2019 Summer Spring Designer Expensive Outdoor Cocktail Dress Look Woman

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Brides / Chloe Jeong

If cocktail attire was the requested dress code for an upcoming wedding, that could leave a lot of room for interpretation as a wedding guest. Cocktail attire is usually worn to semi-formal and formal weddings. You'll want to consider a few things. First, what season is the wedding? If it's in the spring or summer, bright colors, playful prints, and pastel shades are idyllic, while deep jewel tones and metallic fabrics are gorgeous in the fall and winter. Some of our warm-weather favorites are by FARM Rio and For Love & Lemons, and Fame and Partners makes a stunning option for winter.

Then, what type of venue is it? For an outdoor wedding, you can easily get away with light, floaty fabrics like cotton, eyelet lace, jersey, or chiffon. If the wedding is in a banquet hall or a historic building, elegant fabrics like satin, velvet, and taffeta are perfectly polished. Beading and sequins can totally work for a cocktail look, too, in a shorter length.

A midi dress that hits at the knee is a popular choice for cocktail wedding guest attire.

Another consideration is the time of day. If the ceremony is in the morning or early afternoon, a slightly more casual dress is entirely appropriate, while late afternoon and evening weddings call for more formal elegant styles.

We rounded up the best cocktail dresses for wedding guests, for every style, season, and budget.

Courtesy of Lulus

This floor-sweeping dress in a rich berry hue is striking for an early fall, evening wedding, complete with a tiered hemline and frilled detailing along the neckline and sleeves. Tonal accessories in red and tan help maintain an autumnal feel.

Courtesy of Reformation

We love the romantic feel of this floral print. To boot, the thin straps and show of leg make this dress feel sweet yet statement-making for a wedding guest. And its cornflower blue hue is equally appropriate for spring, summer, and fall weddings.

Courtesy of BHLDN

With delicate ruffle accent sleeves and a flowing silhouette, this maxi dress is nothing short of showstopping. The light blue floral and ruffle details make it ideal for a seaside wedding or spring daytime ceremony.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

For the fashion-forward wedding guest, this two-tone dress is gorgeous for a city wedding. With unique design details, we suggest clean and simple accessories so the dress can remain the focal point. And although it's a maxi, the cotton/spandex blend makes it casual enough for a daytime or evening ceremony.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Rich rust is an utterly chic color choice for a fall or winter wedding. Dress up this minimalist slip with a fun pair of shoes or a statement clutch.

Nordstrom

Make a splash at a summer wedding in this vibrant midi dress by Brazilian brand FARM Rio. The print is playful and fresh on its own and made even better with colorful accessories. It also has a casual feel that's perfect day or night. As a bonus, 100 percent cotton helps keep you cool during a sweltering evening spent on the dance floor.

Courtesy of Revolve

Not only is periwinkle a universally flattering color, but the expertly placed ruching on this strapless gown makes for a pleasing fit on many body types. It also is designed to hit about at the knee, making it an appropriate length for all kinds of ceremonies.

NET-A-PORTER

For a summer wedding, opt for a lace dress with cutouts. Not only will cutouts give your look some sexy edge, but you'll also appreciate the ventilation on a hot summer night. The shorter hemline screams cocktail attire, and the high neck and slightly flared skirt temper the look. A breezy frock in a pastel shade is a go-to summer wedding look, in our opinion.

Courtesy of Fame and Partners

The great thing about the Fame and Partners brand is that you can customize the dresses, from the color to the length. We love this sophisticated look for the draping detail, tulip skirt, and blouson sleeves. The rich jewel tone makes it ideal for a late fall or winter wedding.

Courtesy of Revolve

For a late spring or early fall wedding, we love this copper-colored mini dress with a flouncy hemline. The color of the dress is practically made for transition seasons. You're guaranteed to make an impression in this on the dance floor. The shorter length and draping details make it a perfect cocktail dress.

Courtesy of Shopbop

We can't think of a more idyllic garden wedding-guest dress than this nature-inspired number by Needle & Thread. Keep accessories neutral so the pretty floral print can shine. The shorter length makes it an appropriately casual look.

Courtesy of Revolve

This sequin dress is how you do sequins for a cocktail dress code. We recommend this look for an evening wedding with minimal accessories. We love how the blouson sleeves and tie-waist balance the shorter hem.

Courtesy of Revolve

Black may not seem festive for a wedding—that is, until you've laid eyes on this sequin number. We recommend this look for an evening wedding with minimal accessories, since it does skew on the fancier side.

Courtesy of Boohoo

If you're looking for a romantic and affordable floral-print midi dress, look no further than this flowing number from Boohoo. It's incredibly versatile for spring and summer weddings both during the day and at night.

Courtesy of Staud

If comfort is key, look no further than this black and white cutout dress. We love it for an afternoon wedding in the summer as it's casual enough to wear during the day and has cutouts to help keep you cool. It looks beautiful on many body types, making it a universal winner. Accessorize with bright colors, like neons or pastels, for added oomph.

Courtesy of Net-a-Porter

This romantic polka-dot number is the epitome of elegance. If you're looking for the perfect cocktail dress for a formal wedding that feels both playful and feminine, your search stops here.

Courtesy of Revolve

For the daring minimalist, this sleek and sexy dress is a lovely choice for an evening summer wedding. We like it with strappy metallic sandals and minimal jewels. It can be an especially great look for a beach or destination wedding with its skin-baring design and pastel hue.

Courtesy of Revolve

The perfect dress for a spring or summer wedding, this mini style is complete with a pretty floral print, flounced hemline, and tunic silhouette. It's an excellent option for petite sizes, too. Overall, you can't go wrong with a frilly style in a hem that hits above the knee like this one for a cocktail party look.

Courtesy of Shopbop

Not all LBDs are created equal. This crinkled organza style makes a glamorous statement with just enough influence from the '80s to feel party perfect.

Courtesy of 11 Honoré

This ceramic dot print dress in a bright, summery floral print and flouncy silhouette is sweet and fun for a daytime wedding. We can picture it with pastel heels, lady-like mules, or a woven raffia wedge.

What to Look for in Cocktail Attire

Cocktail attire is all about party-ready silhouettes, fun details, and shorter hemlines. To help you nail down the perfect cocktail attire for any upcoming wedding, it's always helpful to take the season and wedding venue into consideration. For summer weddings, we love breezy lace dresses in soft pastels and bright hues, while jewel tones and sequined fabrics feel especially appropriate for fall and winter nuptials. Finally, while cocktail dresses are generally a midi length or higher, you can still wear a maxi, but in this case, it's best to opt for a more casual fabric.

FAQ

• What Is a Cocktail Dress?

  Cocktail attire is a delicate balance between formal and casual and elegant and comfortable. For ladies, that typically equates to a dress and heels.

• What Is an Appropriate Dress Length?

  Knee-length is great, though it can vary. As a general rule, try to avoid wearing anything that's too short, tight, or low cut.

• Can I Wear a Cocktail Dress to a Black-Tie Wedding?

  A black-tie dress code tends to be more formal than cocktail and the attire usually consists of floor-length gowns.

Why Trust Brides

Contributing writer Laura Lajiness covers fashion, accessories, and fine jewelry. Her work can be seen across various outlets, including ELLE, InStyle, Glamour, Refinery 29, The Zoe Report, Popsugar, Well+Good, and Barneys New York, among other titles and brands. She was the senior fashion editor at The Zoe Report and Popsugar with additional experience as a copywriter and fashion publicist.

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Source: https://www.brides.com/best-cocktail-dresses-for-wedding-guests-4802516

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