Hey you,

Happy Sunday. 

Is it just me or do you want another day off too? I wish I did not have to wake up early tomorrow for meetings but nevertheless, I hope you are having a great weekend. 

Today, I am excited to share my thoughts on selecting and styling evening gowns with you all.

Though straightforward in the name, there are surprisingly complex expectations associated with the appropriateness of a gown for the evening. Regardless of the era, an evening gown is connected to the everyday style with characteristics that differentiates it from an everyday dress. So, when choosing a gown for the evening, there are a few factors that determine your final look. Necklines, bodices, arms, skirts, fabric surfaces, and colors. Depending on how much of an embellishments person you are, a few (little is more) or a lot embellishments. But what about the silhouette?

It’s all about finding what best suits you because the shape of a dress dramatically enhances your overall appearance. Keeping your body type in mind and knowing what you’d like to highlight can make a lot of difference in how confident you feel inside and out. BTW, I am a big fan of cutouts and selecting a gown which has one or two cutouts in areas that you are most comfortable baring adds up to a flattering finish. 

I am also aware that prom is big deal and is an occasion that is considered as one of the best times in school life. With so many dresses and designs to choose from, it can get a little confusing to select the perfect gown for the moment. Well, don’t fret, that’s why I am here to help! 

Checkout the evening gowns I chose to wear on several occasions.

1. A-line Side Cutout Velvet Gown

In between a ballgown and a fitted dress, an A-line evening gown is a classic choice that works for anything from a formal event to a wedding party. The good part about A-line dresses is that they are a great fit and look flattering on all body types. Even though the style emphasizes the waist and the upper body, the gathered floor length skirt looks fitted to the body without any additional flair that makes it easy to carry. Moreover, if you like playing with textures, then velvet is the way to go. Velvet might be a little more eye-catching than a matte textured dress but feel free to choose the one you like or feel comfortable wearing.

  This wine-colored V-neck halter back maxi gown I bought a year ago from Forever 21 India is one of my favorites. I wore this dress to a couple events and I say, you can own any evening in this and let the compliments roll (trust me, they will). The gown also features teeny tiny side cutouts in a wine-colored velvet print. The subtle cutoff design makes the dress look a lot more attractive. Without them, the dress would have still looked nice but nowhere as classy and beautiful. You can find a green cutout velvet gown at Windsor (affordable) and if you are looking for a similar color as the one I wore, here is a halter back velvet gown at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Feel free to leave your hair untied and pair your dress with maroon open toed heels. Also, if you look closely, the curve earrings, the midi rings and the arm bracelet add a lot of character to the outfit. This evening dress is elegant, classy, and gorgeous for that cocktail party, prom and the wedding on your calendar. 

2. Mermaid Blue-Grey Cutout Gown

Among various colors this summer, classic blue appears to be the color of the year 2020 which means blue hues will be a gorgeous option for the gowns. A blue evening gown is always the safest choice and now that the color is trending this year, it is even harder to resist wearing one for the evening.

I chose a blue-grey chest cutout mermaid gown for the cocktail party. A cutout open chest cutting is a pretty popular one among evening gowns. You might already be familiar with a mermaid dress (dress that draws in at the knees like a mermaid’s tail). That’s not it. There is even more this dress has to offer- yes, it is backless. If you are looking to enhance or create an hourglass shape, this gown and the look is your fashion ticket.

If you think about it, most of the chest cutout dresses are more conservative in terms of the amount of skin they show, yet they end up looking classier than a plunging V-neck dress. This is the type of elegant dresses that is almost exclusively designed for proms. With a V-shaped back, a braided hairstyle, pretty earrings, and chunky white platform heels, this cutout chest maxi gown looks even more unique and sexy.

  I got this dress from BCBGMAXAZRIA. Did you check their website? Exactly, I love their entire collection too and I want to buy all of it as well. I know (Just like Monica does)! They are a little expensive but no worries. If you like shopping at Burlington, you can find a few amazing BCBG cocktail gowns in a real good quality and are available for about 30% of the cost price on the website.

Before you finalize your dress, don’t forget to checkout EverPretty. I absolutely love their collection of gowns (especially the highly rated) and they are available at a reasonable price.

Thank you for reading my blog. Here’s the tip for the week-

Tip #3: To find the perfect evening gown for your silhouette, identify your body type, set a budget and choose the fabric. Select a neckline as per your silhouette and remember that the safest option is an A-line dress (it looks great on all body frames) in black or blue hues. Don’t forget to accessorize to dress up or down.

Still confused what to wear? Email me or comment down below and I will be happy to assist you in finding the perfect outfit for the occasion.

If you like the blog and have any questions, comment down below what you want me to address next.

I hope you enjoyed the blog and found the perfect style for your silhouette!

Xoxo,
Stylouette

Shama Kamat