Cocktail Dress(18)
A cocktail dress or cocktail gown is a woman's dress worn at cocktail parties and semi-formal, or "black tie" occasions.
The length of a cocktail dress is long, often touching the ankle. When it is about 5 cm (2 inches) above the ankle it is called tea length and when it is almost touching the ankle it is called ballerina length, although ballerina length dresses usually fall into the evening gown category.
At semi-formal occasions, a less elaborate, shorter-length cocktail dress may be worn. Prior to the mid 20th century this type of dress was known as 'late afternoon'. When gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or "good" afternoon skirt and dresses.
In the mid-20th century, some couturiers[who?] began describing full-skirted cocktail gowns as "dancing costumes". These are suitable for formal dances but not for balls, or other white tie affairs, where ball gowns are worn.
Christian Dior was the first to use the term "cocktail dress" to refer to early evening wear, in the late 1940s.
These dresses are designed to flatter from every angle. An ideal cocktail dress can be found for anyone, regardless of body type; from the "little black dress" to the long, red, movie star velvet gown, every woman can find the perfect cocktail dress to transform them from their everyday self to their royal event persona.
A huge variety of different cocktail dress designs exist, and while they are all unique, they have common features. Shoulder styles, gown lengths, and fabric types are three elements that tend to vary. Whether a buyer is shopping for a strapless cocktail dress or preparing to dazzle in a timeless shift design, she should take her body type into account before making the final purchase.
Shoulder Style
Shoulder styles vary enormously from dress to dress. Even well-defined shoulder styles are often modified by designers to give a piece a unique look. However, the following types of shoulder styles are the most frequently available:
- One - shoulder
- Thick strap
- Spaghetti strap
- Strapless
- Halter neck
- Off-the-shoulder
- Cap sleeves
- Lace sleeves
Particular shoulder styles tend to suit one body type over another; for example, the halter neck is a great style to widen narrow shoulders, but will make broad shoulders appear even wider. Conversely, cap sleeves are very effective at minimizing broad shoulders.
Length
Dress lengths vary from very short, to ground-trailing. Unless they want to achieve a particularly memorable entrance, most women opt for a length somewhere in between those two styles. The most common cocktail dress length often falls just above the knee; the next popular option is a floor length gown.
The chosen length of a dress often varies depending on whether the wearer is trying to achieve a slimming effect and how comfortable she is with the look of her legs. For example, if the waist needs to look smaller, a shorter cocktail dress can be worn with a belt, which guides the viewer's’ attention toward the legs instead of the midriff.
Fabric
Dress fabrics are extremely diverse and range from a selection of natural textiles to manmade materials. Sometimes, dresses are created from a medley of different cloths, which can lead to an especially sumptuous creation.
Generally speaking, materials can be divided into two main classes: the natural fibers and the manmade fibers. Natural fibers include the following types:
- Cotton
- Silk
- Bamboo
- Hemp, and other vegetable fibers
- Wool, cashmere and other animal fibers
Manmade materials, also known as synthetic fibers, are the result of extensive scientific research, and include the varieties below:
- Nylon
- Acrylic
- Spandex
- Modal
- Polyester
- Rayon
There is a huge assortment of other natural and manmade fabrics, but they are not generally used in dressmaking because they are either much too coarse and rugged, or very obscure.
Type of Cocktail Dress & Description
The following table contains the name and the description of several distinctive kinds of cocktail dress. Though there are infinite variations in dress design, the roots of each often lie in one of the iconic types featured below.
The "Little Black Dress"
The original all-purpose dress for every woman, the "little black dress" is a staple in every wardrobe, small and large. Slimming and revealing in all the right places, little black dresses are usually uncomplicated, elegant, and easy to wear. The cut depends on the body type, but as per the moniker, little black dresses tend to be short.
One- Shoulder
One-shoulder dresses can range from a simple one-shoulder shift dress, to a gown in which the single shoulder is turned into a bold feature. Some one-shoulder dresses are created by effectively tying the dress material at the shoulder, rather than cutting a shoulder shape.
Strapless
Strapless dresses end at the top of the bust and are held up by their fit and often by an elastic band which sits just under the bust. Many types of strapless dresses come with a built-in bra, though some do require the use of a separate brassiere for best effect. The shape of the top of the bustline will vary, depending on the design.
A - Line
A-line dresses are fitted at the hips, and gradually widen as they approach the hem. This gives them the look of a letter "A," hence the "A-line" name. Very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, the A-line dress is still a closet classic. Common necklines include halter-neck and strapless.
Shift
Shift dresses are simple, cut above the knee, and typically sleeveless. The bust is fitted via darts, and the skirt is either straight, or slightly A-line. First seen in the 1920s, the shift dress grew in popularity in the 1960s, and has remained a stylish option since. Jackie Kennedy was famously photographed for Life magazine wearing a shift dress.
Maternity
Maternity cocktail dresses are normally built around an empire waistline, since that style accommodates the growing belly most comfortably. With that in mind, there are now many fabric and shoulder style variations available, making the modern maternity dress more delicious than dull.
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