A cocktail dress is a woman’s dress worn at cocktail parties, and semi-formal occasions. While the basic parameters of a cocktail dress have remained relatively constant over time, there are two themes that do vary, the type of print and the length of the dress.
The length of cocktail dresses varies depending on fashion and local custom. The length ranges from just above the knee to touching the ankle. When it is about 2 inches above the ankle it is called tea length and when it is almost touching the ankle it is called ballerina length, although ballerina length dresses usually fall into the evening dress category.
The fabric used defines the category. A bright, happy pattern, usually tropical or floral is often referred to as a sundress. The classic little black dress is actually just a sundress in a goth flavor!
At semi-formal occasions, less elaborate, shorter-length cocktail dresses may be worn. Prior to the mid 20th century this type of dress was known as ‘late afternoon’. When gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or afternoon skirt and dresses.
By the 1980s the criteria by which a garment was considered a cocktail dress was not its length, but its level of sumptuousness.
In the mid-20th century, some couturiers began describing full-skirted cocktail gowns as “dancing costumes”. These are suitable for formal dances but not for balls, or other white tie affairs, where ball gowns are worn.
Christian Dior was the first to use the term “cocktail dress” to refer to early evening wear, in the late 1940s.
There is a thriving industry of wearing what the movie stars wear on the red carpet. Theses dresses may actually be muumuus in design, but are then imparted the title of ‘cocktail dress’. It seems that the name makes the fashion.
