Formal Events Blog Posts
Strapless Dress Necklines: Which Shape Suits You
When you choose a strapless dress, you are really making two decisions: the silhouette of the dress, and the shape of the neckline acro...
The Couture Details That Hold a Gown Together
The most important parts of a couture gown are the ones you never see. A dress can look beautiful on a hanger and still fail the moment...
Dressing for the Doctoral Hood, From Ceremony to Reception
The day you are hooded is unlike any graduation that came before it. A high school commencement and a college walk are milestones, but ...
The Off-the-Shoulder Evening Dress: A Romantic Frame
An off-the-shoulder evening dress frames one of the most elegant parts of the body, the shoulders and collarbone, in a way that feels b...
The Halter Evening Dress: A Striking, Elegant Neckline
A halter evening dress frames the shoulders and the neckline in a way that very few other styles can, which is exactly why it has remai...
What to Wear to a Military Ball: A Complete Guide
A military ball is one of the more formal events a person can attend, and dressing for it comes with a few expectations that set it apa...
How to Dress for a Gala Without Second-Guessing the Invitation
A gala invitation is both exciting and a little intimidating, because a gala sits among the most formal events you will ever be invited...
The Black Tie Embassy or Diplomatic Reception Dress Guide
An embassy reception is unlike any other formal event you will attend, because the room is full of people for whom dress is a language....
The Diwali Party Dress: Modern Formalwear for a Modern Celebration
Diwali has evolved, and so has Diwali dressing. The festival of lights remains one of the most joyful and visually rich celebrations of...
Couture vs. Ready-to-Wear: Understanding True High Fashion
The fashion industry is governed by a highly specific, historically rich lexicon that is frequently misunderstood or misapplied by the ...
The Anniversary Dinner Dress: Styling Every Milestone Celebration
Reaching a major marital milestone requires an outfit that reflects the significance of the occasion. While your wedding dress was chos...
The Charity Auction Dress: Formal Elegance With Long-Sit Comfort
A charity auction is a particular kind of formal evening, and the dress that works for it is not quite the same as the dress that works...
How Pageant Judges Score the Evening Gown Competition
Every contestant who walks the evening gown phase knows that judges are scoring her, but very few understand exactly what those judges ...
What to Wear to the Opera, Symphony, and Theater
An evening at the opera, the symphony, or the theater is one of the few remaining occasions where dressing up is part of the experience...
Covered Evening Dresses: Full Coverage Without Compromising Elegance
There is a persistent myth in formal wear that coverage and glamour pull in opposite directions, that a gown which covers the arms, the...
Maternity Evening Dresses: The Formal Wear Guide for Expecting Mothers
An invitation arrives for a wedding, a gala, or an important formal event, and the timing is the kind life sometimes hands you: you are...
The Debutante Ball Dress Guide: Tradition, Etiquette, and What to Wear
A debutante ball is one of the most distinctive formal events a young woman ever attends, with its own deep traditions, particular dres...
Yellow Evening Dresses: How to Choose the Right Shade, Fabric, and Style
Of all the colors in formal wear, yellow is the one most women hesitate over and then quietly fall in love with once they try the right...
Beige Evening Dresses: How to Choose the Right Shade, Fabric, and Style
There is a quiet kind of glamour that does not announce itself. It walks into a room and earns attention through restraint rather than ...
Choosing the Right Perfume for a Formal Event: A Pairing Guide
The dress is chosen. The shoes are sorted. The jewelry is laid out. And then there is the small detail most people leave to the last fe...
How to Not Look Like the Bride: The Wedding Guest Mistakes That Cross the Line
Every wedding guest knows the basic rule: do not wear white. What far fewer women realize is that white is only the most obvious way to...
Navigating Sheer Fabrics: What to Wear Under an Illusion or Mesh Formal Dress
Sheer and illusion fabrics are some of the most beautiful things in formalwear. They let beading appear to float on bare skin, turn a n...
The Evening Dress Layering Guide: Wraps, Capes, and Jackets for Every Climate
The single most overlooked element of formal dressing is the layer you add on top. A beautifully chosen evening gown can be undermined ...
How to Sit Gracefully in a Formal Gown: Skirts, Posture, and Photo-Ready Composure
You can practice walking, perfect your hair, and choose the right shoes, and the moment that often catches you off guard is the simples...
The Invisible Underwear Guide: What to Wear Under Any Formal Dress
You have found the dress, scheduled the alterations, and chosen the shoes. Then you slip it on for a final check and see it: a faint li...
Evening Dress Trains: When to Wear One and How to Manage It
Few things make an entrance like a train. That sweep of fabric trailing behind a gown turns a walk across a room into a moment, which i...
How Formal Wear Was Born: A Look into the Past
Have you ever wondered how formal wear came to be what it is today? The history of formal wear is an enthralling journey through time, ...
Exploring the Fashion Time Machine: The Evolution of Evening Dresses
Elegance, sophistication, and glamour - these are the words that come to mind when we think of evening dresses. The story of these ench...
Accessorizing Your Evening Dress: A Jewel for Every Occasion
Dressing for a special occasion can be exciting and challenging, especially when finding the perfect accessories to complement your cho...
How to Pick the Perfect Shoes for Your Evening Dress: Tips & Tricks
Finding the perfect shoes to complement your evening dress can be a daunting task, especially when you need to consider factors like st...
Top 5 Unique Jumpsuits to Wear This Fall 2023
Fall is just around the corner, and there's one item you need to try out for the new season - a jumpsuit! These pretty one-piece design...
From Desk to Gala: How to Transform a Formal Day Look into an Evening Event Masterpiece
The invitation says the gala begins at seven. Your day, realistically, does not end until six. Somewhere between a full schedule of mee...
How to Confidently Wear a Thigh-High Slit Dress to a Formal Event
A thigh-high slit dress is one of the most striking choices in formalwear, and it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many women lov...
The Evening Bag Edit: Selecting the Perfect Clutch for Heavily Embellished Gowns
A heavily embellished gown is a beautiful problem to style. When a dress is covered in beadwork, crystals, or sequins, it has already c...
Mastering the High-Low Hemline: Where and How to Wear an Asymmetrical Evening Gown
Some dresses make a quiet entrance. A high-low gown is not one of them. The cut is short at the front and long at the back, so it shows...
Embracing Asymmetry: The Enduring Allure of the Single-Shoulder Silhouette
In the realm of high fashion, visual balance does not always demand perfect symmetry. For decades, master designers have played with pr...