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Party dresses need a lot of consideration and thus tend to preoccupy the minds of women who only want to dress appropriately for the occasion.  Party dresses for both casual and rugged affairs such as picnics, patio parties, and barbecues are not much of a problem.  These party dresses only need to be appropriate for the informal affair.  Still, wearers need to be aware that they cannot go overboard or risk censure or raised eyebrows not from friends and relatives, but from acquaintances and strangers who might be at these gatherings.

Not wearing any party dresses that are too revealing, over-the-top in color (e.g., fire-red, bright pink or neon blue) and with too much fluff (e.g. ruffles, laces, etc.) would keep a woman safe from non-constructive criticism or otherwise.  However, when it comes to wearing party dresses for semi-formal and formal occasions, a lot more rules of sensibility get added, hence, wearers beware.   Luckily, Coco Channel’s little black dress can never go out of style.  For best results, women may wish to embellish the attire with a pearl or any type of accessory such as a tasty purse, sensible-looking earrings or pumps in good taste and complimentary style.

From semi-formal to extremely formal occasions, party dresses eventually give way to cocktail dresses, a term coined by Christian Dior about seven decades back in fashion history.  The later in the evening it gets, cocktail dresses have a tendency to get longer from the waist down with an ankle-level limit.  Cocktail dresses must also match the black tie partner as much as possible.  Hence, it is a good idea to have a discussion with the man in preparation for the occasion.  Fully skirted cocktail dresses are more appropriate for ballroom dancing, but not for a formal affair where dancing is optional such as a fundraiser or an inaugural.  In summary, knowing the subtle differences between wearing party dresses over cocktail dresses and vice versa can add to the enjoyment of the occasion, and likewise contribute towards taking away the jitters of attending it.