Evening dresses, unlike more casual dress wear, are specifically designed with some fancy event in mind. Whether they are short dresses or long dresses, simple or adorned, they are definitely in a class of their own. You may be able to wear a business suit or pants suit to an evening banquet, but you would not wear your evening dress to a casual get together.
Evening dresses do not have to be worn in the evening. Instead, it really just sets the tone for the event since most formal affairs occur in the after-hours. Elegant evening and formal dresses can be worn during the day for a semi-formal or formal as well, such as an outdoor wedding reception with huge party tents. In addition to weddings, evening dresses can be worn for dances, socials, proms, homecomings, galas, banquets, and black tie affairs. Some events may call for a ball gown while others may be perfectly suited for a cocktail dress.
The length of the evening dress can make a difference in determining the degree of formality. Traditionally longer gowns are considered more formal and that is why ball gowns are appropriate for balls, galas, pageants, and black tie affairs. While you may decide not to wear a fully layered petticoat ball gown to a semi-formal, other floor length evening and prom dresses are perfectly suited for events such as proms, homecoming, and banquets.
Short dresses have become accepted as evening dresses as well, although they are usually worn for semi-formals and not formals. A semi-formal typically requires a suit and tie for men whereas a formal requires a tuxedo. If your date is wearing a tuxedo, you may want to consider a longer evening dress for a more traditional formal look and if your date is wearing a suit you can play with different length options.
There are no rules for the colors of evening gowns, although some colors are still considered taboo. For example, the only person wearing white at a wedding should be the bride. Also, funerals still tend to gear toward darker and more somber colors and, while it is okay to wear brighter colors, you may feel slightly awkward if your dress stands out too much from the crowd. At a party reception, standing out is what evening dresses are all about so you can pick any color or pattern that flatters you and plays up to your fashion sense.
Since there are few set rules for evening dress etiquette, you can buy almost any evening dress that suits your fancy and probably be able to wear it safely to almost any event. If you are unsure of the degree of formality, you may want to keep your dress a little more casual where it can lean either way. Evening dresses are pretty versatile, whether you are attending an afternoon affair or an evening social, so you will look perfectly attired for any event.
