Non-Black Cocktail Dresses

The LBD is a standard in most women's wardrobes and I love mine to death. But because the LBD is so safe, it's always my last resort no-fail option provided I can't find a fun, fabulous frock of a different colour. There's something so appealing and fresh about a dress in a standout colour or pattern. Also, deep down, most women would rather be in distinctive dresses and stand out in the crowd than blend into a sea of basic black.

Dresses tend to be relatively expensive, so I consider any dress I buy to be an investment piece that will last me a long time. For this reason, I usually like classic silhouettes that flatter my figure and a hemline that hovers around the knee to maximize the dress's versatility. I won't consider any dress that pinches or doesn't fit just right, or any dress that I feel uncomfortable in; if I don't love myself in the dress, why would I want to wear it more than once? I'll also spend a bit more on lined dresses because I don't want to have to hunt for the perfect slip to wear underneath (unless it's a dress I really love and a total bargain, like the cream and black boatneck H&M silky shift dress I found for $40).

With the holiday season coming up, I've been contemplating the dress options in my wardrobe to see if I can wear something a bit more colourful or unique to potential parties. So far I have two, perhaps three, options, but I've been looking at some of the fabulous dresses on Bluefly for further inspiration and I think it might be time to shop around before I settle.

ABS gold sheath, $162. This dress is classic and simple; the high hemline would tempt me into wearing it with knee-high black leather boots for an edgier evening look.



Alexia Admor copper lace dress, $147. Although it looks demure in the front, the back has a very deep V. This dress definitely requires a specialty bra to pull it off, but it would look great with a long string of knotted pearls, a black envelope clutch, and round-toed black pumps.



BCBG red jersey dress, $120. I don't consider jersey to be as evening appropriate as silk, satin, or chiffon, but the elaborate pintucks in this dress make it a bit fancier than run-of-the-mill jersey numbers.



Betsey Johnson sequined dress, $150. Girly but not at all frilly is the best way to sum up this dress. A cute cardigan, bolero sweater, or faux fur capelet can keep those bare shoulders from getting chilled at the office Christmas party.



Design History embroidered jersey dress, $60. What else can I say except this dress is really cute and a total bargain?



Tadashi lace cummerbund halter dress, $170. This shade of fuschia would look great against darker skin tones. Out of all the dresses in this post, I think this one and the Wendy Katlen bubble dress are my favourites.



Wendy Katlen electric blue satin bubble dress, $168. I know, I know...bubble skirts seem kind of ridiculously trendy and like a flash in the pan, but there's something so appealing about this dress. Can it be the crisp clean silhouette and pintucks in just the right places? The satiny electric blue material? The girly black bow sash? Whatever it is, this dress has me hypnotized. Besides, when you think about it, a bubble skirt is just an alterna-A-line skirt.



Y Yigal dress, $128. Again, the bright colour will look great against darker skin tones.