Ladies Cocktail Dresses | Tuckernuck
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! Dress to impress in Tuckernuck’s thoughtful selection of cocktail dresses. Picked with your stylish lifestyle in mind, these cocktail party dresses look great for everything from date nights and dinner parties to formal work events and weddings. There’s a cocktail gown or elegant cocktail dress for any party just waiting for you.
What Is a Cocktail Dress?
A cocktail dress is a wardrobe necessity and the best thing to wear for special occasions in your life. Since the creation of cocktails in the 1920s, there’s been a cocktail attire look that people would wear while being served drinks. It was a little bit dressier than day wear, but not as formal as eveningwear. The cocktail dresses we know and love today started to take shape in the late 1940s when Christian Dior started to market his cocktail dresses. These dresses used elegant materials like tulle and silk, but as the years have gone on, styles have become more up to interpretation. Now, a black cocktail dress is a tried-and-true option that you can wear almost anywhere.
What Are the Best Cocktail Dresses to Wear to a Wedding?
A cocktail dress is a great option to wear to a wedding, especially if the dress code is semi formal or cocktail. Go for cocktail dresses that are below the knee and in more luxurious materials like satin, silk, and velvet. The fabrics are more luxurious and they photograph better than a crepe or cotton. Make sure you follow the traditional wedding guest guidelines: stay away from white, creams, and pastels and red to make sure you don’t upstage the bride, and make sure to wear something that speaks to the couple’s own aesthetic.
Have more questions about what to wear to a wedding as a guest? Check out our Fall Wedding Guest Guide.
Are you the bride looking for a dress to wear to your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or welcome party? Discover our selection of white cocktail dresses that you can wear for your big day.
What Types of Cocktail Dresses Do We Have?
Consider Tuckernuck your one-stop shop for all things cocktail dresses. With designer dresses from brands you love like STAUD, Simkhai, CLEA, and La DoubleJ, there’s are
unique cocktail dresses just waiting for you.
Looking for occasion dresses like a black tie wedding guest dress for winter or a summer cocktail dress? Head to our black tie shop or our summer dress shop. In need of a bump-friendly style? We’ve also got a selection of maternity cocktail dresses.
Can Cocktail Dresses Be Long?
Yes! A cocktail dress can be as long as ankle length. If you have a dress that’s longer than that (like a floor length gown) save it for your next black tie event.
Can Cocktail Dresses Be Short?
Yes! A cocktail dress can be short. Traditionally a cocktail dress hits somewhere below the knee to your ankles, but a dress right above the knee is also seen as appropriate cocktail attire these days.
Tuckernuck offers mini dresses, midi dresses, and maxi dresses in multiple styles.
The Best Fabrics for Cocktail Dresses
Specialty fabrics are best for cocktail dresses. From dupioni to velvet, these more exclusive fabrics just look better and make the event itself feel all the more special. Want to have something more whimsical than just a little black dress? Colorful jacquards and floral prints are great for cocktail attire when done right.
How to Find a Cocktail Dress:
1. Think About the Event
What event are you going to that requires a cocktail dress? Is it a wedding, a work event, or just a fancy dinner? Make sure to take a look at the invitation to help give you more context clues. If the party starts after sunset, go for darker, moodier tones and more elevated accessories. If it starts right at 5, think of something that you can wear straight to the party from the office.
2. Think About Your Budget
Take time to consider how much you are willing to spend on a cocktail dress. If you have a tight budget, it might be best to go with something you already have and then amp it up with new accessories and shoes. If you are willing to spend, be thoughtful with your purchase. Is this the type of cocktail dress you want to wear again or is it for a themed event?
3. Get the Dress Altered to Fit You
The key to looking your best is getting your dress tailored. This ensures that everything fits you just right on the day. This does take some planning on your part. We recommend getting your dress tailored a month in advance of the event to make sure your tailor has ample time to get it just right.
Have more questions about cocktail dressing? Head to our Expert’s Guide to Cocktail Attire to learn more.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! Dress to impress in Tuckernuck’s thoughtful selection of cocktail dresses. Picked with your stylish lifestyle in mind, these... See More