Cocktail Dress

What Is Acceptable as a Cocktail Dress?

Cocktail attire asks for a dress that looks finished. Fabric does most of that work: crepe, satin, lace, sequins or a polished rib knit read as evening, where printed cotton reads as brunch whatever its length. After the fabric comes one clear point of focus.

• Crystal at the neck. A jeweled halter collar stands in for a necklace.
• Applied stones on a strapless line. The sparkle sits on the dress, so the jewelry can stay quiet.
• Drape. Soft folds catch shadow and give a solid color depth.
• Lace over tulle. The party version, light, full and made for dancing.

Black Midi or Short and Full?

The black and red midis are the classic cocktail answer: below the knee, polished from neckline to hem, and right for a rehearsal dinner, a gallery opening or an evening reception. The short lace and tulle dresses are the playful end of the code, built for homecoming, a birthday dinner or any invitation that promises dancing. The invitation tells you which one it means, so read it twice. Either way, one statement and quiet everything else is the look that works.

Finishing a Cocktail Look

With a hem at the knee or below, your shoes are on full view, so choose them as carefully as the dress: a slim heel or a pointed flat with the black midis, a strappy sandal with the short tulle styles. Keep the bag small and structured, and tuck a light wrap inside it for air-conditioned rooms and the walk home.

Reading a Cocktail Invitation

Cocktail sits between two extremes. A floor-length gown leans toward black tie, and a casual sundress or denim leans toward daytime, so land in the middle with a hem near the knee and a fabric with some polish. If the venue is outdoors or the hour is early, a lighter color works; after six, black and jewel tones feel most at home. When in doubt, a black midi is the safest answer in the room, and it will be ready for the next invitation too.

Choosing One at Any Age

A cocktail dress has no age limit; what changes is the coverage you want. A midi with a halter or a clean straight neckline gives an elegant amount of skin, a rib knit skims without gripping, and black lets your best jewelry take the lead. Midi length flatters almost everyone, and dark sheer hosiery carries it right through winter. Pick the neckline you love wearing and build the evening around it.

For the lace bodice styles in more cuts, browse the lace dresses, and for the bare-shouldered midis and columns, see the strapless dresses.