women dress for cocktail party Dresses Size 2 4 6 8 Evening Wedding Guest Elegant Midi Classic Match Discover 100 Cocktail Party Dresses

Evening weddings (after 6 PM): Floor-length gowns feel more appropriate Richer colors and metallics work beautifully Formal accessories become more important Think refined evening elegance Afternoon events (before 5 PM): Sophisticated cocktail dresses fit perfectly Lighter colors and softer tones work well Slightly less formal accessories are fine Elegant but not necessarily full evening wear Time-of-day uncertainty: Choose the more formal option Darker colors work across timeframes Accessories can adjust formality up or down Venue Influence on Dress Choice Location provides clues about where to land on the formality spectrum

On one hand, one might choose to let these grand dresses be the star of the ensemble, opting for understated jewelry to keep the attention on the gown, like in the examples above

But consider bringing some breezy black pieces into your closet

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear