When the opportunity to shed your loungewear and shimmy into something with a little more pageantry arises, we don't blame you for wanting to go all out.
Formal events are more of a rarity in the social calendar so when the occasion arises, a new frothy frock is just the ticket to honour it and make you feel confident and ready to dance the night away.
Cocktail dresses are inherently festive, which is why winter is the prime season to update your eveningwear. It's called the party season for a reason, so you'll need a suitably Christmassy look with a silhouette that has re-wear appeal for wedding guest dressing too.
Sequins are a given, taking precedence in high street displays year in, year out. We’ve also seen the resurrection of 1920s flapper style fringing in recent months, complemented by beaded elements and all-over tassels that are pleasingly vintage in their aesthetic.
Unlike restrictive black tie dressing, cocktail attire is a chance to cash in on more avant-garde designs. We’re talking decadence with gold lamé detailing, metallic colourways, fish scale-esque paillettes and plumes of feathers always on the sartorial menu.
Brands such as 16Arlington, Self-Portrait and Ashish were created with a dictate to redefine cocktail dressing. Establishing party girls as their muse, these luxury labels have dominated the eveningwear scene, prompting Mango, Massimo Dutti, & Other Stories and other high street haunts to follow suit.
Vintage stores like Annie’s Ibiza and Karen Vintage are also treasure troves of opulent cocktail pieces, as proven by their glittering celebrity clientele. If a shop comes Kate Moss-approved (aka the ultimate party girl), it’s firmly on our radar.
Due to their extravagant nature, cocktail dresses don’t come cheap. Even affordable brands up the prices of their party lines, as more craftsmanship and materials are required to make them. Charity shops are a great place to find cocktail dresses on a budget, as well as pre-loved or rental clothing apps.
But for those who don’t want the faff of rummaging through rails of clothing, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the best cocktail dresses to shop this season for a truly head-turning entrance.
Shop now
Best wedding guest dresses: The stylish wedding guest dresses and outfits to shop now
Best online clothing sales to shop right now: October deals you don’t want to miss
Best shapewear for women to support the tummy, hips and thighs
Best winter dresses for women to shop for a chic look this season
Best knitted dresses for winter 23/24, from Missoni to Mango
Batsheva Wendy Ruched Holographic Lamé Mini Dress
Candyfloss tones, metallic lamé and romantic ruching collide to form Batsheva’s dazzling fairytale frock.
Buy now £275.00, Net-A-Porter
Massimo Dutti Short Halter Neck Dress
Keep it classic with a timeless LBD featuring a flattering halter neck silhouette.
Buy now £129.00, Massimo Dutti
Topshop Sequin Shift Mini Dress
Take inspiration from Studio 54 with Topshop’s glittering shift dress reminiscent of Swinging Sixties style.
Buy now £150.00, ASOS
Self-Portrait Crystal-trim Textured-knit Mini Dress
Channel sweetheart sass with Self-Portrait’s ever-popular tweed mini with an iridescent crystal trim.
Buy now £380.00, Matches
16Arlington Solaria Keyhole-neck Sequinned-tulle Dress
What more could a woman want than sequins, cut-outs and delicate tie detailing? 16Arlington is ready to party. Are you?
Buy now £1290.00, Matches
Warehouse Premium Metallic Faux Leather Dress
This mini dress makes a serious case for futuristic fashion. A metallic sheen made from vegan leather offers a sculptural evening look.
Buy now £41.30, Warehouse
Fiorucci Mascara Graphic Print Maxi Dress
Fiorucci takes cocktail dresses literally. The Italian brand’s graphic maxi is a playful, tongue-in-cheek addition to your eveningwear arsenal.
Buy now £275.00, Fiorucci
Reformation Gabby Dress
Regency-era colourways and textiles come to life in Reformation’s baroque mini dress.
Buy now £245.00, Reformation
Omnes Rana Dress
Sleek and slinky are two words that come to mind when considering Omnes’ failproof designs.
Buy now £55.00, Omnes
Rixo Claudette Gold Bandeau Dress
Get your outfit to do all the talking with Rixo’s resplendent Claudette dress which boasts sheathes of molten gold detailing and a retro dropped waist.
Buy now £345.00, Rixo
& Other Stories Big Bow-Detailed Mini Dress
Embrace darling dressing and turn up the twee. & Other Stories’ loves to recycle its distinctive bow-clad motif, and this baby blue version is the sweetest yet.
Buy now £120.00, & Other Stories
Anthropologie Strapless Embellished Midi Dress
A sprinkling of embellishment never goes astray, a viewpoint Anthropologie has executed to perfection with its midi number.
Buy now £198.00, Anthropologie
LoveShackFancy Lionel Draped Lace-trimmed Silk-charmeuse Mini Dress
LoveShackFancy’s Lionel dress will be a style you keep returning to for the rest of time. The decadent yet flirtatious number is a dreamy silk concoction ideal for feminine dressers.
Buy now £329.70, Net-A-Porter
H&M Sheer Chiffon Dress
Layered over some diamonte lingerie or a black slip dress, this spotted number will leave acquaintances feeling dotty over your dress sense.
Buy now £37.99, H&M
Simone Rocha Embellished Metallic Cloqué Midi Dress
Invest in a piece to last the years. Simone Rocha’s voluminous midi dress with dramatic puff sleeves and an all-over golden gleam is gilded glamour personified.
Buy now £1750.00, Net-A-Porter
River Island Black Satin Corsage Bodycon Midi Dress
Tap into the ongoing penchant for corsage detailing with River Island’s affordable slip number.
Buy now £55.00, River Island
Rotate Birger Christensen Sabina Asymmetric Crystal Mini dress
Flirty and sophisticated, Rotate’s crystal-clad mini dress is like no other. A strong shoulder contrasts the hourglass structure of the party-ready garment.
Buy now £320.00, Net-A-Porter
Free People Nigel Preston Sue Ellen Gown
Go for gold courtesy of Free People. This retro design is hard to miss on the dancefloor, especially when worn with metallic stilettos and the thin decorative scarf provided.
Buy now £428.00, Free People
River Island Brown Animal Print Sequin Mini Dress
A Spice Girls reference is never to be overlooked. Complete with a simple shift design and glinting animal-print sequins, this fabulous frock is an easy one to spot.
Buy now £95.00, River Island
Warehouse Sparkle Ruched Sleeve Mini Dress
Snap up an elegant mini generously adorned with sparkle for under £40.
Buy now £35.00, Warehouse
Nina Ricci Polka-dot Flocked-tulle Mini Dress
Nina Ricci’s designs are simply tulle cool for school. Position yourself as the belle of the ball with the dramatic silhouette peppered with polka dots.
Buy now £1610.00, Matches
H&M Sequined Gathered Dress
Shimmy, shine and sparkle under the studio lights with H&M’s glitzy party garb.
Buy now £32.99, H&M
