How to Buy Women's Special Occasion Dresses

There is no magic formula to find the "one," but there are a couple of ways to spot a dress that will set you apart from the crowd.

Knowing what's available, where to shop, and what type of dress to choose for your event can take the stress out of dress shopping and help you look your best. Don't stress over what to wear to a wedding or your next class reunion. Yes, shopping for special occasion dresses can be fun. Here's how to find out more about what to wear to a wedding, black tie, cocktail and other special event dressing.

Popular Styles

Textured
It's a common misconception that textured dresses with pleating, ruching, or draping add volume. Textured fabric also adds a sense of movement to a dress for a special event. They do quite the opposite, in fact, and are a great way to camouflage problem areas. Ruching, pleating, or draping in the right place can minimize your bust, tummy, hips, or all of the above.

Vintage-Inspired
This pieces are everywhere you look these days. These silhouettes have been around for decades for a reason -- they're timeless and flattering. Shift dresses, pencil length hems, and sweetheart necklines are just some of the classic styles that have had a recent resurgence. Wallpaper florals and polka dots are classic vintage prints that liven up any casual party dresses.

Selecting the Right Type of Dress

Casual Party Dresses
Not all special occasions are fancy. Daytime and non-formal events allow for more casual dress. You still want to look put-together and stylish, but you can look into cotton or jersey fabrics and choose printed dresses that would not be appropriate for more formal events. A wrap dress is always a great choice.

Cocktail Dresses
Cocktail dresses are the most versatile type of special occasion dress. They can be worn to any semi-formal event and are available in numerous styles. The LBD is the most famous of the cocktail dress category, and for good reason.

Evening Gowns
Evening gowns are required for formal and black-tie events. Formal and black-tie events tend to be slightly more serious and it would be inappropriate to wear an overly festive gown. You can certainly wear color and dresses with embellished accents so long as you keep it simple and avoid anything too loud or flashy.

Shopping Tips

1. Get something comfortable! This can't be stressed enough. While formalwear is inherently less comfortable than most clothing, try your best to find something that feels good. You don't want to spend the night fidgeting and adjusting your dress.

2. Do not wait until the last minute to find the right dress. If you want a pulled together, polished look, be sure to do your homework. It will show.