Cocktail dresses are the best excuse to have some fun with your style—even if you prefer a simple little black dress. While they typically lend themselves to more formal events, that doesn’t mean they should blend in. From their silhouettes to their intricate design details, cocktail dresses should embody the celebration they’re meant for—after all, they don’t call them "party dresses" for nothing.
We set out to find the best cocktail dresses for any and all occasions, categorizing them based on style, fabric, and some popular design features, such as a puff sleeve or ruffled hem. As a result, we put together a list of the best cocktail dresses for weddings, work parties, fancy dinners, and more.
Keep reading for the best cocktail dresses, along with some styling advice from stylists Lindsey DuPuis and Heather Smith.
Meet the Expert
- Lindsey DuPuis is a wardrobe stylist who has worked with celebrities like Brittany Snow and Nikki Reed and publications including InStyle and People.
- Heather Smith is the stylist for Alessandra Ambrosio. Based in Los Angeles, she also works with commercial clients including Target and NYDJ, among others.
Best Overall
Reformation Cassi Knit Dress
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Reformation
The Cassi Knit Dress from Reformation puts a modern spin on a classic cocktail dress silhouette. From the length of the dress to the thickness of the straps, this little black dress can get a ton of mileage, as it’s an appropriate option for office parties, wedding receptions, and fancy dinners—and, of course, cocktails. What makes this dress truly outstanding in our eyes is the comfort. Thanks to its ribbed TENCEL lyocell and spandex material, the dress is one of the most comfortable cocktail dresses ever.
Price at time of publish: $148
Material: 88% TENCEL lyocell, 12% spandex | Size Range: XS-XL
Best Splurge
Cult Gaia Azaelia Gown
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Cult Gaia
For a splurge-worthy cocktail dress, the Cult Gaia Azaelia Gown is our top choice. This satin, floor-length gown has an ultra-luxe feel in a timeless high cowl neck draped design. This dress is the perfect cocktail dress for galas, fundraisers, weddings, and other black-tie events. And, because of its classic style, it’s a dress you’ll have forever.
Price at time of publish: $1,200
Material: 92% silk, 8% spandex; 100% rayon lining | Size Range: XS-L
Best Budget
Wild Fable Sleeveless Ruched Mesh Dress
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Target
You don’t have to break the bank to find an amazing cocktail dress. The Sleeveless Ruched Mesh Dress from Target’s Wild Fable label is a great example of that, as it is chic and sexy and looks more expensive than it is. This trendy dress is a nod to Y2K style with its spaghetti straps and mesh overlay—and that aqua-blue wave color screams Carrie Bradshaw in the 2000s. It’s a great option for a party with friends, a wedding, or a night on the town.
Material: Recycled polyester | Size Range: XS-4X
Best Strapless
Vince Camuto Popover Cocktail Dress
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Nordstrom
Strapless yet sophisticated, the Vince Camuto Popover Cocktail Dress is our top pick for this category, because it boasts a classy design that is still sleek and sexy. The silhouette is one that transcends a variety of personal styles as its simple design makes it easy to accessorize based on shoe, jewelry, and handbag preferences. We love the elegant dress for weddings, fancy dinners, banquets, and more.
Material: 65% polyester, 32% rayon, 3% spandex | Size Range: 0-18
Best Silk
Reformation Marguerite Silk Dress Es
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Reformation
Silk is a fabric must for a classy cocktail dress. While there are some amazing silk dress options on this list, we absolutely adore this Reformation dress for its unique design details, such as its standout pink hue, fitted seamed bodice, faux wrap skirt, and tie straps. Made from lightweight silk, the dress is flirty enough for a night out with your girlfriends, yet sophisticated enough to wear to a more formal event. It's also available in sizes 0-12.
Price at time of publish: $298
Material: 100% silk | Size Range: 14-24
Best Black
Reformation Damaris Dress
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Reformation
We can’t stop thinking about this stunner, the perfect choice if you’re looking for the best little black dress. The mid-length halter-neck dress features a low back with contrasting white trim on the neckline, creating the perfect cross between sophisticated and sexy. It’s a dress that will truly never go out of style, and one you’ll wear over and over again.
Price at time of publish: $278
Material: 53% viscose, 47% rayon | Size Range: 0-12
Best Lace
Elliatt Yuna Mix Media Lace Detail Bandage Midi Dress
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Nordstrom
There is no shortage of lace cocktail dresses, but this one hits our fashion hearts differently. We love the modern spin on this lace dress, with the form-fitting bodice and lace accents on the skirt and shoulder straps. It’s a mix of structural and whimsical and a great choice for summer events, or even a rehearsal dinner.
Price at time of publish: $230
Material: Polyester and spandex | Size Range: XS-XL
Best Satin
House of CB Myrna Satin Corset Midi Dress
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Nordstrom
Inspired by corset construction, this cowl neck satin dress from House of CB is one of the sultriest dresses on our list. The form-fitting, knee-length cocktail dress boasts ultra-thin spaghetti straps with a nearly strapless silhouette and has a built-in underwire for support (no bra necessary here). The satin material is ultra sleek and soft with just the right amount of silky sheen.
Price at time of publish: $269
Material: 100% polyester with 95% polyester, 5% elastane contrast | Size Range: XS-XL (straight), XS-XL (plus)
Best Feathery
Cult Gaia Shannon Feather Mini Dress
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Courtesy of Cult Gaia
If you’re going to wear feathers, we say go all out with a fully flocked—and ultra-chic—dress. For this category, we had to include the Shannon Dress from Cult Gaia. This cocktail dress is covered in ostrich feathers from front to back with a high neckline and mini party dress silhouette. What we love the most about this dress is the dimension, and how the feathers move and flow with every step—it’s like wearing a piece of art, and we are obsessed.
Price at time of publish: $1,198
Material: 100% viscose with ostrich feather trim | Size Range: XS-L
Best Leather
Good American Vacay Dress
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Good American
Good American does faux leather so well—and this Vacay Lace-Up Sheath Dress is no exception. The Y2K-inspired silhouette hits right at the knees with a back slit that serves as a functional design choice, making it a lot easier to walk in the leather material. The real appeal to this dress, though, is the strappy, corset-inspired lace-up back, which perfectly ties the design together and gives some movement and flow to the slick leather dress.
Price at time of publish: $159
Material: 100% polyurethane | Size Range: XS-5X
Best Square Neck
Staud Mini Wells Dress
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STAUD
This Staud dress is our top pick for the best square neck category, because not only does it have a stellar square neck, but it feels like a nod to the trendy tennis dress, which we love. The corset-paneled fit-and-flair dress is made of 98 percent cotton with a little bit of spandex, giving it a durable construction with breathability and some stretch for added comfort. It’s a universal cocktail dress you can wear with sandals and sneakers, or dress up with a pair of sleek pumps—and it comes in a ton of fun colors, including a stripe option we adore.
Price at time of publish: $195
Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex | Size Range: 00-16
Best Sweetheart
Norma Kamali Sweetheart Side Drape Dress
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Courtesy of FWRD
You can’t have a list of the best cocktail dresses without including a dress with a sweetheart neckline. For this category, we love the Norma Kamali Sweetheart Side Drape Dress. It’s a classy silhouette with modern details, including ruching at the sides and a sexy slit. We also love the slanted hem detail, and the sleeve length.
Price at time of publish: $155
Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex | Size Range: XS-XL
Best Velvet
Banana Republic Velvet Slip Dress
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Courtesy of Banana Republic
For a winter or fall cocktail dress, velvet is always in season. This swoon-worthy Velvet Slip Dress from Banana Republic is our top pick, thanks to its trendy silhouette and all the styling opportunities. Because it’s a mini, it would work well for warmer fall evenings, but just imagine how good it would look with a pair of fun tights and heels. It’s classy, cozy, and super sexy.
Material: 100% polyester | Size Range: XXS-XXL
Best Puff Sleeve
Azeeza Cameron Dress
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Courtesy of Shopbop
Puff sleeves bring the party, and we are all about their statement-making superpowers. For this category, the Azeeza Cameron Dress was a no-brainer. Everything from the color to the dress silhouette to the sheen of the silk fabric takes our breath away. And, those sleeves—those sleeves! They have the right amount of poof, are the perfect length, and have elastic at the shoulders, so you can wear the dress off the shoulder, too.
Price at time of publish: $995
Material: 100% silk | Size Range: XS-L
Best Tie Straps
Show Me Your Mumu Claire Midi Dress in Emerald Chiffon
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Show Me Your Mumu
Whether you’re shopping for a wedding outfit or want a cocktail dress that feels a little less constructed, Show Me Your Mumu’s Claire Midi Dress is an excellent pick. We love this dress because of the simple shape and design, plus the quality of construction and comfortableness with the stretchy smocked back. What really captured our hearts were the tie straps, and the fact that they are detachable, so you basically get two looks in one dress.
Price at time of publish: $188
Material: 100% polyester | Size Range: XXS-3X
Best One-Shoulder
Mac Duggal One-Shoulder Metallic Brocade Midi Cocktail Dress
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Nordstrom
If you’re looking for a fun cocktail party dress, we found your match. This one shoulder dress from Mac Duggal feels vintage-inspired with its silhouette, yet modern with the addition of pockets. The fit-and-flare style feels universal, the ruffled sleeve feels ultra fun, and the overall coverage feels appropriate for many different formal occasions. Whether it’s a black tie event or a swanky New Year’s Eve party, it’s a one-shoulder dress to remember.
Price at time of publish: $498
Material: 100% polyester | Size Range: 0-18
Best Print
Staud Le Sable Dress
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STAUD
Make a bold statement with this even bolder print. This beaded mini dress from Staud boasts a simple square-neck silhouette as the backdrop for a magical print. Featuring graphic beaded art depicting a leopard, a palm tree, the sun, waves, and a lobster, the dress is such a fun and fresh take on prints.
Price at time of publish: $695
Material: 83% nylon, 17% spandex; 100% polyester lining | Size Range: 00-16
Best Ruffle
Amur Gen Floral Silk Cutout Midi Dress
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AMUR
For a show-stopping ruffle cocktail dress, look no further. This cut-out dress from AMUR is a mix of all of our favorite things: It’s frilly and floral with a ton of great movement. (This is a dress that makes us want to dance!) In addition to the amazing ruffles, we love the high-low hemline and plunging neckline that complements the waist cutout.
Price at time of publish: $598
Material: 100% silk | Size Range: 0-14
Best Floral
ASTR The Label Gaia Floral Midi Dress
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ASTR The Label
With 15 different floral prints to choose from, the Gaia Floral Midi Dress from ASTR the Label was a shoo-in for this category, but the floral print is the only reason it’s on our list. The dress is high-quality (it certainly doesn’t feel like an under-$100 dress) and has a silhouette that is always in style, so you’ll get many wears from it. It also has a high slit on the side, which makes it breathable enough to wear on warm summer days, and the criss-cross adjustable straps make you feel secure while you dance the night away.
Price at time of publish: $98
Material: 100% polyester | Size Range: XS-XL
Best Body-Con
Dress the Population Karlie Sleeveless Body-Con Midi Cocktail Dress
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Nordstrom
We chose this body-con cocktail dress from Dress the Population because, while it is form-fitting, it’s also inspired by a more sophisticated design with a jewel neck and low scoop back, and a leg slit for more movement. We love this dress because it’s sleek, stylish, and a great length for more formal occasions. It’s also made of a stretchy satin material, making it more flexible and comfortable for long wear.
Price at time of publish: $168
Material: 92% polyester, 8% spandex | Size Range: XS-XXL
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like material, size range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from 1 to 5 (5 being the best; 1 being the worst) to certain products on the list.
What to Look for in Cocktail Dresses
Silhouette and color
“When shopping for a cocktail dress, make sure the silhouette and color is flattering for your figure and skin tone,” says celebrity stylist Lindsey DuPuis. “This is your opportunity to accentuate your favorite feature, so take this chance to show off your legs, neckline, shoulders, collar bones, or whatever makes you feel most confident.”
Uniqueness
“In a cocktail dress, I look for something I haven’t seen before,” says celebrity stylist Heather Smith. “Maybe it’s a pop of color, feather detail, disco ball metallic.” Cocktail dresses are meant to be fun and statement-making, making them a good opportunity to up the ante on uniqueness.
Why Trust Byrdie
Contributing writer Jessie Quinn has a bachelor’s degree in fashion journalism. From working in the fashion closet and interviewing designers at NYLON to now writing about the best style trends for various publications, Jessie researches and sources the best fashion finds. For this story, Jessie considered her own personal research—including styles she owns and loves—as well as top-rated designs. She considered everything from trends and comfort to potential cost-per-wear, as well as interviewed two stylists for their fashion expertise and how to style cocktail dresses.