A cocktail dress no longer has to mean a stiff knee-length sheath. These are the shapes that feel current this fall, from slinky midis and sequins to a new take on the little black dress and silky minis worn with flat shoes. Each outfit is finished with a shoe and bag that keep it from looking too formal.
Cocktail Dress Shapes, From Slinky Midis to Sequins
Shapes Worth Knowing
The cocktail dress has loosened up, with slinky midis, sequins, florals and plenty of black all in the mix. A few dresses work across almost every dress code. Oscar de la Renta's navy laser-cut knitted mini, Fforme's gray satin Mila turtleneck maxi, Missoni's metallic crochet-knit mini and Khaite's black Stela midi cover everything from a gallery opening to a late dinner.
The Slinky Midi
A fluid midi is flattering and easy to move in. Dôen's printed halterneck Zilda dress and Dima Ayad's burgundy one-shoulder pleated satin dress both skim rather than cling, and St. Agni's brown leather sandals and Amanu's woven Zambia clutch keep the look relaxed.
Sequins and Shine
Sequins no longer need to be saved for the last night of the year. Staud's black sequined Phoenix midi and Clio Peppiatt's light blue Manhatten mini are both easy to wear, with Toteme's black leather slingbacks and Sophie Buhai's gold XL Reversible earrings as the only extras.
The Little Black Dress
The black dress is still the most useful thing in any evening wardrobe, but this season's versions have more going on. Alaïa's asymmetric ruffled midi and Zimmermann's draped jersey Valiant maxi both lean on shape rather than decoration, while Aeyde's suede Calea wedge pumps and The Attico's asymmetric La Passeggiata bag finish them cleanly.
Silky Minis and Flat Shoes
A silky mini looks more modern with a flat shoe than with a heel. Taller Marmo's navy cape-effect Butterfly mini and Chloé's orange lace-trimmed silk-georgette mini both work with Emme Parsons' black suede mules, and Stella McCartney's leopard velvet Falabella clutch adds a little attitude.
Our honest take
The best cocktail dress is the one you can wear to three different kinds of events without anyone noticing. If you take one thing away, let it be that shape matters more than decoration: a good slinky midi or a well-cut black dress will outlast almost any sequined trend. Flat shoes and simple bags make dressy pieces feel current. We would skip anything so tight you cannot sit comfortably through a dinner, which is where a lot of cocktail dressing goes wrong. Sequins make sense if you already go to plenty of evening events, and a knit or satin midi is the better bet if you do not. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Brown Dress Guide and Cocktail Dresses for Evenings That Start at Six.
