This document provides tips for choosing and wearing cocktail dresses. It discusses choosing a dress that highlights your best features, like legs or bust. Accessories can change the look from glamorous to evening. Dress length depends on height - petite women look best in shorter dresses while tall women have more flexibility. A little black A-line dress is a versatile style as it de-emphasizes problem areas for many figures. Cocktail dresses can be dressed up or down based on accessories and should match the formality of the event.

2. Description
A cocktail dress is the
go-to garment for a
variety of social
events. From work
parties to wedding
receptions, women
need cocktail dresses
for formal and
semiformal events.

3. 1. Choosing the dress
 Instead of hiding some of our body features, we should
emphasize on highlighting our best ones
 Different cocktail dresses highlight different parts of the
body. When choosing a cocktail dress, pay attention to
what it highlights. Dresses that end a few inches above
the knee showcase shapely legs, while low necklines
draw attention to a graceful profile or bust
 It is best to choose a dress that draws attention to one
main feature only (the face, the bust, the waist or the
legs)
 It’s really important to know your own body shape and
dress size

4. Attention drawing chart
Draw Attention To Wear
Face, smile, eyes
Large earrings, unusual colors
of makeup, classic dress styles
in solid colors
Neck
Necklaces, dresses with boat
necks, halter necks
Bust V-neck, scoop neck dressess
Waist
Dresses with a sash or
belt, wrap dresses
Hips
Form-fitting dresses
(emphasize bust as well to
achieve an hourglass figure
instead of a pear shape), or A-line
dresses to gloss over hips
Legs
Dresses with high - low hems,
heels that stand out

5. 2. Choosing your accessories
Accessorizing is actually a key to achieving a certain look,
and a cocktail dress can change dramatically based on the
accessories one wears. When buying a cocktail dress,
imagine it with large earrings, glittery lipstick and several
bangle bracelets for a glamorous look. Then imagine it with
low-key make-up, dangling earrings, and more formal heels
for an evening look. Many beautiful cocktail dresses are this
versatile.

6. 2. Choosing your accessories
Ask the following questions when shopping your cocktail
dress:
 Can it be worn with both gold and silver jewelry?
 How many colors of shoes and handbags will match?
 How many styles of shoes can be worn with the dress?
From Grecian sandals, clunky heels, wedges, stilettos,
platform shoes, boots, one should consider all the shoes
in one’s wardrobe.
 Would it look good with a clutch purse, a tote, different
kinds of handbags?

7. 3. Dress Length
The length of a cocktail dress is an important factor to take
into account when dressing to look one’s best. Cocktail
dresses have a range of lengths from a few inches above
the knee to a few inches above the ankle. The latter is
called traditionally called "tea length" although today’s tea
length dresses are often shorter
Petite women can achieve the illusion of height by wearing
shorter dresses. In fact, they should avoid dresses that fall
as far as the calf as this is out of proportion with their
height and make them look even shorter
Taller women have more flexibility in dress length.
However, very tall slim women should go for a balanced
look by not wearing dresses that are too short

8. 4. Black A-line Dresses
Every woman has (or should
have) a little black dress that
can function in a variety of
situations, formal and
informal. The most versatile
and universally flattering of
these type of dress is a little
black A-line dress. An A - line
dress starts with a slim
bodice or corset and widens
or flares starting at the waist
or hip, creating an "A" shape

9. 4. Black A-line dresses
Why is this design so versatile and
flattering?
First of all, it downplays the
stomach and hips, which are
problem areas for many people.
Second, it fits closely at the
shoulders and bust, emphasizing
the feminine figure. It can be
cinched at the waist for those who
have an hourglass figure or left
loose for pear-shaped figures.
Women with apple shapes can
create an hourglass look with a
larger flare, and boy-like slim
shapes can still achieve a feminine
look with a slight flare at the hips
Hourglass
shape
Pear
shape

10. 5. Playing with formality
Today, cocktail dresses are
not just for evening parties.
They can be dressed up for
receptions and other formal
evening events and dressed
down for the daytime. A
cocktail dress is dressed
down by pairing it with other
garments that are more
casual. For example, show
just the bottom of a cocktail
dress by wearing it with a
cardigan, pashmina, or a
casual blazer. Boots
and leggings also take down
the formality a notch.

11. 5. Playing with formality
On the other hand, there
are some common mistakes
made when wearing a
cocktail dress to a formal
event. One accessory to
avoid with eveningwear is
the large handbag. The
more formal the event, the
smaller the handbag should
be. If in doubt, use a clutch
purse

12. 6. Taking control of your dress
 Always try to use colors that
match your skin tone or hair
color
 Always keep in mind your
height and figure type
 Petite women in particular
can be overwhelmed by a
loud print or pattern. Solid
colors are a safer bet, but
make sure the color is
complementary. Of course, a
screaming pink cocktail dress
will not look right on
everyone but neither will a
staid brown. Slim women
with dark hair can look gaunt
or bony in dark colors

13. Conclusions
 Cocktail dresses are an essential item of the modern
woman’s wardrobe. It can be difficult to narrow down
the different styles to find dresses that suit a certain
figure
 Many women buy cocktail dresses to hide undesirable
features without trying to highlight their attractive
features. Others may accessorize dresses way too much,
without paying attention to the distinctions between
daytime and evening wear
 A flattering cocktail dress lets the wearer relax and allow
her personality to shine at any party or social event