Cocktail Party Dress

For the party gurus, the above may not be so daunting. But for the average person, especially one who rarely attends parties, it could be a formidable task. However, this needn't be so; selecting a suitable party dress can be as much fun as actually wearing it.

As human beings, we all possess an innate desire to be appreciated. This cuts across all spheres and the fashion scene is not excluded. Want to look fabulous and attractive for that party? Here are some tips and guidelines in selecting the right party dress.

The first thing you need to consider is: what kind of party is the dress for? There are numerous types of parties; thus, it is important that you know what category the one you are planning to attend falls into. This is essential in determining what type of dress will fit in. you need to know if it's a casual event, a formal, or semi-formal one, because it would be an unpardonable blunder to turn up in an inappropriate party dress.

After determining what type of occasion it is, you can now go on to decide what dress to wear. There is a variation in the accepted practice from place to place, so you'd do well to know the norm in your location. Here are a few examples to serve as a guide:

Formal events

This usually requires a tuxedo for men, with a tie (black, white or optional depending on the party), and a cocktail party dress or an evening or short dress for women.

Semi-formal events

This means that a tux is not required for him, nor a long dress for her. However, the man will still need a dark suit and the woman, a cocktail dress for an evening wedding. In the daytime, this means a suit for the man and an appropriate dressy suit or short dress for the woman.

Casual events

This generally implies that anything is acceptable but be sure to look trendy!

The next step is choosing your party dress. The secret is to select a dress that will accentuate your figure in the best way. Go for the perfect fit! Also ensure that your accessories match your dress-no purple party dress with a red bag please!

Olympic Dazzlers!

Figure skating wouldn't be the same without some glitz and glitter ~ I think that Evan must be crafting his costumes with the BeDazzler starter set . . .

{Gold medalist Evan Lysacek}

. . . while Evgeni must have invested in the deluxe mega super spectacular BeDazzler set. His faux tie and vest have certainly gone from dull to dazzling, just like the ad promised. Craftastic!!!!

{Silver medalist Evgeni Plushenko}

Cocktail Dress

Many women find that some events call for a formal dress. While a dinner or business affair may deserve a long and elegant dress, a cocktail party calls for a short, fun, and flirty dress. The dress that you wear to a cocktail party can say much about your personality and style. Therefore, choosing a dress that will turn heads is essential. However, locating a popular dress that looks great is not always so simple.

Most people stick with dresses that are no more than three or four inches above their knee. If you have slender legs, short above the knee dresses are a popular choice. Women with larger legs often go for an at-the-knee length rather than going for shorter styles. Either way, short is popular for a night out at a party.

The most chosen materials for cocktail dresses are silk, satin, taffeta, and chiffon. All of these fabrics feel nice against the skin and give you a comfortable feeling. If you do not plan to spend the money that some of these materials require, choose polyester or rayon. Both materials are great at imitating silk. Sleeker fabrics lead to a sexier look, while chiffon and taffeta can be flirty and fun.

The most popular of short length cocktail dresses have very little sleeves, if any. Strapless and spaghetti straps are the most commonly seen dress styles. Some of the most drama creating dresses are over one shoulder. Women who are larger at the top should choose dresses with upper support. Shawls are also common accessories used for coverage and warmth on cool nights.

When considering the image that women want to portray, sexy is often the most chosen when it comes to selecting a short cocktail dress. These dresses are frequently sleek and tighter fitting. Many have a slit on the side. Rich cut fabrics are popular. While ruffled or layered short cocktail dresses are acceptable, they often give lead to a younger and more youth style.

Black cocktail dresses in any style are also a favorite at parties. No matter which fabric you choose, black can be appropriate. It is often thought to be a very formal color yet at the same time also serves as being neutral for those that do not want to venture too far into the color wheel.

Next in popularity color choices are red and white. While cocktail dresses come in a variety of colors, these choices are considered to be the most commonly sought when it comes to a short dress.

Most dresses for cocktail parties are fairly simple. They are not covered in elaborate appliqués or sequins. Shiny fabric accessories or sashes are the popular for adding pizazz to a short cocktail dress.

Choosing and wearing a short cocktail dress can be great fun for those that dare to feel confident in the length. The key to choosing the right one is to show off your best assets without overdoing it. A too tight dress only leads to bulges and an uncomfortable night. Go for a good look without trying too hard to impress.

Cocktail Dress

A blue and white envelope just arrived in your mailbox. Inside is an invitation to your friend's house warming party next week. She is going to have wine, cheese, hor dours, and entertainment. It's going to be a dazzling event and you know you should dress up, but you have no idea what to wear.

Deciding what to wear to any social event can be overwhelming, especially when you have party favors, decorating, and baking to worry about--in addition to your day-to-day work. Fortunately, an attractive cocktail dress is suitable for many occasions.

If you are looking for versatility, the little black dress is a classic. It's attractive, simple, and stylish. You can wear it to almost any evening occasion, and you can personalize it with high heels, jewelry, and a handbag. And the little black dress can be quite attractive--just think about Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," wear she wears a black cocktail dress with lace trim.

When you are shopping in search of the perfect little black dress, pay attention to the small details (below):

What to Look for in a Little Black Dress:
- Length. The dress should hit at the thinnest part of your leg above the knee.
- Cut. Make sure the dress flatters your body type. The dress should accentuate a woman's curves and waist, but never ever be too tight.
- Fabric. Jersey fabric is comfortable and stretchy, but it may not hold its shape. Invest in a dress with a soft, flattering fabric such as silk or satin.

If you prefer new, trendy styles, try an updated version of the little black dress with a modern touch.

The Little, Black Dress with a Modern Touch:
- Sleeve length: Try a sexy strapless dress. Or, try a dress with long sleeves for the winter-time.
- Tights: Wear patterned tights. Or, wear opaque tights, which are very trendy right now. Note: Opaque tights may dress down an outfit.
- V-shape: Try on dresses with a plunging V in the front to accentuate your attributes. Also, V-shaped backs can be very sexy and sophisticated.
- Lace: A black dress with lace can be very attractive and elegant. If the dress is very detailed, keep your accessories limited and wear classic makeup (red lipstick, mascara, and eye-liner).

Cocktail Dresses:
If you want to avoid black altogether, try on cocktail dresses! Cocktail dresses can be silver, plumb, gold, cream, etcetera. Wearing a stylish, colorful evening dress will make you more memorable, and it is much more festive than black. For the wintertime, try on dresses that are dark red, dark blue, ruby, gold, purple, or emerald green.

Choosing a Cocktail Dress:
To choose a unique, sexy cocktail dress, get an idea of what kinds of dresses exist. A simple online search works well. Consider dresses with lace, patterns, sequins, and satin. One-sleeved dresses and metallic are also popular, so don't shy away from them, Also, look for rich fabrics such as velvet and silk.

If you are unsure what kinds of social events and special occasions call for a cocktail dress, use the suggested guidelines below:

Occasions where a cocktail dress is recommended:
- Cruise ships
- Work-related parties (make sure the dress is knee-length and not too short)
- Semi-formal
- New Years
- Anniversary parties
- Holiday parties
- Charity events
- Dinner at an expensive restaurant

Occasions where a cocktail dress may be worn:
- Prom (cocktail dress designers make great, flirty 2009 prom dresses)
- Class reunions
- Evening weddings
- Dinner parties (ask the host in advance)
- Evenings out (to the theater, the ballet, or the Opera. Note: different parts of the

United States are more formal or more casual than others)

Events where a cocktail dresses is not recommended:
- Business dinners (know your company's culture)
- Job interviews
- White Tie events
- Quinceanera events (cocktail dresses are different than Quinceanera dresses)
Now you can take a breath, relax, and look forward to your next social event. Once you have the basic black dress and one stylish cocktail dress, you will be set to party all night long.

O Canada!!!

{gold medalists from Canada ~ Virtue & Moir}

Congratulations to all of the ice dancers for wonderful performances this evening! If you know me, you may or may not know that I generally root for my sports teams based on the design and/or colors of their uniforms ~ unless, of course, a friend or family member is on the team.

So, with that in mind, kudos to the gold and silver medalists, but what were the bronze medalists thinking? I cannot even bear to post a photo on my blog ~ yikes and yikes again ~ those costumes were either so hideous and/or distracting it was hard to notice the skating! I guess the costumes aren't part of the rating system ~ lucky for the Russians! Designing costumes for skaters would be a great challenge for the folks to try on Project Runway!

{silver medalists from USA ~ Davis & White}

Medal worthy posters

Although I would never be mistaken as a sports fanatic, I do find myself watching and enjoying the Olympics ~ both summer and winter. With winter sports on my mind and another winter storm on the horizon, it seemed like a good time to share some vintage posters with that theme.

I love posters like the ones shown for their elegant yet simple design ~ I suppose they rather romanticize the sport and capture the feeling you have while watching someone ski, skate or sled. I was surprised to see that the posters for the 2010 Olympic Games have a similar elegance to the posters I have shown that are from early in the 1900's. Here are some more examples.

{barrel jumping ~ why isn't it an olympic event?!}

{looks like speed skaters used to be a bit older ~ or is his mustache just frozen?}

{such style!}

{posters from 2010 Vancouver Olympics}

I learned about poster art and developed a love for it while I was at art school ~ I was fortunate to be able to take two semesters of poster design taught by Chris Van Allsburg ~ you can see how it has influenced his work and mine.

Click on the images for sources ~ most of these posters are available as prints.
Enjoy the Olympics and the weekend!