Party Dresses

Party dresses for nights out, birthdays and celebrations

A party dress should feel as good at midnight as it did at seven. This range runs from satin slips and strapless columns to one-shoulder twists, lace and ruched minis, in sizes 4 to 18. Some are cut for the dance floor; others will go to a long dinner and then to the office on Monday with a blazer over the top.

Pick your kind of party

For a birthday dinner or drinks, a satin slip such as the Calliope Bias Cut Slip Dress needs nothing more than a heel. For a cocktail party or a formal, the Priya Strapless Column Dress and the Afina One Shoulder Twist Dress are the statement pieces of the range. For a garden party or a summer engagement, a cotton sundress or an embroidered style is lighter and easier to wear all afternoon. A drop-waist or panel mini is the one for dancing.

Fabric and fit

Satin has a soft sheen and moves with the body. Lace and ruching add texture and shape without weight. Linen blends and cotton suit daytime celebrations in warm weather. Column and strapless shapes rely on fit, so read the size guide before ordering; a ruched or crossover style is more forgiving if you sit between sizes.

What goes with a party dress

Keep the accessories to one idea. A plain satin dress takes a bold earring; a lace or embroidered dress is better with a fine necklace and nothing else. A small bag that holds a phone and a lipstick is all you need, and a cropped jacket from jackets and blazers covers the trip there.

Shop the range

Browse by length if you have a dress code in mind: short dresses for dancing, maxi dresses for a formal. If the invitation is a wedding rather than a birthday, start with wedding guest dresses instead.