Cocktail Dresses 101: Helping You Choose A Super Style

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Adrian Leighton

BY ADRIAN LEIGHTON

Cocktail Dresses 101 – Your Guide To These Fun Dresses

Cocktail dresses as we know them have been around since the 1920s. You’re probably aware of that iconic ‘flapper’ style like in the picture below. Unlike many older fashions though, cocktail dresses have stuck around and are now a dress that we find in almost every woman’s closet today.

This is an early cocktail dress from Chanel, and as you can see it looks quite similar to today’s styles!

Commonly worn at casual or semi-formal events, cocktail dresses are your ‘go-to’ choice for a night on the town, a meal with friends, or a hot date. Lighter, shorter, and usually less decorated than ball gowns, and other formal dresses, the cocktail dress is a versatile choice; and this include ‘little black dresses’ and we all know how adaptable they are!

Don’t think that they’re only short dresses though, as in fact they come in knee length, tea length, or ankle length, meaning that there’s a style for everyone’s tastes and every occasion!

Cocktail dresses can be made from many different fabrics and in different styles. Let’s explore some of them here:

A Line Cocktail Dresses

This is the iconic party dress style and was invented by Christian Dior in the 1950s. It’s a very flattering style for most women, as it has a defined waist, and tapers outwards over hips, tummies, and thighs in a capital ‘A’ shape. This makes it a great choice for almost every body shape, and why it’s beloved of women looking for a versatile dress that would suit everyone on occasions such as their wedding.

Do you love the classic lines of this cocktail dress style?

Strapless Cocktail Dresses

A strapless dress is a fun, flirty choice as it highlights your neckline and shoulders.

While not as forgiving as A-line dresses, they are more fun! Because they lack straps they often take the form of a bodice which grips around your upper back, not sliding down and also offering support to your chest (think corset, but part of the dress itself).

These dresses often include fitted waists, fitted bodices, body-skimming lines, and bubble, or A-line skirts.

Strapless cocktail dresses are a popular and beautiful choice.

Sheath Cocktail Dresses

A figure-hugging style for women with curvy or slim figures, this dress typically features a straight skirt and a high neckline. If you’re into parties and want to show off your figure, then a sheath dress is definitely the style for you!

Flirty and great for clubbing and parties, the sheath will show off your curves.

Defined Sheath Cocktail Dress

Much like the sheath dress above, this style features a defined waistline instead.
The problem with a sheath is that if you don’t have curves they can somewhat hang from you which is unflattering, but if the waist is defined with a belt then this gives your silhouette a natural curvy look.

The defined sheath will add extra curves, giving you a feminine silhouette.

Little Black Dresses

Probably the one ‘must have’ dress for any woman’s closet, any cocktail dress in black is an LBD. The beauty of these dresses is that they’re versatile, can be worn on most occasions, and are slimming thanks to the color.

When it comes to an LBD, just choose a style you love and remember to accessorize with some colorful make-up and accessories.

Little black dresses are one of the most versatile dress styles, and can be worn at most kinds of events!

Your Turn…

Which kinds of cocktail dresses do you prefer? When do you like to wear them?

Let us know by commenting below!

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OuterInner.com Bandage Cocktail Dresses

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Jenny Chen

Ideas for Bandage Cocktail Dresses

Want to dress up yourself like a fashion lady, but don’t know where to start when it comes to your cocktail dresses? You don’t need to update your wardrobe every day, just opt for your own style that is easy to wear, comfy as well as attractive. The following is our new arrival and hot selling cocktail dresses that you may like:

1. Off-The-Shoulder Omber Bandage Knee-Length Dress, Style Code: 10869,US$86.00

This omber dress, which is a unique and eye pleasing design, graduate from sky blue color to midnight blue color

2. Bandage Front Cross Short Cocktail Dress, Style Code: 10847, US$ 79.00

The orange color is always bright and cheerful and just right to party in. Wonderful!

3. Herve Leger Style Bandage Dress, Style Code: 10826, US$ 86.00

Love this simple but sexy style dress! It’s charming and elegant, and the sheath silhouette is slinky and perfect for cocktail party.

4. Glaring Scoop Neckline Short Bandage Dress, Style Code: 10824, US$102.00

The short gold cocktail dress features a sassy look, and the glitter design is sure to capture the spot light.

5. Shining Crisscross Straps Mini Bandage Dress, Style Code: 10833, US$ 97.00

Look this elegant and classical black cocktail dress. The dress has sheath silhouette and beading details as you can show off your beauty curve.

Festive Offers For All, Now Cocktail Dresses cheaper

If you still keep an eye on our OuterInner.com advent calendar, you would like to enter to see and check out the new Christmas Bonanza Sale .

And all of the above cocktail dresses is now cheaper than before. This is our end of the month amazing discounts. May you happy savings on our all categories and merry Christmas!

Gallery

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Adrian Leighton

This gallery contains 1 photo.

What’s the best style of party dress for hourglass figures?

Gallery

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Adrian Leighton

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Love the simplicity of this pretty, red, A-line cocktail dress! Ruffles Spaghetti Straps Blues A-line Cocktail Dresses, Style Code: 01502, US$69.00

Meet The Color Of Summer: Aqua Green Occasions Dresses!

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Adrian Leighton

The Color Of Summer: Aqua Green Occasions Dresses

By Adrian Leighton

If you’re looking for the color of summer then you might think of cheerful yellows, sky blues, or floral prints. But have you considered aqua blue occasions dresses? Some call it aqua, some call it teal, and of course there are other different shades as you can see here.

We think that it’s a great color for occasions dresses that you might wear to a summer party or wedding, but what do you think?

Which Aqua Green Occasions Dresses Do You Like?

Here are a few aqua green occasions dresses from OuterInner.com, so hopefully they can give you some inspiration for your next dress

Tulle Bubble Shoulder Color Block Cocktail Dress, Style Code: 08631, US$94.00

Scoop Sheath Greens Mini Sleeveless Evening Wear, Style Code: 06462, US$59.00

Sheath Short Elastic Silk-Like Satin Spaghetti Straps Cocktail Dresses, Style Code: 01290, US$69.00

Sweetheart Column Mini Sleeveless Beading Cocktail Dresses, Style Code: 05512, US$94.00

If you like these dresses and want to see more similar aqua green occasions dresses then you can by clicking that link and going directly to our store!

group on 2012 save up to 60% off your next outerinner.com dress

Be the FIRST to get special offers, great deals and see OuterInner.com’s new products! Simply register for FREE here for an OuterInner account and you’ll get our great newsletter and be able to shop with us when you’re ready!

Trend Watch: Lace Cocktail Dresses

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Adrian Leighton

Gorgeous Lace Cocktail Dresses

Looking at Brooklyn Decker’s amazing lace cocktail dress that she was wearing at the SPIKE TV video game awards 2011 I was inspired and set out to find which lace cocktail dresses from OuterInner.com were similar, but no doubt much cheaper!

Lace Cocktail Dresses Are Just Fabulous

As we move from 2011 into 2012 there’s still time to look at some cocktail dresses which are so trendy right now and grab one in time for holiday season parties…lace cocktail dresses. When I talk about lace forget thoughts of old ladies; lace is really in right now!

If it’s good enough for Brooklyn, then it’s good enough for you, so if you’re ready to get some lace in your wardrobe then check out these beauties which are on offer right now from us at OuterInner

Click the pictures or link below for further information and prices:

one shoulder A-line lace cocktail dresses

Not only is this a one-shoulder dress which is such a cool look right now, but also features lace applique which is both striking and pretty. You can check out this lace cocktail dress right here, and best of all is it’s price. A bargain at just $84!

This is a very pretty lace cocktail dress with lovely lace decoration at the neck, bust and hem. It’s not so wild, but it’s a very elegant party dress which would be great for work functions for example. Pick it up for just $99.

A beautiful tiered lace cocktail dress which is cute and has a kind of glamorous 1920s’ style. This party favorite is just $109!

If your legs are one of your best assets, or you’re looking for a party dress that you can dance comfortably in then you’ll love this sleeveless lace cocktail dress which features pretty lace applique on the bodice which is a pleasant change in color and texture from the rest of the dress. It could be yours for $89.

Fabulous A-line strapless lace cocktail dress with quite a lot of lace which gives it a pretty, girly look. Yours for $99.

Definitely a lace sheath cocktail dress with a touch of class. We love how the neckline is almost an illusion style thanks to the sheer lace there. Great value at $69.

So if you’re loving the style of these lace cocktail dresses then there’s good news as there are even more waiting for you to discover if you click that link!

Do you love lace? Do you have any lace cocktail dresses? Which one of these styles would you choose if you were going to buy one? Please let us know by leaving a comment below!

Want to save 65% off the price of your OuterInner dress? Now you can! Watch this video now to see how the OuterInner.com ‘Holiday Group On Offer’ works:

Be the FIRST to get special offers, great deals and see our new products! Simply register for FREE here for an OuterInner account and you’ll get our great newsletter and be able to shop with us when you’re ready!

Don’t forget to join the fun on facebook and Twitter!

Ditch Your LBD For Red Cocktail Dresses This Christmas

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Adrian Leighton

Christmas Party Style From OuterInner: Red Cocktail Dresses

Ditch The LBD In Favor Of A Red Cocktail Dresses This Christmas!

We know you love your trusty LBD, and what’s not to love as it’s a faithful friend in your wardrobe that ‘goes’ with almost any occasion! However, I’m here to ask you to take a chance, to make a change this Christmas – ditch the LBD and go for red cocktail dresses instead!

Celebrities are loving this trend too. Here’s Nicole Richie in her red cocktail dress recently ready for Christmas:

Picture from Getty

Red Is A Very Festive Color

The color of holly beries, Rudolf’s nose and Santa’s costume…Red is unmistakeably ALL about Christmas! Whilst black is a very versatile and slimming color, its brighter cousin red is also versatile, yet also more fun and eye-catching!

When I say try a red cocktail dress I’m not only mentioning the typical ‘postbox red,’ as in fact there are many shades from darker such as crimsona nd ruby, through to lighter rose and pink colors.

This selection of different shades makes it easy to match your outfit before your big party, and although a crimson red is a fairly ‘obvious’ choice for Christmas, it’s timeless too!

What Kind Of Red Cocktail Dresses Can I Choose From?

A cocktail dress doesn’t only have to be incredibly short and tight. Here at Outerinner.com we offer a whole range of different red cocktail dresses that will suit women of all ages, shapes and tastes.

Red Cocktail Dresses For Party Animals

If you’re heading out to a wild party this Christmas then there are so many options of fun, short red cocktail dresses. This tee-shirt style cocktail dress is a cool and chic choice for a night out.

Not only is this a hot party dress, but one shoulder cocktail dresses like this are so ‘in’ right now!

Finally, you could go for a classic sheath style cocktail dress which is the classic ‘LBD’ look, but in red. This one has lovely ruffles too!

Red Cocktail Dresses For More Mature Women

If you’re a more mature wearer then you may be looking for something a little longer and with a little more coverage than skimp sheath dresses. Good news! We’ve got some great options:

How about this halter neck cocktail dress with short sleeves? It’s a fun dress, but not too ‘out there’ and so you’ll still look elegant too. The picture below is in a shade of brown, but rest assured this dress is available in a choice of reds

We also like this sheath cocktail dress as it’s not too short and looks so pretty with its metallic reddish color!

Knee-length Sheath Elastic Woven Satin Ruffles Red Cocktail Dresses

So, you’re sold on the idea of red cocktail dresses at Christmas time? Well, shop now from our many, many more choices by visiting our cocktail dresses category right here where you’ll find hundreds of dresses and our trademark low prices

What kind of red cocktail dresses do you like? What’s your ideal dress for a Christmas party? Are you a red convert? Let us know by leaving a comment right here!

Want to save 65% off the price of your OuterInner dress? Now you can! Watch this video now to see how the OuterInner.com ‘Holiday Group On Offer’ works:

Don’t forget to join the fun on facebook and Twitter!

5 Great OuterInner Cocktail Dresses For Christmas Party Season 2011

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Adrian Leighton

Five Cocktail Dresses For Christmas Party Season 2011

As we motor towards December the time for Christmas parties is fast approaching, but have you figured out what you’ll be wearing yet? In this blog let’s look at 5 awesome cocktail dresses that we at OuterInner.com think you’ll love this year!

Our Favourite 5 Cocktail Dresses For Christmas 2011

We’re going to explore the 5 cocktail dresses and also add some tips on the kind of shoes and accessories that you could choose to match with them as well:

Cocktail Dress One

We love LBDs, but if you’re forever wearing them and want to branch out, then this dazzling pinky T-shirt cocktail dress is a great choice as long as you’re daring.

We think that a pair of black knee-socks and some black ankle boots will go so well with this dress:

Along with some chunky bling silver jewelry like this necklace:

Definitely an outfit for a night out on the town, rather than a more sober meal with your boss!

Cocktail Dress Two

Lace cocktail dresses are so cute and we love the idea of rocking up to a party in this little number. This dress is pretty unique as not only does it feature lace, but it has an illusion neckline and is made from shimmering irridescent taffeta for some serious impact.

Try some black patent flats with a bow, as they’d go perfectly with this dress:

Cocktail Dress Three

We’re used to LBDs being very snug and figure-hugging, but this doesn’t need to be the case as this strapless empire little black dress demonstrates. We’re suggesting this LBD because an empire style dress is suitable for almost every woman, regardless of her shape or size! So this Christmas you can wow your friends by rocking an LBD, even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally wear!

A black shrug bolero like this would be ideal for this cocktail dress as it could get cold outside!

Finish off this outfit with some black high heel pumps too, like these below:

Cocktail Dress Four

Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean that you have to stick to traditional festive colors, so check out the pattern on this floral print dress which is almost oriental. It’s so gorgeous, yet a simple dress and so would work well with some plainblack and wood heels like these and black tights as well as a dark jacket to keep your arms warm when you’re outside.

Cocktail Dress Five

For our final pick we’ve gone for a super sparkly cocktail dress that we think will really help you stand out from the crowd in a party. As you can see, this dress is heavily decorated with beading and is a great party dress for if you’re out in a bar.

The purple color would go really well with some loud accessories such as these leopard print pumps or perhaps something in zebra print, such as a bag.

Also don’t forget to pile on some matching bright lipstick, perhaps in a plum shade, and go to town with purple sparkly eye-shadow!

Most of these cocktail dresses and shoes are available from us at OuterInner.com, but we’d also like to know about your favorite Christmas party outfits, so let us know which you would wear if you had the choice in the comments below and pass on your tips!

Don’t forget to join the fun on facebook and twitter!

The Guest’s Guide To Formal Dresses To Wear At A Wedding

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Adrian Leighton

Which Formal Dresses To Wear To A Wedding If You’re A Guest

Great news! You’ve been invited to a wedding, but what kind of formal dresses to wear? A very common question that we get asked here at OuterInner.com is, “What should I wear to a wedding?”

If you’re a bride or bridesmaid then it’s an easy decision, but what happens if you’re simply a guest? Do you dig out your favorite party dress? Which colors are appropriate? Is a casual outfit OK? STOP! Read on and we’re going to reveal some tips which will help you to find a great dress to wear that won’t make the bride cry!

hot pink inappropriate wedding guest dress

No, this dress isn’t appropriate! But would you believe that some girls turn up to weddings wearing dresses like this?!

Which Formal Dresses To Wear

First check the wedding invitation (if there is one) or speak to the bride or MOH as you need to have some idea of the dress code. As a rule weddings require reasonably conservative and formal dresses, but this doesn’t mean that you need to be decked out in some full-on evening dress that would be at home on the red-carpet.

The time of the wedding should yield some clues as to what to wear, and if you couple this with your own common sense then you’ll soon be sorted.

Daytime Wedding

These weddings will usually be less formal and so choose a knee or tea-length dress.

If it is hot and sunny then perhaps you’ll be outside or on the beach. In that case a sun hat and lightweight skirt will be welcome when it comes to comfort. Choose chiffon, organza, tulle or even taffeta, as these fabrics tend to be fairly light, but avoid heavier satin dresses.

Light colors fit well in the day, but of course stear clear of white so as not to upset the bride!

If you can’t bear to wear a dress, then a light colored pant suit will be great.

short formal dresses for daytime wedding

This cocktail dress is a good example of a shorter dress that is great for a daytime wedding.

Evening Wedding

Evening weddings are by their nature rather more formal, so longer skirts are ideal. If you need to try to imagine the kind of dress that’s appropriate for an evening wedding, then think a night at a posh party, dinner or awards ceremony.

A cocktail dress would also be alright on many occasions, but you need to check if a short skirt is alright.

Darker colors are also ok, certainly more so than during the day, but it’s generally better to avoid black (unless you’re wearing an LBD). Perhaps purple, maroon or gray for instance are good choices.

Accessorize with some nice and elaborate jewelry as evening weddings tend to be far more dressy.

This floor-length evening dress is great for an evening wedding and it’s conservative without being too ‘old’ looking.

So in general a more casual dress with short skirt is good for a daytime wedding, but choose a longer skirt and more formal dress for an evening or formal wedding.

You might like to check our cocktail dresses and evening dresses categories for a great selection of low-priced formal dresses that will be suitable for any wedding

What’s your advice for formal dresses to wear to a wedding if you’re a guest? Have you ever had or seen a fashion disaster at a wedding? Add a comment below please!

Don’t forget to join the fun on facebook and twitter!

All You Need To Know About Wearing Smart Casual Dresses To Work…(And What To Avoid)

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Adrian Leighton

Going Smart Casual At Work

Comfy, but NOT smart casual!

So you can wear more casual attire in your office…cool! But what to wear is sometimes a difficult question, as you neither want to appear too formal nor like a slob! In this case the word casual can be a bit of a trap, as the question really isn’t how casual you can go, but, in the case of dresses, which are relaxed enough to not look too stuffy or over-dressed yet still professional.

Here at OuterInner.com our speciality is occasions dresses as you know, so join me on a journey to the casual side…

Tasteful

Casual wear in the office does NOT mean that it’s time to break out the leopard print or very short skirts! You need to not only choose a dress that’s comfortable to work in and looks smart, but is also appropriate to wear around your colleagues. After all, you don’t want to be the talk of the office for all the wrong reasons!

Pretty, but not great for work.

Quite muted colors or patterns would be better, so consider neutral tones such as sand, gray and khaki, or perhaps some inoffensive patterns like a slim pinstripe or light floral print. A great tip is to look at the color and pattern of the dress you’re thinking of wearing and consider if you’d wear a blouse like this to work. If you would, then it’s probably an acceptable choice!

This cocktail dress (and many cocktail dresses in general in my opinion) is a good example of a more ‘smart casual’ occasions dress that could be worn at work as well as to parties and proms instead of slobbing about in jeans and t-shirt:

Watch Your Neckline

Remember that this isn’t a wild weekend with the girls! Since you’re in the office, even though it’s more casual, you should choose styles that aren’t too revealing and low-cut. A big part of this is the dress’s neckline, as these usually dictate how revealing the dress is going to be. Let’s look at a few that are casual, but suitable for work:

A scoop neckline is always a winner in the office as it suits most women and bust sizes:

High v-necks are also very appropriate, but avoid really deep v-necks of course!

I also think a bateau is a classic and certainly not revealing style:

How Short Is Too Short?

Length is also an issue to be aware of, as your boss isn’t going to be impressed if your mini is riding up and exposing a lot of thigh!

Luckily there’s an easy way for you to measure if your dress is too short. Just let your arms drop to your sides and if your fingertips are below the hem of the dress then it’s TOO short for work!

Remember Appropriate Shoes

If you’re in a ‘casual’ frame of mind then it’s perhaps too easy to go too far with your shoes and turn up in a pair of flip-flops, but you will be better served by sticking to shoes that cover the whole foot. A pair of simple flats like these ballet flats should do the trick and they’re comfy too:

What kind of dress do you wear in your casual workplace? Do you have any tips about dress types that work well in this situation? What’s your style no-no for work? Let us know as a comment below please?

Don’t forget to join the fun on facebook and twitter!