Reading the invitation
A cocktail dress is appropriate if your invitation says: Black Tie Invited: "tie is welcome", Cocktail Attire: "cocktail", Black Tie Optional: "tie is not required" or Cocktail Dress: "cocktail dress". It will also be appropriate at social events where formal invitations are not provided. It is worth noting that a cocktail dress is the most common option for festive events.
Cocktail dress vs evening dress
It is important to know that formally, cocktail hour is from 5 to 7 p.m., after which evening comes. However, cocktail dresses are also customary to wear for all daytime celebrations. The only thing is that the length, neckline and accessories should be moderate. Remember how the guests of the Wilkes family whispered about Scarlett's bare shoulders at the barbecue? If you don't want to earn yourself the reputation of a cheeky young lady, be more modest.
If the event is going to be long, it is still more appropriate to stay in cocktail attire, complementing it with a noticeable brooch, for example. And, of course, you can plan on a complete change of clothes. For example, at a wedding. Although it is troublesome.
By the way, it is at weddings at the registry office that some ladies strive to “walk out” in evening dresses. Please, do not repeat this mistake. Registration is a daytime event. But in a restaurant, you are already allowed to change from a cocktail dress to an evening one.
Decide on the format of the event
The third rule follows from the second, but it is worth dwelling in more detail on the format of the celebrations. As you might guess, the name of the dress code comes from the drink. Cocktails can be very different: from the classic Cosmopolitan to unbridled shots. Therefore, when choosing a dress, there is a huge room for maneuver.
A presentation, a movie theater opening, an office corporate party, dinner with parents at home, or a party at a club - all these events are very different, and accordingly, the dress should be selected taking into account the format of the event.
Remember the nuance that many people don't know: evening attire necessarily requires a lady to have a companion who will accompany her in a formal tuxedo. And, of course, don't go to a banquet in a bus. New outfit, expensive jewelry, he offers his hand when getting out of the car ... Well, you get the idea =)
Color matters
Bright juicy colors are suitable for summer dresses. In winter, it is logical to choose black or deep dark tones. White also has a right to exist, but be careful with the cut and do not wear it to a wedding. (Unless it is your own).
Pink and powdery shades should be chosen by young ladies, but mature ladies need to be careful to look appropriate.
Red cocktail dresses traditionally look bold and spectacular. In addition, a well-chosen shade enhances skin tone. The lady in red will always be the star of the celebration.
Dresses made of gold or silver fabrics, such as brocade, would be appropriate at a fashion show or in a club.
We carefully choose the fabric
A cocktail party dress should be made of high-quality, expensive, but not luxurious fabric - silk, satin, lace, brocade, leather, etc. Take into account some subtleties: yes, brocade should not be worn before 6 pm; taffeta, silk and chiffon are summer fabrics, and, for example, velvet is definitely winter.
Little black dress = 100% hit
Thanks to Coco Chanel, we now always have a way out if the answer to the painful question "what to wear?" never comes. Times are changing, gloves and a hat are no longer mandatory attributes of a cocktail look, but a little black dress is a real must-have in the wardrobe of a modern lady.
Don't forget that it should be selected based on the features of the figure. You choose the length, material, and nuances of the style, but two factors remain unchanged: the absence of sleeves and the minimalist length. The latter, by the way, has decreased by another 10-15 centimeters since the time of the charming Coco.
In doubt? Simplify!
If you are in doubt or cannot fully experience the nuances of the holiday, always choose a more minimalist look so as not to look like a Christmas tree. It is better to give preference to an elegant sheath dress with a discreet neckline and length or an A-line dress. It is also better to choose neutral colors and fabrics: no bright shades, contrasting decor or a lot of lace.
And in a clutch you can always take a pair of massive earrings or a sparkling necklace with you. If the event turns out to be quite solemn, the jewelry will be very useful, and if not, then let them remain in your handbag, without putting you in an awkward position.
Leave Lady Gaga's laurels alone
A bold neckline, legs from the ears, transparent elements of a cocktail dress are permissible only for stars in front of the paparazzi on the red carpet. And then, they often overdo it. If you are not Madonna, then restrain your ardor. And, as they say in a popular joke: "When going to a corporate party, remember: you still have to work with these people."
In the photo: Not all yogurts are equally healthy =)
A good dress is a universal soldier
What if you have a day at the office with a strict dress code before the party? Everything ingenious is simple. No need to carry a suitcase of change of clothes with you! Put together transforming outfits.
For example, you can wear a modest cardigan over an elegant dress, and disguise a spectacular cocktail jumpsuit with a strict jacket. You can always add a silk top or satin blouse to classic skirts or pants, and complement a discreet dress with accessories.
Remember seasonality
As a rule, in spring, summer and autumn everything looks natural. A light sleeveless dress, high heels, a spectacular clutch. The picture is clear. Just don't take the fur, leave it to the heroines of Marilyn Monroe.
But in winter, a real quest begins with choosing a toilet. Some ladies manage to combine dresses with sandals, surprising Santa Claus at a Christmas party. But this is bad manners. Give preference to pumps if the snow is not knee-deep, and you plan to jump out of the car and walk 10 meters. Or spectacular ankle boots - they will be elegant enough for a dress and quite appropriate for a coat and winter.
Speaking of coats: you're not thinking of putting on a down jacket and then taking it off unnoticed, are you? That's even worse than sandals, honestly.
To avoid freezing at the holiday, choose a bolero or stole, but not a dress with sleeves.
No suitcases
A festive holiday is not the occasion when you need a notebook, laptop, warm scarf, lunchbox, thermos mug, and umbrella. Therefore, leave the large and comfortable bag for work, because the main requirement for accessories for a cocktail dress code is compactness.
You should choose a clutch or a small handbag with a chain. And remember: the brighter the dress, the more restrained the clutch should be. And vice versa: an elegant accent in the form of a shiny clutch, encrusted with rhinestones, for example, will suit a laconic cocktail dress.
In the photo: a monument to a women's handbag in Piedmont (Italy).
What about shoes and other accessories?
Boots are a 100% taboo. Otherwise, rely on your taste, the style of the dress, and the format of the event. You can choose either high-heeled shoes or sandals, or ballet flats.
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. But only after 6pm, which means they are rarely appropriate for a cocktail dress code. It is better to give preference to semi-precious stones or designer jewelry. In order not to overdo it, choose two items: a ring and a necklace or earrings and a bracelet. You can emphasize your waist with a belt.
Author: Valeria Timchenko.
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