Cocktail Dresses - Not Just For the Rich and Famous

It is not uncommon for just about any woman to receive an invitation to a formal gathering requiring cocktail attire. For such a simple fashion item to fully appreciate what cocktail dresses are you need to understand where they came from.Cocktail dresses first began to emerge in the late 1920's.This was a time where women were increasing their visibility in social circles. Suddenly they were being invited to swanky lounges and elegant parties that centered on the idea of cocktails. During this time period dresses were typically short sheath dresses that had coordinating accessories. These parties typically happened between the hours of 6 and 8pm which required a bit of formality, but not full black tie attire.

Cocktail dresses come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, lengths, colours and styles. When choosing a cocktail dress one of the most important factors to consider it the length. When most of us think about cocktail dresses we will think of a dress which stops just above the knee however there are variations which are shorter and longer. Anything below the ankle however is classed as a ball gown. It is important to familiarise yourself with what the current fashion is that season and then find a length that is on trend and suits your body shape.

However not long after WWI the French designers' styles began to evolve. Whereas cocktail dresses used to be very standard and even plain looking, suddenly elements of the designs began to change. Designs with trimmings in luscious satins and silks were standard and took America by storm.In fact, in the 1930's cocktail dresses began to emerge as standard wardrobe items. Stars of the day began to sport looks that transitioned easily from day to night.

Coming back to the issue of a dress that's flattering, there's probably no better example than an LBD. Come on, I think every girl's got one!Black is a slimming color, and there's just something so right about an LBD accessorized with some cool bling.A simple black cocktail dress of any style can be accessorized with some gold or silver jewellery for a sizzling look!

Cocktail dresses have stood the test of time, and they will continue to retain their timeless popularity as fashions evolve. They are a fantastic dressy option without forcing you to be fully formal in your clothing choices, which helps you to be appropriately dressed for a variety of social occasions.