What Is Cocktail Party Dress?

Cocktail party dresses can also be referred to as a 'little black dress."

A cocktail party dress is worn to semi-formal occasions. Fashion experts like Coco Chanel have said that every woman must own one to have a complete wardrobe.

History

Legendary French designer Christian Dior coined the term "cocktail dress" in the late 1940s, prompting many manufactures to create a simple yet elegant black dress often considered early evening wear. The "little black dress" soon became popular in Hollywood cinema, where many femmes fatales were dressed in cocktail dresses.

Identification

Cocktail party dresses are meant to be long-lasting and versatile. They also should be more affordable and shorter than a gown and should be black or a neutral color with minimal designs.

Length

Length is one of the signature characteristics of a cocktail party dress. Although it ranges, most cocktal party dresses can be slightly above the knee to touching the ankle.

Misconceptions

Though tea-length dresses are commonly mistaken for cocktail dresses, they are not the same. Tea length dresses fall about two inches above the ankle.

Famous Ties

In the 1960s, Audrey Hepburn popularized the cocktail party dress by her signature look in the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's." She portrayed the character Holly Golightly wearing a simple black dress paired with pearls.

References

• Cocktail Dresses
• Cocktail Dress History