Try to keep this to a minimum if you can, as you may find you get too overwhelmed with choice! Now you’ve got a good idea of what you’re looking for (or not looking for), start browsing cocktail dresses and make a wishlist or shortlist of the ones you’re interested in. If you know you have just a few colors you want to consider, that’s great, but otherwise, it’s a good idea to make a list of the shades and patterns you need to avoid while browsing cocktail dresses so you can filter your search results and not waste time considering them. The material for your cocktail dress should be comfortable and also season-appropriate. If you live in the South, that goes double. For example, if you’re an hourglass, you may know that dresses look best on you when tight or cinched at the waist, and so you can look past the cocktail dresses that don’t meet that criteria.ĭo you typically get hot and dance at parties? If so, it’s probably best to stay away from velvet and other heavy fabrics. Different dresses suit different shapes, sizes, and heights, so learn which body shape you are and which styles you should stay away from. There’s a dress silhouette to suit every kind of body shape, and it’s worth doing a little investigating before you buy your perfect cocktail dress. Keep in mind that you’ll likely want to buy new shoes and accessories to pair with your dress, so have a budget in mind for those, too. Have a rough budget in mind, and don’t look at anything too cheap or too expensive, as this will just lead to wasted time. The kind of dress you choose can say a lot about you, so here 6 steps to help you choose the perfect dress from all the cocktail dresses available, as soon as possible. A cocktail dress is truly versatile because it can be worn to an after-work party, a wedding, a school reunion and a birthday celebration, and still be appropriate! The cocktail dress has seen an evolution over the last few hundred years what was once a trend reserved for the elite and rich of the world is now a staple in most wardrobes.

White cocktail dresses