In what can often be a hectic and fast paced world, everyone needs to slow down once in a while and regroup. One great way to recharge your batteries is to step out for a night on the town, especially a dress-up, doll-up, glitz-up night on the town!
For those special occasions when you want to dress to the nines and be the 10 that you are, gussying yourself up in a gorgeous evening gown is full-blown fashion fun!
An evening gown is a long flowing women’s dress or gown usually worn to a formal affair. Evening gown cuts range from tea and ballerina to full-length.
Evening gowns are generally made of luxurious fabrics such as chiffon, velvet, satin, organza and silk. Rich, decorative, lavish fabrics for stunning, glorious, beautiful gowns!
Evening Gown Fun Fact: Although the terms are often used interchangeably, evening gowns and ball gowns differ in that a ball gown will always have a full skirt and a fitted bodice. In contrast, evening gowns can be any silhouette – sheath, mermaid, A-line or trumpet shaped – and may have an empire or dropped waist.
When worn to white tie events, the evening gown is generally more elaborate than when worn to black tie occasions. The silhouette will be fuller to match the very formal white tie attire worn by men. In modern times, the evening gown is becoming more frequent in women’s formal wear, even at white tie occasions, but true fashion etiquette states that ball gowns must be worn.
Ah, style etiquette at its finest!
Evening Gown Fun Fact: Evening wear, also known as court dress based on its creation at royal courts, has its origin in the 15th century with the rise of the Burgundian court and its fashionable and fashion-conscious ruler, Philip the Good. Wool, in various weaves, was the most dominant fabric for dresses, and the ladies of the court often added a train for formal occasions. The vibrant court life of the 16th and 17th centuries, with its focus on art, literature and music, created a robust environment for feminine formal clothing.
Popular Styles and Cuts of Evening Gowns:
- A-Line: Bell shaped, close fitting at the top and widens at the bottom, without gathers or pleats.
- Dropped Waist: The waistline is dropped below the actual waist. The skirt can be fitted or flared.
- Empire: The silhouette involves the waistline coming up to just below the bust, from which the skirt hangs straight down and loose.
- Mermaid (By far my favorite style)!: The gown is shaped like a mermaid. It is form fitting at the bodice, and the skirt is designed to resemble a mermaid’s tail in silhouette. The skirt may or may not be of the same color or texture.
- Princess: The princess style is tight, cut in single pieces, such as gores, and hangs in an unbroken line from the shoulder to the hem.
- Sheath: Fits the body tightly. The gown is unbelted and has a straight drape. It can have shoulder straps or be strapless.
- Trumpet: The gown is trumpet shaped, tight fitting until it reaches the floor, where it flares.
No matter what style of evening gown you prefer to wear, when dressed in splendid gown elegance people will stop and stare!
Evening Gown Fun Fact: Evening gowns can be distinguished from conventional or day dress by two primary features. The first is the cut, which tends to be couture and in line with the latest fashions. The second distinguishing feature is the fabric. Evening gowns tend to use luxury materials such as silk, velvet and taffeta and they may be richly embroidered or decorated with beads, sequins, jewels and other ornaments.
As a tribute to my favorite style of evening gown, may I present the Mermaid! So sensual, slinky and sexy! Form fitting and accentuating in all the right places! Physical grace and superb fashion taste!
Eye catching evening gowns for an evening out on the town!
Evening Gown Fun Fact: Evening gowns are associated with glamour and luxury, and appear at events like the Academy Awards in the United States, the opening of society season in urban areas, and at formal receptions. In most instances, evening gowns are not designed to be worn more than once. Often high profile celebrities may auction off gowns which they have worn for charity. Well known fashion designers will lend custom or vintage dresses to famous attendees of events, in order to showcase their exquisite design skills.
Get on your fashion flair dressed in a riveting evening gown, draped from here to there!
Nancy Mangano’s Evening Gown Fashion Tip: When draped in a gorgeous, mesmerizing evening gown, only a few shoes will do justice to your attire. Either a classy stiletto, a high heeled pump with a very high, thin heel, or an open toed high heeled sandal. Elegant heels only…an evening gown fashion must. For the hair? Long soft curls or hair up and off the shoulder are two elegant, stunning looks! Depending on the neckline of the evening gown, a feminine choker of velvet or small gemstones works well. Nothing gaudy or cumbersome!
Evening Gown Fun Fact: In the 1940s, couturiers introduced dancing costumes, a party dress with a full skirt specifically made for semi-formal and formal dresses. The dancing costume was shorter than the standard evening gown. A belt skirt is a variant fashion which resurfaced in the 1990s, consisting of a full, long skirt that can be worn with a cashmere sweater, lace camisole, or other dressy top.
Wow the world when you hit the town in a luxurious, lavish, lovely, lace evening gown!
“You’re a knock-out in that fancy dress. So chic and full of style.”
“You adore my glorious evening gown do you? The dress brings me a smile.”
“You move with elegance and ease and when you walk the dress floats as if on air.”
“And with my free flowing hair and my six inch pumps, everyone stops to stare.”
“So if I want to stand out and be the queen bee I should dress in an evening gown?”
“A true fashion diva would wear one even to the store, be the best looking lass around!”
The Evening Gown: Fabulous, fancy, festive fashion. A definite cut above with a look of élan and elegance that you’ll love.
Watch for Nancy’s next book in her award winning murder mystery series, Deadly Decisions – A Natalie North Novel, coming to bookstores and online bookstores in February 2017.
Nancy Mangano is an American fashion journalist and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series, A Passion for Prying and Murder Can Be Messy. Visit Nancy on her author website http://www.nancymangano.com, Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano, her fashion magazine Strutting in Style! at http://www.struttinginstyle.com, and her Facebook fan page Nancy Mangano https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Mangano/362187023895846
STRUTTING IN STYLE! NANCY MANGANO'S FASHION/STYLE/BEAUTY BONANZA 