Wedding dress "cocktail attire"

[FriendofDorothy]

I have worn this dress to a wedding and felt absolutely lovely in it. The second part of the wedding is in the USA and they have specified 'cocktail attire'.

Would this dress still be appropriate?

https://joanieclothing.com/celia-birtwell-x-joanie-queen-of-the-night-angel-sleeve-floral-print-maxi-dress.html

Not really. Cocktail attire is more like what you would wear on a night out. Short-ish and kind of fancy.

Something like this

KAFFE Mian India Cocktail Mini Dress

Fitted, smart, maybe a bit shiny, classy, goes with heels and matching bag.

https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-high-neck-cape-bodice-mini-dress-with-open-back-in-sage/prd/208354247#colourWayId-208354250

Or this

The black dress is boring and the other one looks cheap and nasty. I don't think "cocktail" means above the knee and / or very short and with cut outs.

This dress in navy is my regular go to for black tie but it would equally fit the bill here.
https://pauw.com/en-eu/products/korte-mouwen-midi-jurk-11201301299a240?_pos=13&_fid=f29ae52b5&_ss=c

OP- your own dress is great. The Celia Birtwell collaboration is lovely.

Thanks. I really like my own dress - I just suddenly got the wobbles - if you know what I mean!

I am short and round and I know that I would feel very uncomfortable in something fitted. It is also going to be extremely hot where we are going!

Just to be sure can you ask someone in the wedding group?

It might mean you need something more glitzy than the Joannie dress, which is hippy chic.

It depends how you style it.

Current fashion isn't for short styles - back in the 1950s and 70s a cocktail dress wouldn't have been above the knee

I suspect there will be a whole range of options. I will ask the bride to see what she says :)

I don’t think your dress is glam/dressy enough for cocktail attire. American weddings tend to be much more cocktail-y than UK ones. The first time I went to an American wedding I was quite shocked at some of the outfits as they were what we’d consider to be evening wear yet there we were sitting in a Catholic Church. 😳But they were equally shocked by my huge hat 😛and I think every guest had tried it on by the end of the evening (and it was a big wedding!) 😂

Edit: The next US wedding I went to I’d learnt my lesson and went full on blingy cocktail attire and left the hat at home.

I don't think your dress fits cocktail attire at all. Sorry OP, I would wear that to potter around town or a BBQ.

In fact I probably wouldn't wear it at all as I'm 30, and this looks a bit frumpy. But if I had to wear it, it would be every day wear.

They mean glamorous, lengths vary but shiny type material definitely and black is very common in the USA. Full length red carpet attire wouldn’t stand out, different sort of smart to the U.K. where floral knee length dresses, jackets and hats are more commonly worn

Suspect the dress code might vary depending where in the states you are as well as the vibe of the couple. I don't know for certain, but reckon that a NY cocktail wedding may be different to Los Angeles.

Also, depends how big the wedding is and how much you care TBH. An enormous wedding, I'd just wear it and have done. Make sure to get nails and may be hair done before, and dress pressed, because that is much more prevalent in the US regardless of location.

The Joanie dress is more summer picnic, not cocktail attire for a wedding!

I too would have said cocktail is more dressing/formal and knee length: like the magenta, Pauw dress posted above- not the barely covering the bum shorter styles posted.

Cocktail, is like formal if you were going to an awards dinner, but short

Example

I think at a push you could get away with it if you couldn't find anything else. And comfort is important too if it's going to be hot (although will it be inside and so have AC?). But in general I'd go with if a dress can be worn with trainers or birkenstocks, it's not cocktail.

@justmeandmyselfandi that's lovely, do you have a link for it?

My only image of a cocktail dress is Julia Roberts' black dress in Pretty Woman. Shortish and glam.

How about something like this, OP? Just looks a bit smarter to my eyes while being a similar shape. Plus it's cotton so would be nice and cool. With smart shoes and jewellery it could be quite dressed up.

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/p/jo892

Definitely cocktail dress appropriate. I am American, if that helps. 😂

The dress you’ve posted seems to me to be casual cocktail attire, probably because it is patterned. I understand you don’t want to go full on dressed up. What about something similar but a little more dressy? https://joliemoi.co.uk/collections/wedding-guest-outfits/products/elene-pleated-high-low-chiffon-maxi-dres-3

https://joliemoi.co.uk/collections/wedding-guest-outfits/products/ruffle-hem-chiffon-midi-dress-bronze

I think your dress is lovely OP and would work OK if you can't find anything else. If you can, you might edge towards something a bit more formal/glitzy (can't find the right word!). I don't know why but I envisage a cocktail dress being more one colour. Something like (but maybe not the maxi length although you could probably get away with it or get it turned up):

https://hopeandivy.co.uk/collections/new-season/products/the-alana-embellished-wrap-dress-tie-waist-flutter-sleeve

https://hopeandivy.co.uk/collections/new-season/products/the-venetia-embellished-maxi-wrap-dress-flutter-sleeve

https://hopeandivy.co.uk/collections/new-season/products/the-hartley-plunge-front-embellished-maxi-dress-flutter-sleeve

THis looks incredibly flattering but a bit long: https://www.next.co.uk/style/su406655/e88521#e88521

I'd find a shape of dress you like and you know how the brand fits and then find an older version on Vinted if budget is a consideration.

Here is some guidance for US weddings.

https://www.theknot.com/content/cocktail-wedding-attire

https://www.theknot.com/content/what-to-wear-to-a-wedding

@FriendofDorothy tangent but you mention being short - does the Joanie dress work for you? I am considering it for a 'regular' wedding but I'm 5'2. What is the sizing like?