, almost any black cocktail gown can function as a little black gown, as long as the dress can go all day long with accessorizing. The general appearance of many cocktail gowns may seem to favor the slender and model-shaped figures of women. However, Plus-size women have more choices than depicted in many fashion magazines and websites. There is a cocktail dress for all body sizes for women to wear regardless of their dress size. Since every woman has a unique body shape, it is important that you get exact measurements of your body when looking for a plus size cocktail dress. The dress should favor you more than fashion trends and should point out your strongest areas physical, while hiding any areas that aren’t your strongest points. For example, a short cocktail would work well for ladies with nice legs while an empire-waist cocktail dress would go well for a woman with a nice cleavage and wants to hide her hips and waist line. All this is to draw eyes away from your weak points while drawing them to areas that you consider your best features. Plus sized cocktail gowns also come in strapless designs and every plus size woman should have at least one in her wardrobe.

Discover for yourself a variety of cocktail dresses

The strapless cocktail dress is considered a short and less elaborate version of the formal strapless gown. The fabric of choice is important and many designers choose satin, chiffon, tulle and silk are appropriate. Other materials like cotton and jersey knits may bring in a sense of extremely casual. The bodice of a strapless cocktail gown and any strapless design for that matter should be fitting so as to avoid slipping off. They may also come with fitted waists that are highlighted with a belt, a ribbon or any other body skimming element of a dress. There is also the vintage cocktail dress that is considered appropriate for any occasion. This means that the same cocktail dress would be appropriate for a formal as well as an informal function. A vintage design may include any design element of a dress from any previous era giving the wearer a limitless variety of choices. There are a number of things to remember when going for a vintage cocktail dress. As the name suggests, vintage is old. Most vintage clothing is considerably good against occasional wear and tear. However, it is important to make sure that the seams are well sewn for a tight fit and are not worn out. In case you notice any imperfections on the garment, you may repair the problem yourself or simply get someone who is more aware of the problem to work some magic on it. Vintage dresses may come in a variety of designs and outlooks including white vintage dresses, black vintage dresses and many other designs.

The A-line cocktail gown comes out in many cases as a vintage inspire gown, especially when fitted with a bateau neckline, a hemline that extends to right below the knee and a sleeveless bodice. The A-line cocktail gown is designed to flare away from the waist downwards. This makes the upper body section of the gown slightly skimming to embrace the figure of the wearer, but not too clingy as to appear trashy. This helps to create a balance to the overall look. The A-line cocktail dresses may look like more formal cocktail dresses as compared to other cocktail dresses. The shift cocktail gown is a classic example of the cocktail dress that does best on a straight figure. This design comes with a high neckline plus a straight skirt extending from incorporated darts on the bust section of the dress. This gives it an unstructured waistline. Generally, shift cocktail dresses are designed without sleeves and if the designer chooses to add sleeves then cap sleeves might be more appropriate. The use of accessories may overplay the simple nature of the dress. However, patterns of sequence or the use of shiny silk make the shift cocktail dress an appropriate cocktail gown. As much as the cocktail dress is popular for its versatility there are a few designs of the cocktail dress that are much more formal, much fancier and are quite difficult to dress down. Such cocktail dresses are well distinguished by dress features including satin, halter necks, sequins, bubble skirts and a plunging neckline. Such dresses include evening cocktail dresses and ball room gowns. Other designs of the cocktail dress are considered overly informal and too friendly for formal occasions. These designs may include buttons down the front part of the dress, dresses worn and layered over shirts and jumper-style straps. Most of these designs are specifically for informal occasions and may also be used while at home for a barbeque or while going shopping.

The flexibility of the cocktail gown makes it an appropriate item for any woman to have as it can be used on any occasion, formal or otherwise. One thing stands out though; your wardrobe reflects your personality. It is therefore important to know whether the clothes make you, or you make the clothes. Be careful when choosing you cocktail dress and know best what it says about you.