If you are looking for a safer route and would rather just buy a few dresses online rather than attempt to going to the mall, I suggest sticking to the stores you know. The majority of stores that have physical stores and an online catalog actually offer more through their online catalog.  So not only do you not have to go to the mall, but you actually have more options than the physical store. You also will already know the product that these stores offer, since you are a loyal customer, allowing you to already know what kind of quality product you will be receiving. Sizing is also a bonus when you shop at online stores you are already familiar with, as sizes run differently at all stores.

So, what if you find an awesome cocktail dress that is perfect for the event, but you are not familiar with the store whatsoever?  In this instance, my biggest advice holds true. Shop early! Also, make sure you read about their return policy before buying. Does this website fully reimburse your Visa? Or do you simply receive a store credit? Or is this a final sale item? The last thing you want to have happen is being stuck with a cocktail dress that you will not ever be able to wear. Another piece of advice is that if you are worried about sizing, buy two to three different sizes in the dress and return the ones that do not fit. This is a good way to get your appropriate size and you won’t have to continue re-ordering and returning.

Online shopping is a very easy way to find exactly what you are looking for because the options are never ending. However, be careful. Once you have one success with online shopping you are never going to go back to the mall again. It is a dangerous tool at your hand and you will become addicted to online shopping. I mean who can blame you. There is a never ending list of stores waiting for you to sign on and shop at your fingertips.

If you have a medium sized figure and you have a shorter cocktail dress that is above the knee, and don’t feel comfortable showing off your legs, I suggest a pair of boots if it is winter. A pretty pair of high boots can look great for a cocktail event. However, if you are in summer I suggest wearing a dress that is longer right past the knee cap. Throw on a pair of heels and your legs will look exceptional.

If you have a bigger figure I do not suggest buying a short cocktail dress that falls above the knee at all. A more appropriate cocktail dress would fall right below the knee and I suggest wearing the dress with a pair of nylons or tights, again if it is winter. If it is summer I suggest wearing a dress that is longer no matter what. A longer dress will make you look more slimming and you will be more comfortable.  However, in winter you can get away with a shorter dress paired with nylons or tights. These will make your legs look more slimming and you will fit in with the season.

However, showing off your legs definitely is an issue of confidence. Go with your gut instinct. If you feel you have the legs and are willing to show them off, well then ladies show them off! However, if you are not willing to show off your legs follow the above tips when wearing a short cocktail dress. These tips will allow you to show off as much leg as you feel comfortable.  My biggest advice is know your body type and be honest with yourself when it comes to choosing an appropriate dress for your event.

If the event you are attending is not a formal event you can wear your hair down with a strapless dress. This is not against the rules. I do suggest adding style to your hair and try not to wear it the same way down as you always do. Adding curls to your hair also makes your hair look dressier, but not as formal as an up-do.  Wearing your hair half up also portrays this type of look, but again is not as formal as an up-do.

There is a wide range of hairstyles that you can wear with a strapless dress. Any type of hairstyle will go with a strapless dress, but rather you should be picking your hairstyle for the type of event that you are attending. Remember that if the event is a formal event, you truly want to go with an up-do, and if the event is not so formal, wearing your hair down is appropriate.  If you are unsure how formal the event is, wearing your hair half up is a safe choice because it not only shows effort, but displays a style that still allows everyone at the event to see your face and your dress. A low messy up-do is also another safe choice because the hairstyle is not as formal, so you can get away with this style at a more casual event or a dressier event. My biggest advice is to try and find out what kind of event you are attending in order to make sure you pick the appropriate hairstyle.

If you work in the fashion industry and are attending a highly important fashion event, and do not make the income necessary to buy designer clothes for such an event, then I say go for it. Rent a designer cocktail dress. In this case the outfit might further your career and you will not feel uncomfortable around the designer outfits around you. This is really the only instance I say go ahead and rent a designer cocktail dress.

Renting designer cocktail dresses are also not worth the trouble from the aspect that normally the word ‘cocktail’ describing any event, usually means that cocktails are involved, and normally food of some sort. This will cause you to be very wary of who you are standing next to and what you yourself are drinking. You will not be comfortable in your dress because you are going to be worried about spilling and ruining the dress, in some instances reasons for having to purchase the dress in the end. So, then not only did you waste money renting a very expensive dress, but now you are stuck with it and you have subtracted a huge amount from your bank account.

Stick with what you know and the stores you normally shop. You will feel more comfortable, and there is no reason why you will not be able to find a dress that will be appropriate for any event without the designer label. You will also be able to interact normally at your event, rather than be worried the whole night. Renting is definitely not a good investment unless you are going to gain something out of it in return. The most important thing to remember is if you are confident in what you are wearing, no one is going to notice whether or not you are wearing a designer label.

Extravagance is something that many women confuse with elegance. They think that the more extravagant and detailed the dress, the more elegant the dress. And that is completely false. The simpler the better if you are trying to portray the elegance and classiness that you already are.

Simple colors are definitely more elegant than their counterparts. So a good place to start is by finding a dress that is a simple color. A black cocktail dress can never be wrong, however if you want a dress with more color I suggest deeper tones as opposed to vibrant colors.

Elegance also comes through in the way the dress actually fits. Many mistakes are made by women when they are trying to find the right size in a dress. Most of the time dresses do not automatically fit you correctly and actually need to be tailored to fit your body. So, make sure when you purchase a dress that you tailor it to fit you correctly. You will automatically lose points with the look you are trying to portray if the dress does not fit you correctly.

Cocktail dresses with a little detail can also be very elegant. However, when I say a little detail I do not mean for example a dress that has bows all over it. I simply mean for example that around the neckline of your dress there is beading, or the bottom of your dress is pleated in an intricate way. The details I am speaking of are simple details that are just enough to add enough life that you are not just wearing a dress that simply says “blah” to an event.

Accessories can also add elegance to a cocktail dress. Again, if you choose to add accessories these also need to be simple. Pearls, rhinestones, and diamonds are all acceptable options when trying to accomplish elegance. You really can never go wrong with accessories such as these.

The biggest thing to stay away from when trying to find an elegant cocktail dress is a dress that reveals too much skin. This is not elegant in any way and you really cross the line of actually being trashy. You might think that the more skin you show the sexier you are, and again ladies this is another false way of thinking. Sexy is often confused with the amount of skin you show and I have to say that women are sexier when they are wearing a dress that fully covers the parts of the body that should be covered, and they are wearing a dress that fits them correctly.

Beaded cocktail dresses also make a dress more formal and dressy. The more the beading the more formal a dress is going to be. There are also many options when it comes to color. You can find a beaded dress in just about any color. Just make sure when purchasing this color is right for you. Also be careful of the weight. If the entire dress is beaded, the weight of your dress is going to be a lot heavier than a normal dress. If you have a long night ahead of you keep in mind that you are going to be carrying a few extra pounds.

The true magic of a beaded dress lies in the fact that you are able to be simple everywhere else. You are able to wear a simple pair of shoes, simple accessories, and even a simple hair-do. I suggest buying a simple pair of pumps or stilettos to wear with a beaded dress. Beading can be extravagant detail, and you do not want to take away from the beautiful detail by also wearing extravagant shoes. Also too many accessories dresses down your dress and takes away from the overall look. I suggest wearing a simple silver bracelet, a simple pair of studs, and normal length chain necklace. Pearls are also a classy option that will not take away from your dress, and will even offer a more chic look than the one you already have.

If you find a great beaded dress for a cocktail event you will not be sorry investing the extra money. This type of dress can be very elegant and dressy, and will carry from season to season because it is an easy transitional piece. Just remember to keep everything else you wear with the dress very simple. Beaded dresses automatically will make you look more formal for any event, so if you do not want to be as formal, completely forgo accessories and wear your hair very simple. Make sure not to hide the intricate detail, as this is the most beautiful part of the dress. This style of dress already says elegance, so everything else will be easy.

Petite women can basically almost wear any style as long as the dress is altered to fit correctly. I would stay away from styles, however, that draw a great amount of attention to the chest area. Petite women generally are not well endowed in the chest areas and any style that would look better with a chest is a definite no for petite women. Come on ladies, you can wear just about anything leave the cleavage dresses for the women with cleavage.

If you are having a hard time finding a petite sized cocktail dress, there are many styles and designs out there that will allow you to alter the dress and take in where needed. This will cause you to have to invest in the dress more than you probably wanted, but could be worth it if you are having trouble finding the perfect dress. The biggest problem you will probably have is with long sleeved dresses, as sleeves are a huge issue when buying a regular sized dress. This part of the alterations will be the most expensive because sleeves tend to have more detail and are more difficult to recreate the original look of the dress. Once you are okay in the sleeves and the chest area of the dress, altering the length is not an issue at all. Chopping the dress to the appropriate length is an easy step.

If you are still having a hard time finding a cocktail dress to fit your figure it is time to online shop. There are many stores that offer petite sizes in their clothes online. In order to figure out your size it is as easy as visiting the store and trying on the dress in the regular size and deciding what size you would then be in petites. This is a great option for petite sizing. There just really is not a good market for petite size clothing to be carried in physical stores as of yet, but purchasing online through the store’s online catalog is a better option than not having an option at all.

Even though shopping for a petite size cocktail dress can be frustrating, just know that there are many options out there for you. My biggest advice for you is to make sure that you shop early the event. If you are unable to shop early, make sure you purchase a dress that the tailor is able to take in and chop. Rush alterations are more expensive, but still allows you to look fantastic at any cocktail event.

Fall, winter, and night weddings can dawn a longer dress. When choosing a longer dress you also have to make sure the length is appropriate for walking. If you have to have the dresses altered to fit your bridesmaids make sure you buy the shoes beforehand so the dress can be hemmed perfectly to match the shoes. The last thing you want to happen is to find out on wedding day that the dress was altered too short because you picked a different size heel than the one tried on. Too long can be fixed, too short however can be an issue.

As for style there are many out there. Strapless is a very common choice. However, when choosing strapless dresses make sure they are altered to fit your bridesmaids up top, or else they will be fidgeting with them for the entire wedding. There are also many different fabrics. The fabric all depends on how you want the dress to look. Do you want them to be formed fitting or loose so they flow more as they walk down the isle? That is going to be personal choice, however just make sure you do not choose a fabric that looks cheap. Stick with a satin, or silk-taffeta. These are two common fabrics for bridesmaid’s dresses that look great walking down the isle and great in pictures.

Be careful choosing a vibrant color. All of your bridesmaids have different skin tones, so when choosing colors be wary of how they are going to look on everyone. There are also appropriate colors for the season that the wedding takes place. For spring and summer brighter and more vibrant colors are appropriate, such as your bright pinks, yellows, and light blues. However, for fall and winter you want to stick with more neutral and dark colors, for example, your deep reds and purples. Also, your bridesmaids are all going to be different shapes and sizes. If your wedding party varies you might consider outfitting them in different styles. This will allow all of your bridesmaids to be comfortable, but also classy walking down the isle as they will have a dress that fits their person. Stick to these tips and your bridesmaids will thank you.

If you are a fan of simple dresses it is even easier to add funky to your party style. There is nothing better than a fun pair of shoes with a simple dress. The options of shoes out there are never ending. You can find a really great funky pair of shoes that are actually absolutely beautiful. Your own sense of style can definitely be shown through your shoes. You can tell a lot by a person and their shoes.

A funky hair-do is also another way to add funky to your plus size party dress. If you are a proponent of always wearing your hair the same, then it is time to show your style through your hair. Not only will you have a lot of fun showing it off, but you will be able to show off your sense of style to everyone at the event.

If you are a proponent of shopping for an entirely new dress and are comfortable shopping for something entirely new for you, I highly recommend it. There is nothing better than a woman who shows up to a party in something no one ever thought they would wear. Patterns are really in right now, and I highly suggest a funky pattern to show off your new attitude. You do have to be careful with patterns, as there are many patterns out there that are slimming, there are also many patterns out there that are not so forgiving. When it comes to buying a patterned dress I highly recommend taking a friend along who is not afraid of being critical.

If you are leaning towards a dress that is looser around your body make sure you are still able to show off your girlish figure. Do not buy a dress that hides your body while in the process of trying to hide your belly.  I highly suggest staying away from the trash bag look.  Rather decide what you would like to show off. Maybe it’s your shoulders, arms, or legs.  There are so many styles out there, from off the shoulder dresses to strapless to halters, long and short. All of these styles will show off other parts of your body and will emphasize your beauty. Take attention off your belly by trying to show off your figure elsewhere.

Patterns also compliment a pregnant belly when the fabric flows over your body. Choose a pattern with a mix of vibrant and neutral colors. The right pattern can be slimming to the eye.  As for length, I suggest choosing a dress that cuts off at the top of your knee cap. Wear a nice pair of heels to accentuate your calves. Showing off your legs will take attention off of your belly.

My biggest advice for maternity cocktail dress shopping is making sure to wait as long as possible to buy your cocktail dress. Your body changes by the day during pregnancy, so to ensure the perfect fit buy your dress as close to the event as possible.