Party Outfits for Women

It's Monday morning at work and you've just received a party invitation  for Friday night in your inbox. Brightening up an otherwise dreary day, things are beginning to look up. You glance over the invite list and see the usuals — best friends, acquaintances, the ex-boyfriend you've been trying to avoid and that guy you've been crushing on forever. The next immediate thought, inevitably, is "What am I going to wear?"

The party dress or outfit is, in the average woman's mind, the secret weapon of the evening's festivities. It can boost your confidence to immeasurable levels and become The Dress for future events, or it can drive you crazy all night with a loose strap or finicky zipper and end up in the back of your closet, never to be seen again. Frankly, the party outfit is kind of a big deal.

Depending on the type of party, there are a lot of options available to you. You generally want to have some basics: an LBD, some dress-up  or dress-down  sandals (works best if you have either black sandals ,silver sandals  or gold sandals , which therefore go with just about anything), and a suitable cardigan  or light jacket  that will not only keep you warm, but also will go with most anything. But one of the more important and enjoyable parts of shopping for parties is picking out the accessories, which really your look pop. They are great if you're wearing a black dress or top, and playing with fun, colorful, sophisticated, or bohemian aesthetics really helps to define your ensemble. Feeling good, looking good, and being comfortable are what it's all about, of course; pushing your boundaries is really up to you. 

Party Dress Trends

There a couple trends you'll see dominating the stores. Layered, multifaceted fabrics like tulle, chiffon, and organza are big right now, as well as Parisian-inspired shapes and textures. Several lines have chosen to create designs based on their shopper's favorite celebrity fashionistas. "Gossip Girl," a dramatic TV series chock-full of fashion opportunities, has spawned plenty of lookalikes on the runway. Who said you can't be like Leighton Meester  or Taylor Momsen  for a quarter of the price?

Satin Organza Dress	Blake Lively-Inspired V-Neck Floor Length Evening Dress	Gossip Girl-Inspired Sweetheart Organza Cocktail Dress	A-line Satin Chiffon Party Dress

The Perfect Clubbing Dress

You've decided that tonight you're going to unleash your inner party girl at the hottest club in town. This calls for the sexiest outfit out there, one that's comfortable yet eye-catching . Most clubbing dresses are made of a light material, like Lycra, and spandex for easy dancing, breathing, and sweating. If you're going with a short hemline, make sure you add a pair of stiletto heels or pumps to make your legs look better than ever. If you're afraid of being too tall, opt for some strappy sandals. Below are some suggestions guaranteed to turn every head:

Essential Stretch Tube Dress  A solid color tube is the classic clubbing frock. What's great about this is that its simplicity, in color and shape, lets you show off your curves and allows you to accessorize as much as you want. You'll feel comfortable dancing as wildly as you please, yet you'll still feel like you're flaunting all that you can!	Ruffle Trim Belted Bandeau Mini Dress  This is your standard tube, but with a little more "oomph." The flouncing ruffle will give you an attractive neckline while the accompanying belt will draw attention to you hourglass silhouette.	Flounce Sleeve Belted Dress  If you're looking for more, opt for this number, which comes in seven patterns all of different colors, textures and assorted belts. This is off-the shoulder and single-sleeved, so your will have more character.	Laser Cut Mini Dress  If you haven't taken note yet, cut-out clothing was huge this Spring/Summer 2010 and it's not ready to disappear. Try this out and see how trendy you'll feel. Pair it with some black tights and loud shoes, maybe some silver pumps, and diamond-like jewelry!

If you want to switch it up a little and prefer wearing two pieces, think about these following options: hot shorts paired with a bustier or a stunning, mini skirt  with your favorite cami . Check out the table below for some visual suggestions:

Zipper Trim Faux Leather Bustier	Layered Confetti Sequin Skirt with Elastic	Deep V Studded Diamond Scrunch Sleeve	Stitched Stretch Denim Hot Shorts

More Dresses

• Among the best party outfits were dresses by:
• Vera Wang 
• Alexia Admor 
• Nicole Miller 

Completing The Party Outfit

Of course, shoes and accessories are the other equally important half of the equation. Have fun here — accessories don't always have to follow the rules. Below you'll find some classic suggestions to complement your party attire.

Footwear Heels  Dress Sandals  Fancy flats	Jewelry Pearls earrings  are always classy but if you're going for sexy, dangling  or drops  are the way to go. They'll attract attention to your neckline, especially if you're wearing your hair up . Bracelets  are a good addition to your party attire if everything else is relatively simple. You can sport countless bangles  with a solid color, long-sleeve dress , or if your ensemble is artwork in itself, stay simple with a single band . Keep it classy with an elegant gold  or silver  formal watch. You can go for large framed  ones which emphasize the watch's jewelry vibe, or opt for a smaller frame, linked watch  that you'll wear loosely around your wrist.  Necklaces are your perfect secret weapon if you've got a bust to show off. Pendants  usually do the trick.	Bags When it comes to bags and parties, this is always problematic. You know you'll want to get on that dance floor without some huge purse clunking against you, yet where are you going to put all that back-up make-up (lipstick, concealer), money, and girl stuff? That's why we're grateful for clutches . These are great because they're small enough to dance with and can make your outfit look very smart. Some even come with drop-in chains  so you can wear them as handbags or wristlets .Purses  can still be an option, but keep an eye out for the ones that can be worn across your body for easier dancing.	Evening Wraps No matter how hot it gets inside that house party or club, you do not want to come outside and freeze to death, only to catch a cold — especially now that all approaches. If you don't want to wear something as heavy or large as a jacket, blazer, or coat, consider a shawl  or a wrap to cover your shoulders. Also consider wearing a slip  underneath, if appropriate, during the colder seasons. This could help keep you warm without offsetting your look.

Less Formal Choices

Outfit Options Little black dress  Sundress  Nice jeans  and top  Dress pants and top	Footwear Boots Sandals  Heels Flats	Jewelry Fun, colorful, delicate, or chunky bracelets , necklaces, and earrings	Bags Hobo or slouchy bag Clutch Pocketbook	Evening Wraps Cardigan Jacket Wool coat

Related Guides

Women's Summer Style Guide	Women's Jewelry	Women's Fashion Trends	Women's Dresses	Women's Fall Style Guide