When you think about elegance and style in a lady you visualize her in an elegant dress or billowing gown. Weddings, proms, or a sweet sixteens bash, whatever the occasion girls and ladies love to wear a beautiful, feminine dress to suit the event. Cocktail dresses have been popular evening wear for over a century. With varying lengths and hemlines these dresses have been the most fashionable evening wear for Western women for over three generations. Young girls are also attracted to the cocktail dress for parties and events. Current movie stars like Selena Gomez, Emma Watson, Blake Lively among others and celebrities like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian have made cocktail dresses a necessity for every young fashionista. When aspiring for the diva look, nothing beats a trendy short cocktail dress.

Different hemlines, necklines, cuts and layers make cocktail dresses such versatile attire. They can be beaded, sequined, stone or jewel embellished or dressed up with feathers and bows. Designers can have a field day with designing cocktail dresses. The most common and classic example of this form of evening attire is the Little Black Dress (LBD), a knee length or shorter black classic cut outfit considered a staple of every stylish woman’s wardrobe. Dressed up or down it can be worn with jacket and pumps for daytime and accessorized with jewelry for an elegant evening out. The LBDs are a common and popular part of a modern lady’s closet because of its timeless grace. Until the First World War black was considered an exclusive color for mourners. Coco Chanel was credited as making a black dress a fashion statement. Since the 1920s the LBD has achieved the cult status it enjoys till today.

Modern movie actresses and popular female artistes are embracing the trend of looking more feminine. The newer breed of movie stars wears the leading designer wear to all their media events. Designers bend over backwards for the popular actresses or artistes to wear their couture and give them publicity. The Oscars and other Movie Awards and Music Awards ceremonies are as much about fashion and design as they are about celebrating entertainment and talent. Media and magazines have bombarded us with images of these gorgeous women with their couture outfits, leading their successful lives and enjoying such popularity and fame. What a girl wants for her prom or wedding would be the same look of opulence and grace. Cocktail dresses are the way to achieve that look.

Ladies looking for vintage or retro cocktail dresses in all sizes can visit the website of Bettie Page or visit Bettie Page Boutiques for a wide variety of timeless fashion.