Cocktail Dress

Gloomendoom

Pthree wrote: »

I think I may have been watching too much Mad Men but I was thinking something along the lines of these

All she needs is the the pointy hat and a broomstick.

maman

Gloomendoom wrote: »

All she needs is the the pointy hat and a broomstick.

And she could get a Christmas job in the Wizard of Oz!

tayforth

lostinrates wrote: »

Gets me some funny looks on the mobility lawn mower though. Mowing the verges and front garden in an evening dress, a wooly hat a pair of head phones and a huge pair of boots and a filthy old anorak. :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Pthree wrote: »

After reading this thread and having a mooch about the interweb I am most disappointed at the lack of what "I" would call a cocktail dress, especially seeing as Christmas is coming up :eek:

Everything seems to be ballgown length or barely covering butts.

What happened to style and glamour??

http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/161642725/emerald-green-taffeta-sweetheart-tea?ref=sr_gallery_26&ga_search_query=mad+men+dresses&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fclothingmad+men+dresses&ga_view_type=gallery

I think I may have been watching too much Mad Men but I was thinking something along the lines of these

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Wow, I love this but t is too much for a cocktail party. But perfect for a film premiere

These two are the nicest dresses in the whole thread. LOVE. :smileyhea

(I adore Mad Men and Downton Abbey)

Strapped

A cocktail dress is formal, early evening wear - so anything that's not day wear or a ballgown. Ideally between knee length and ankle length, and short sleeved or sleeveless - but not strapless, sorry.

I'm not really one for conforming, but for my husband's work I would choose a very safe option.

Strapped

This would be a safe option: http://uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.2/4530226122

(I used to work in the City, and trust me, no-one would "say" anything but you/they would notice if you were inappropriately attired).

ETA: Although I just noticed that the OP said that it was a Gala dinner, in which case I would be more likely to opt for something longer (an evening gown rather than cocktail dress).

lostinrates

I'm trying to think of 'famous' cocktail dresses that were not challenging to etiquette. Royals are a good place to look, because they are rarely too challenging ( and often a bit dowdy !) There was that off the shoulder black number princess Diana wore...that was shorter than knee length, and not strapless, but certainly had her shoulders out and it seemed quite fashionable in 80s evening wear to do that dropped shoulder thing ( which on a short dress I personally dislike and things looks less' nice' ( as in taste rather than aesthetics ) than A more demure strapless.

then I had a quick google and Kate has worn a black strapless cocktail dress. Then I got bored. Its not a very interesting diversion!

I think its perfectly fair enough to say they aren't necessarily considered good taste (though I'd say that depends on style and how they are worn) or that they are hard to wear or not in someone's personal idea of perfection, but strapless cocktail dresses do exist. And in evening gowns certainly do.

Mojisola

If you google Cocktail Dresses images, there's a lot of dresses there that don't follow the rules!

*max*

Mojisola wrote: »

If you google Cocktail Dresses images, there's a lot of dresses there that don't follow the rules!

Indeed! :rotfl:

tayforth

*max* wrote: »

Indeed! :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lostinrates

Similarly One can fulfil all the rules, but still look ' not great'. .

Anyhow, I hope OP has a great time! Much as I love the clothes, the people are always more interesting.