According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Christian Dior was the first to name the early evening frock a cocktail dress in the late 1940s, and in doing so allowed magazines, department stores, and rival Parisian and American designers to promote fashion with cocktail-specific terminology. Diors New Look collection, which included dresses and blazer sets with cinched waistlines and voluminous skirts, defined a generation of style more versatile than ever before
Most gowns require several appointments to ensure a perfect fit
Next up is considering the color of what you're wearing
Ahead, we're breaking down the different ways you can stray from tradition when it comes to your wedding dress
Before you commission a bespoke safari helmet, check out our guide to every kind of attire for every kind of occasion
The Golden Globe for best dressed goes to Teyana Taylor's diamond thong The Golden Globes red carpet saw plenty of head-turning fashion moments as time-honored titans and buzzy new stars alike paraded down the first promenade of the 2026 awards show season