Formal dresses come in different shapes, lengths and colors.
While you may not wear a formal dress often, it is a good idea to keep a couple in your closet for such events as weddings, proms, cocktail parties and galas. It is not easy to find a specific description of a formal dress--such garments are available in a wide variety of styles, fabrics and colors. Choose a dress that meets your invitation's dress code. Does this Spark an idea?
Definition
Women often wear formal dresses to meet courtly, aristocratic, decorous or stately dress codes. This type of clothing generally consists of a loose, flowing garment made from a luxury fabric.
Types
"Dress length dictates the distance from the bottom of your dress to the ground," according to PartyCloz.com. "In general, the more formal your occasion is, the longer dress length you need to choose." Ball gowns usually are the most decorous type of formal dress. Such garments often are full-length with a full skirt, which is suitable for dancing. Evening gowns are next in line for formal attire. They usually are full-length with a more fitted skirt, while ballet or tea gowns generally fall between the mid-calf and the ankle. The hem of a cocktail dress usually hits just above or below the knee. Do not hem a dress until you choose shoes for the ensemble--you will need to wear them to have the dress properly altered.
Fabrics
Formal dresses often are made from the finest fabrics. Velvet and brocade are popular for winter, while chiffon works well for summer and spring. Such fabrics as silk, satin and crinoline work well year-round, since formal events often are held indoors. Add a wrap or a shawl to your ensemble during colder months. Look at a sheath's fabric to differentiate between an office dress and an evening cocktail dress. For example, wool, crepe or gabardine are suitable for daywear, while silk or satin work well for formal dresses.
Guide
Ball gowns typically are reserved for events with a white-tie dress code. This includes such ceremonious occasions as charity galas, debutante balls and proms, as well as diplomatic events. Wear evening dresses to weddings, awards ceremonies and black-tie affairs where no dancing is anticipated. Cocktail dresses are suitable for semi-formal events, while tea- and ballet-length dresses are appropriate for formal day events. Occasions may call for a particular color or type of formal wear. For instance, a debutante should choose a white ball gown, while charity balls may have such color themes as black and white. Follow the instructions on your invitation.
History
While dresses with full skirts have been around for centuries, today's ball gown can be traced to about 1840. Cocktail dresses appeared during the middle of the 1920s. They almost always were full-skirted. However, later cocktail dresses often were sheaths. "During World War II, the hemline of the cocktail dress rose from the 1930s ankle, or "cocktail-length," sheath, but the convenience and accessibility of the fashionable cocktail accessory was sustained," according to MetMuseum.org. Christian Dior first named these garments "cocktail" dresses during the 1940s.
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