Fashion Trends: Long or Short Formal Party Dresses?

Evening dress length depends on the formality of the occasion. For semi-formal events, a cocktail dress is fine. For formal "black-tie" events, a tea-length to ballet-length formal dress is appropriate. For most formal "white-tie" events, gowns should be ballet-length or full-length. Debutantes should wear full-length gowns for their debuts. Event dressing is just like any other, the golden rule is: keep your clothing appropriate. This rule is just as important for more informal office dos as for formal events. The key word is 'appropriate' rather than 'inappropriate.'

Modern evening gowns, starting in the 1950s, allow for a shorter hem. While vintage evening gowns fall anywhere from the ankle to mid-calf, the most flattering fall just below or above the knee. Crucial to these shorter gowns is the style, which should be elegant and formal, lest you risk appearing underdressed. Evening gowns traditionally flow to the floor. A proper hem should fall even with the floor, and must be sewn while you wear the shoes intended to be worn with the dress. If not, the hem will be too long and drag on the ground, or too short and expose the feet. There is no strict rule for proper evening gowns length. If you desire a more traditional look, wear a floor-length gown. If you choose a shorter style, the hem should end at a narrow part of your leg, right below or above the knee. This elongates the legs and creates a leaner silhouette. Most importantly, pick a dress that fits your personality.

Evening gowns are available in many designs such as halter, backless, strapless, but by knowing the shape of your body you'll know what gown styles will flatter your body figure. For example, if you're very self-conscious about your wide shoulders, you may want to find something that will slim them down and perhaps add more volume to your hips and thighs to balance out your body shape. With careful planning ahead, you can be the belle of the ball. Begin by deciding on your hairstyle for the event. This may take some weeks to sort out, especially if you need to change hairstyles and learn to manage the new shape.

If you are on a budget and seeking a full length prom style evening gowns uk, head for Monsoon, any House of Fraser, Fenwick or John Lewis. If you don't have a big store near you, then try instead ringing your nearest bridal store, which often stocks evening dresses and maybe even hires out party prom dresses, or just search cheap evening dresses uk online, you will have many surprises.

Plan and Host a Cocktail Party

When planning your party, it helps to choose a theme. This doesn't mean all your guests have to show up dressed like pirates or their favorite movie stars-a theme can be discreet, such as a flavor or color that is present throughout the entire evening. A creative theme can make your party feel special without adding to your budget, and it will help you come up with ideas for food, drinks, and decorations. If you have decided it's time to prepare to host a cocktail party, the first thing you should establish is the tentative guest list. After determining who you would like to attend, you can select a date and time for the party that will fit others' schedules, allowing as many of your invitees as possible to attend.

1. If you are hosting a gathering of friends or you are having a cocktail party as a birthday or anniversary party, your home can be a good location. A business party or other more formal affair may do better at a reserved room at a restaurant, the office conference room or other outside location.
2. A cocktail party is not supposed to provide a full dinner for guests, so a cocktail party is best held later in the evening, say from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. An evening cocktail party typically also dictates the type of clothing the guests should wear. Simple yet elegant evening gowns uk is normal for an evening party. A woman should wear a simple dress or cocktail dresses uk pantsuit with minimal accessories while a man can wear anything from a suit to a casual blazer and slacks. A weekend afternoon is another fine time for a cocktail party, and the attire can be a little more casual.

Decorate with table linens, candles and simple floral arrangements. The complexity of the arrangements and quality of the linens should reflect the formality of the event. One of the trickiest parts of planning a party is knowing how much glassware to have on hand. First, consider simplifying your drinks menu. Make sure to provide a good selection, as well as offering non-alcoholic beverages for guests who do not wish to imbibe, but don't want to stand out. Another option to consider as you prepare to host a cocktail party is hiring a bartender who is capable of ordering liquor, wine, mixers, and everything else you will need, and is also able to set up an attractive yet functional bar. Some light finger food is recommended however, not just to live up to your Responsible Host duties, but also to add to the theme. Little spring rolls, a bowl full of wasabi peas, perhaps an antipasto platter with olives, sundried tomatoes, salami and cheese. Make sure you've got a good mix of music. Start with something upbeat to get people chatting, mixed with some classy mellow tunes.

Dress appropriately to welcome your guests. You are the first person your guests will see, so it's important to make a good first impression. It doesn't matter how nicely the party is decorated if you look disheveled or drab. If you indicated on the invitations that it would be a formal event, you should wear a formal dress; in fact, you're better off being overdressed than underdressed.

Prom Dress Color According to Your Skin Tone

Are you a glam girl, or more of a classic beauty? Maybe it's time to unleash your edgy side, or time travel with a vintage look. Before you begin searching for your dream prom dress, find out what prom color is your perfect fit! The best beauty investment you will ever make is the time and energy you take in finding out your perfect colors!

The color of the dress is important. With prom dresses, the color choices are endless. With others formal dress, such as bridesmaid dresses you might not get to choose from a wide variety of colors. There are light colors such as light pink, yellow, white, light beige, lavender, mint green, and many others. There are darker colors such as black, silver, gold, burgundy, dark blue, and dark green. The key to finding the right color is one secret to how to choose a prom dress so you can match the color with your skin tone, hair color, and body shape. Your skin tone probably is the most important factor in determining what dress colors would look best on you. Try different colored dresses while standing in the most natural light possible, and note which ones make your skin look bright and not washed out.

The dress's color can match the colors of the school—if the school's colors are black and white, the dress can be black and white—or the prom dress can match the color of the prom—spring formals can be pink and pastels, ocean themes can be blues and greens, etc. Even when choosing a prom dress color that matches a theme, the color should also available is to each of the four seasons. Winter colors are stark and vibrant, think of a bare tree against the snow, showing the bright berries underneath, the bouquet colors of spring, the pale shades of summer and the muted colors of autumn are all easy to imagine.

Some colors make plus size women look smaller (black, bright, or dark colors) while other colors can make them look larger (light colors). The same goes for someone who wants to appear fuller figured in certain spots. Choose a color and design that look great with your particular figure. And keep in mind that what looks great on your friend might not look good on you.

If you still can't decide, then think about the clothes in your closet. What color or colors do you wear most often, and what colors are you drawn to when shopping for new items? You know what looks good on you, so use that knowledge to pick your prom dress color.

Other Things to Consider
You'll also need to shop for a prom dress or other formal gown according to your budget. Look around for great dresses within your price range from the beginning so you won't go overboard. Think ahead to how you can accessorize your prom dress or formal wear. You'll need shoes, jewellery, hose, possibly a hairpiece, a handbag, and other accessories. Be sure the color and style you choose can be easily matched with other items. You can go to prom dress shops online to find prom dresses by popular designers and choose from many styles and colors. The problem is getting the fitting right and also are the colors on the website what you actually see? These kind of problems are common and few online shops have no aberration, but MagicDress, ASOS and PromGirls will never make you disappointed.

Where to Buy Formal Prom Dress Online

Prom is just around the corner, which means it's time to start looking for that magic prom dresses. First, you should start browsing through the different silhouettes, necklines, colors and patterns. If you hail from a small town hours away from the closest dress boutique, don't fret. The internet is overflowing with formal dresses, especially around this time of the year. On the other hand, which stores provide dresses of high quality particularly for your very own prom? Do you have some knowledge of where these shops can be found? Here I want to share the top online prom dress shops information with you.

The word formal when used in a fashion context does not only refer to the nature of consumerism but can relate to the design and cut of the dress as well. To make the best decision when it comes to buying a formal prom dress, all you need is to know exactly what type of dresses are at your fingertips. The best formal prom dresses are those that will make you feel gorgeous and display those parts that contribute to your amazing image. It will make you feel even more comfortable and confident in your own skin.

1. eBay
An untapped resource when it comes to formalwear, you never know what you might find on eBay. The site has an impressive collection of vintage dresses and designer gowns, but be patient - a lot of "digging" is necessary to find your perfect frock.

2. eDressMe
One of the most comprehensive dress shops online. Not only does eDressMe have a wide selection of typical prom dresses, but they carry many red carpet-worthy eveningwear designers like BCBG, Betsy Johnson, Anna Sui, and Rebecca Taylor.

3. Promgirl
Look through these gorgeous prom frocks by price point, body type, color, designer, or event. If you don't discover your dream dress, take advantage of Promgirl.com's unique "design your own dress" feature that let's your concoct your own creation.

4. Nordstrom
With free shipping and free returns, Nordies customer service simply can't be beat. Their prom dresses aren't too shabby, either. You can find fabulous options under $70 alongside designer dresses from labels like Nicole Miller and BCBG.

5. MagicDress
Magicdress.co.uk is a dress online shop. You can browse many kinds of party dresses, which range from different events to celebrity style, and these dresses combine perfect styling with bright color, beautiful fabrics and detailed finishing. They offers only the highest quality products & service, allowing customers to shop with confidence.

The world wide web can also be a place for you to search for a dress on the upcoming formal event. All you need to do is key in the outfit you like and your screen will show all sorts of names of the stores which sells your chosen clothing item. Additionally, it's completely your choice which one you would get from them. I guarantee that you'll look and feel like the belle of the ball when you arrive in a stylish formal dress! No more do prom dresses have to be long dresses—they can also be short and chic! You'll look more beautiful than you ever imagined.

What to Wear to a Special Occasion Party

Party is unexceptionable when used to refer to a participant in a social arrangement, as in She was not named as a party in the conspiracy. It is this sense that underlies the legal use of the term, as when one speaks of the parties to a contract. The legal use has in turn led to the presence of the word in many fixed expressions, such as injured party and third party. But party is also widely used as a general substitute for person, as in Would all parties who left packages at the desk please reclaim them. This usage has been established for many centuries, but in the Victorian era it came to be associated with the language of the semieducated and it has been the subject of many later criticisms. This use of party may have been reinforced in the 20th century by its adoption by telephone operators. In other contexts, when used in earnest, it may be perceived as a superfluous variant for person. But the jocular use of the term is well established, particularly in references such as a wise old party. -- from the TheFreeDictionary.

But what's Black Tie, Formal, Dressy Casual and More? You've been invited to a special event and now you're wondering what to choose as your special occasion dresses. Here's where to find out more about what to wear to a wedding, black tie, cocktail and other special event dressing.

Black Tie
A Black Tie invitation calls for formal dress. Formal usually means the same as Black Tie, but in some trendier cities like New York or Los Angeles, it could mean a black shirt, no tie with a tux. Women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.

If you get tossed into playing host or hostess - don't panic! A bit of extra time spent party planning is all you'll need to have a very successful formal dinner party, and with just a little know-how you'll be feeling confident in no time.
1. First things first get your guest list together and make sure to put invitations out minimally one month ahead of time (six weeks is even better). Include the style of the party on the invitations so no one accidentally shows up in jeans. If there is any particular theme or occasion being celebrated, that should also be noted.
2. The nice part about formal parties is that you don't need a lot of decoration because the table setting is the center of attention. A few tastefully placed candles, name holders that match your theme/occasion, and some fresh flowers can be absolutely perfect!
3. Since this is a formal party, you and your guests will be seated at a dining table - that means having a centerpiece and suitable tableware. It also helps to have a chef's table so that food can be passed then moved off the main surface, giving guests more elbow room for eating and light conversation.

Semi-Formal
Semi-Formal or After Five means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. Business Formal is the same as Semi-Formal for him, but for women it suggests that women opt for more tailored dressy suits and dresses. The idea is to still be business appropriate -- which means nothing too sexy or slinky -- but still dressed up. Don't buy into the belief that there are a limited number of colors that work for you; instead, be your own best stylist and hold up hues to your face to see which ones bring out your skintones, eyes and hair the best.

Informal
Informal is often interpreted as the same as Casual but it actually calls for the same dress as Semi-Formal -- dark suits for him, short dresses for her -- especially when associated with a wedding or special event. Dressy Casual calls for dressed-up versions of casual looks. For him, it could be trousers and a sportcoat, for her a dressy pants look. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts and other casual looks are not appropriate for Dressy Casual. For her, it means to choose looks with a bit of sparkle or holiday bent (i.e. a beaded sweater with black pants, a red silk blouse with a black skirt).

See How Celebs Work the High-Low Hemline Trend

Want to learn more about "celebrity high low dresses"? This seasons hemlines have switched it up and changed to being short at the front and long at the back, the 'high - low' dresses are a key trend this season and are sure to inject some glamour into your wardrobe. The high-low hemline trend is going strong among the celeb crowd and it's easy to see why, considering it's a fun and flirty alternative to one-length gowns.

Aside from being sexy, the dress is fabulous if you've got great calves and not so great thighs.The varying length of the dress highlights the goodies, while covering what you don't want to show off. If you're petite and pair it with a mid-heeled shoe, voila! You look taller. For those of you daring enough, you can purchase a maxi skirt or dress and cut it into a high-low dress yourself. It's pretty easy and simple making it perfect for those new to DIY projects. Start with a maxi skirt and cut it just the way you wish.

While the weather still vacillates between warm and chilly, take a more slouched approach to high-low dressing. Check out all the celebs who are rockin' 'em already! We betcha a few of your faves are in the bunch...at :http://www.magicdress.co.uk/.

With this new style, we still get that graceful floor-grazing skirt but the cutaway front lets us show off our shoes and pedicures to our hearts' content. Most high-low dresses are cut at knee-length but some, like the Norma Kamali dress, go dangerously thigh-high!

Celebrities Rock The High Split Dress

If the red carpets at Cannes are anything to go by, the hottest new trend is without a doubt the high slit dress. This look is one that spans all ages and body types, from Freida Pinto (in Michael Angel) to Jada Pinkett-Smith (in Versace). And Angelina Jolie broke new ground with her leg-popping pose at the Oscars in black velvet Versace, which set off an Internet meme of "Angie's Right Leg"-complete with its own Twitter handle. So, what's the appeal?

It's hardly surprising that a raft of dresses with thigh-high slits are hitting the high street. Some might say it's the Angelina-effect following her Oscars show or perhaps it's just a happy coincidence and now retailers are relishing the renewed interest in showing off our pins courtesy of a thigh-high slit? On the red carpet, the celebs have figured out a way to show off their legs even in beautiful, long formal dress. Either way, this new wave of flesh-flashing evening gowns uk has creating quite a stir with a slew of celebs, including J.Lo, Rihanna and Glee's Lea Michele, hitting the immac and lashing on the false tan to make sure their legs are red carpet ready. For us, learn everything about high-slit dress and gowns fashion trends, celebrities who wore them and tips on how to wear the high-slit dresses becomes very important. The secret is simple: take a tip from ladies like Natalia Vodianova, Emma Stone, and Jameela Jamil and go for a gown that reveals your gams via a thigh-high slit!