How to Choose Your Evening Gown?

Have you been invited to an event, a party, or a cocktail gathering and wondering which evening dress to wear? Are you curious about which style will flatter your figure? What colour should you choose to highlight your best features?

I'll help you out.

As a fashion enthusiast, I understand how the evening gown is the centerpiece of your gala look. To make a statement in an evening gown, it’s essential to choose it thoughtfully.

To assist you in this task that can be quite complicated, I present to you this comprehensive guide, which offers simple and detailed tips to find the dress of your dreams.

There are several factors to consider when choosing your evening gown, such as the style of the dress, the colour, the silhouette, and the fabric. Take your time to pick an evening gown that flatters your figure, and if you're unsure, go for a mid-length flared dress with a V-neckline, which suits most body types beautifully. To complete your look, don’t forget to select a lovely pair of heels (flats or stilettos, depending on your preference), along with a matching clutch and some simple, elegant accessories.

Want to know more details? Keep reading to find out:

• What dress to wear for a very formal, semi-formal, or casual event,
• How to enhance your body shape with an evening dress,
• What colour of dress to choose based on your skin tone, eyes, and hair,
• How to accessorise and pair the dress with footwear,
• And plenty of dress examples for all women, regardless of their body shape!

Depending on the Type of Event You Are Attending

No matter what occasion you're dressing up for, the first piece of advice I can give you is to try and choose a dress that matches the event you're attending. This way, you'll feel completely comfortable there, without worrying about being over-dressed or, conversely, under-dressed.

There are certain nuances for specific occasions, but to keep it simple, we can identify these three types of occasions:

• Very Chic and Dressy : events related to the fashion world, prestigious weddings, luxury events, movie-related cocktails…
• Formal : classic or civil weddings, baptisms, professional cocktails,
• Casual : birthday parties, gatherings with friends.

👉 Don’t forget to check if there’s a specific theme for the wedding or event, as this could influence the dress code. For instance, for a rustic bohemian wedding with an outdoor civil ceremony, a casual and light dress would fit the occasion better than a formal suit.

For a Chic and Smart Event

In this case, choose an outfit that’s thoughtfully selected to showcase your elegance. A solid-coloured long dress is usually a must, or perhaps a designer suit. Don't forget to pair your dress with chic high-heeled shoes and trendy accessories for a final look that's just right for the occasion!

For a Formal Event

Depending on your preferences, you can choose between a women's pantsuit, a long or mid-length dress, or even a flowy jumpsuit. It's better to go for simple patterns, or even something in a solid colour, like pastel tones or a neutral colour, to achieve a chic and polished look.

👉 If it’s a wedding, steer clear of shades like white, cream, and ivory to avoid upstaging the bride, as well as the dresses of the bridesmaids. However, if your outfit has a small white detail, it's usually not a big deal and shouldn't offend anyone. 😉

For a Simple and Casual Event

For this type of event, you are free to wear an outfit that suits you: feel free to go for a lovely print, a short dress, or even a flowy jumpsuit. If the atmosphere is casual, it might be best to avoid long cocktail dresses mentioned in the section for very formal occasions, as it could make you look a bit overdressed for the event.

Identifying Your Body Shape to Choose a Dress that Flatters You

Some evening dresses may look stunning in a shop window, but they might not fit as well when you try them on. To avoid this kind of disappointment, it's crucial to know your body shape and use that knowledge to find a dress that truly highlights your best features.

👉 If you’re unsure about your body shape, you can always opt for a simple mid-length flared dress with a V-neckline, as this classic style flatters most figures.

For an A-shaped body, with curvy thighs, hips, and generous backside

If the widest part of your body is towards the lower half, the best party dress for you would definitely be a fit-and-flare dress, which flares out from the waist. Opt for soft and flowing fabrics to avoid the tutu effect, as that could exaggerate your curves instead of flattering them.

Evening dresses that fall just above the knee will really flatter your figure. You can also play with colours by opting for a dress that has a light-coloured top half and a darker bottom half, drawing attention to your neckline.

For an O-shaped figure with some curves around the tummy

This body shape typically has a relatively wide waist, so it's a good idea to choose an evening dress that visually elongates your torso and doesn't accentuate your curves too much. For this, opt for an empire waist dress, which is fitted just below the bust.

Highlight your assets, which means your shoulders and neckline: to do this, don’t hesitate to pick party dresses with a stylish neckline, lace details on the shoulders, or even wear a jacket with shoulder pads over your dress.

👉 As much as possible, try to avoid wide prints, ruffles, and body-hugging dresses, as they are not the best choices to highlight your lovely curves.

For an 8-shaped or hourglass figure, with a very feminine silhouette

With this type of body shape, you can wear almost anything! Consider accentuating your slim waist with a fitted evening gown at this point: it can be body-hugging or loose, depending on what you prefer.

👉 To maintain a chic look, you can choose to show off either your neckline or your legs, but it's best to avoid pairing a plunging neckline with a short party dress. 😉

For an H-shaped body, with a slim waist and a tall, slender silhouette

Add layers and volume (with drapes, ruffles, etc.) is an ideal option for women with a slim and elongated figure. This will help accentuate your body’s curves and give you a very feminine look. If you’re tall, your legs are a real asset: showcase them with a short evening dress!

👉 Avoid straight and long dresses that cling closely to your body, as they may not be the best fit for highlighting your figure.

For Those with a Smaller Bust

If you have a smaller bust, I recommend steering clear of V-neck or heart-shaped necklines, as well as evening gowns designed for larger busts. Instead, go for a bandeau or round neckline with short sleeves. You can dress it up with details that add volume, such as sequins or a multi-chain necklace...

👉 If you have a smaller bust, you can wear a evening gown with sheer details much more easily. Make the most of it!

Choosing the Colour that Enhances Your Eyes, Hair, and Skin Tone

Once you’ve decided on the shape and style of your evening gown, the next question is about the colour. Indeed, by choosing a party dress that complements certain features of your physique, you can definitely naturally enhance your complexion and look radiant!

Based on Your Skin Tone

There are two main skin undertones: cool undertones and warm undertones. If you belong to the first category, you tend to blush rather than tan, your veins appear more purple or blue, and silver jewellery looks best on you. On the other hand, if your skin has a warm undertone, it takes on a lovely golden hue in the sun, your veins are more greenish, and gold jewellery flatters you much more than silver.

Here’s how to match the colour of your evening gown with your skin undertone, so you can brighten your face and enhance your figure:

• Cool undertones: pastel shades that are elegant, soft, and romantic will suit you best. Go for pale pink, light blue, lilac, and cream beige…
• Warm undertones: bright, bold, and even pop colours are the ones to prioritise. Dare to try orange, bright red, teal, and even yellow or apple green!

Based on Your Eye Colour

If you often receive compliments about your eyes and they have a striking colour, take advantage of it: you can choose a party dress that complements them for a unique and monochromatic look. In this case, be sure to choose your makeup carefully to highlight your eyes, as well as your hairstyle to keep them prominent.

According to Your Hair Colour

Just like the colour of your eyes, the colour of your hair can also guide you in choosing the perfect evening gown, especially if your hair is long or medium-length. Here are some tips based on different hair shades:

• Blondes: Pair your look with a green, pale pink, brown, black or sky blue evening dress.
• Brunettes: A coral, navy blue, red, or mustard dress will really enhance your features.
• Redheads: Bright blue, navy blue, and black work well, but the best choice is a green dress, as it’s the complementary colour for red. Don’t shy away from emerald green or khaki, which will particularly flatter your look!
• Grey-haired: If you have white or salt-and-pepper hair, opt for pale pink, black, or blue to complement your style.

How to accessorise your party dress?

While your dress is the main feature of your evening outfit, I recommend paying special attention to the choice of shoes and accessories you wear with it, as they are what will complete your look. If everything looks harmonious and tasteful, the result will be perfect!

Choose Stylish and Matching Shoes

When you're wearing an evening dress, chic shoes are a must: I highly recommend stilettos or heeled sandals with delicate straps. If you're not very comfortable in high heels, you can go for slimmer flat heels, which would also be suitable for this type of outfit.

For the colour of your shoes, I recommend choosing them:

• either in a tone-on-tone style, matching the colour of your dress, to achieve an ultra-trendy total look,
• or in a complementary colour that matches your handbag or clutch, to contrast the shade of your dress and balance out your silhouette.

What type of bag goes well with an evening dress?

To showcase your dress, I recommend a simple and elegant clutch that’s understated. If you don’t feel like holding your clutch all day, there are options with a removable thin strap, which can be very handy when you need to keep your hands free.

👉 Does your clutch have metallic details? Wear jewellery in the same shade for a chic look!

I hope this guide has helped you in the selection of your evening gown, based on your body shape, the type of event you're attending, and your personal preferences! Don't forget to take good care of your makeup and hairstyle for a flawless look! 😉

If you're still on the hunt for that perfect piece, don’t hesitate to check out our online store: we curateunique and trendy dresses for every occasion! With affordable prices and free delivery, you’ll definitely be the belle of the ball!

Long Bohemian Dress