Our favorite trends in evening dresses this year

If you are going shopping to pick an evening dress or two for your social engagements this holiday season, let us prepare you for your shopping experience with what looked to be the most happening and interesting trends this year. We have also lined up some dress suggestions that you can look at, and these are all from our bridesmaid and evening dress collections at Best for Bride. Don’t forget to let us know what you like from these, and whether you do indeed choose any of them.

Colors

Spring and summer 2016 introduced us to the neutral color palette of pink and brown. Subtle versions of pink including dusty pink and peach, that aren’t too loud are perfect colors for evening wear if you don’t want to look too bright or bold. Plus, these neutral colors can be the perfect backdrop for some fun and dressy accessories. So, if you have that perfect bold clutch to show off or a stunning necklace, you know what would look good with it.

Now, if you want to make a stunning appearance, you could always consider bubblegum pink which was hot on the scenes last summer. This can certainly color up the scenery, but it may not really be right if you want a serious and refined look. Here is a bubblegum pink dress from the Alfred Sung evening dress collection. The added details like the up and down hemline add more spunk to the bright and vivid color that it features.

The other cool color (literally cool!) palette this year was deep blue color, and the colors seemed to pop with the iridescent highlights. What a stunning fashion statement! Bright pops of effervescent embellishments against deep dark water colors are undoubtedly a winner, don’t you agree? So, make sure your wardrobe has a perfect blue or green, that will allow you to step in and steal everybody’s attention.

Now, let us tell you exactly what we meant by deep sea colors with iridescent highlights with you this showstopper from the Jadore evening dress collection. What do you think of the scintillating effect of the top?

Our next picks are sunset hues like sunny vermillion and zesty orange which were featured on the catwalks and are always great reminders of spring and the wonderful tropics. Wondering whether it is a good idea for winter? We say go for it, as it will be different. Pair it with some colorful accessories, and you can nail that festive look that is perfect for any celebration. Also remember that deep oranges like clementine and browns are still pretty much in style and you can always turn to these as a safe bet. Since these colors look great on almost any skin tone, you couldn’t possibly go wrong. How refreshing is this sunset orange dress featured in the Social Bridesmaids collection. You can find this and many more attractive sunset hues in this collection at Best for Bride. 

Prints

Oversize prints and florals in either retro-inspired style or small and delicate Garden of Eden designs were all the rage last spring and summer. Equally attractive were color block prints, but remember that this year, color blocking has taken a new dimension with monochrome bold stripes and rainbow colors. Here is a captivating black and white striped gown from the Alfred Sung evening dress collection that is unique and distinct with the style and placement of the stripes on the sateen fabric.

Isn’t it just a fact that bold color combinations can make a huge impact, and why limit yourself to one when you can wreak havoc with many colors at the same time. So, go with color blocking in this years style, and you will be glad you did it.

Graphic prints and oversize motifs in bold statement colors are still hot. So, if you want something that is loud and daring, don’t hesitate to pick out a dress with a loud motif that screams for attention.

Graphic floral prints have been fashioned out of wide lace to make this Jadore evening dress a sensational beauty. You can find this in our evening dress collection, and remember that it is also available in red with the same design, if that is the color you favor.

A tip for your casual wear choices as well. Denim with needlepoint embroidery seems to be back, with both menswear and womenswear collections featuring it a lot. So, take a cue and update your jeans collection with at least one that features it, for a trendy look.

Patterns and Styles

Many interesting and unusual changes have popped up in the style section. Fluidity in structure was the focus this year, with many designers celebrating the natural womanly shape with loose flowing garments. Maxi dresses with loose fits and peasant dresses were an interesting trend. These are perfect for both indoor and outdoor functions. We loved how the dresses were made suitable for both formal and informal occasions through the appropriate use of fabric. While silk was the choice for formal functions, cotton and gauze made similar designs comfortable and good for outdoor and casual events.

Now, here is a fluid full-length dress from the Jadore evening collection in a sheath silhouette that courses along the natural curves of the wearer. We love the delicate and feminine effect from the soft flow of the fabric and how it is further enhanced by the spectacular addition of lace in the right places.

So, if you have a beach wedding to attend this year, it may be a good idea to revisit last year’s maxi trend and choose a dress that will look dressy even while being casual and comfortable.

The other popular dress styles were A-line skirts and asymmetrical hemline dresses that ended between mid-length and calf. Perfect for cocktail parties, these designs are cool and chic, and look good whether they are in prints or plain.

This Mori Lee evening dress features an unusual up and down hemline that makes it both casual and chic, flirty and fun. Perfect for that fun evening out with your girls, don’t you think?

We have also noticed that the neatly pleated style is back on the scene. The refined and clean look that is part of this design seems to appeal greatly to women who want a polished look. Perfect to go with a neat updo or when you want to attend a formal function at work, this is perhaps the dress style that will help you nail the look. Don’t you think this pleated dress from the Jasmine dress collection is worth your attention?

The off-the-shoulder style is still a big hit, and you would definitely look sultry and romantic in a dress that features this style. When the off-the-shoulder style is combined with a long gown it has a sophisticated charm, while it looks stylish and glamorous in a shorter version. Either way, we think that this is a definite style that will continue to be favored for a long time. So don’t hesitate to grab a dress in one of the colors we mentioned previously and look both trendy and beautiful for the occasion you will be attending.

Splendid and sexy, this Mori Lee beauty is a masterpiece for more than just the off-the-shoulder feature on it. The asymmetrically ruched bodice and the scintillating waistband are the other interesting elements that make this dress a total hit.

The other style that is really trending is the Goddess style dress. Don’t you love the one-shoulder dress that has always looked romantic and mysterious? With a dress that focuses on enhancing your natural beauty, while still adding an ethereal charm with delicate and unique features such as a draped bodice or one-shoulder strap, this is a definite winner. Choose a longer version if you want to look formal, or go with a shorter skirt or one with ruffles all along if you would prefer to be playful and effortless in what you wear. Take a look at this dress from the Jasmine evening dress collection.

Accessories

The same colors that we discussed above are the top choices in dress accessories. Brown and muted pinks are subtle colors that look great with almost any dress. They allow you to tone down your overall impact, when your dress is really vibrant. Apart from this, the deep sea hues are also seen dressing up large clutches and also adding extra glamour to earrings, necklaces and shoes with the iridescent effects that we talked about earlier. These effects are exquisite and match an outdoor beach setting, as well as look great at winter holiday parties. Now, if you know your friend has a nautical theme party, you know what you need in the accessories department to get your look just right for the theme.

Image Credits: Melissa Ingram, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Warm yourself up when you step outside in oversize fluid coats, which were all the rage on the runways last year. Not only are they cozy, they go well with most dresses making it a versatile outer wear choice. Wrap cardigans and sporty culottes were also a fashion statement, however they are appropriate only when the occasion you will be attending has a casual vibe. The other style icons are trucker jackets updated with fringing and embellishments.

Details we loved

When choosing a dress, you needn’t go with the latest trends all the way, just a few statement features are all that is required to help you stand out of the crowd. These are what the details of a dress can achieve with ease. Let us now look at the various details that we loved from the dresses we have been seeing last year.

Ruffles are one of the most attractive features that adds extra personality to any dress. We have seen ruffles come and go, but its been in the main scene most of last year. So, it may be a good idea to stick to ruffles as a fashion element in your dresses. The fun thing about ruffles is how they can be used to change the overall impact of a dress. By adding it in the right locations and adequately, we have seen ruffles dramatically alter the look of a dress from formal and sophisticated to casual and elegant. Ruffles may appear either in the neckline, sleeves, bodice or skirt of the dress. Then again, it can be added in moderation or luxuriously. You can choose this based on whether you want to look fun or serious. Either way it is undoubtedly a very feminine and romantic element, so it is one that you should definitely try.

Have a look at this ruffled dress from the Jadore collection, and you will soon realize how dramatic ruffles can be.

Black and white continue to be eternal favorites, but white this time seems to have taken an entirely distinct effect from what was ever seen before. Antique white, or parchment white is the new color on the scene, and you may like to consider it in moderate doses as part of your attire or in your accessories for a clean and crisp look that also exudes a vintage vibe.

The other notable fashion styles were the presence of eyelet holes on shoulders alongside the cold shoulder or off-the-shoulder style. This use of designs that show off skin in the shoulder area is both chic and youthful. If you want a fun flirty look with lots of spunk, you should definitely consider getting yourself a brightly colored evening dress with exposed shoulders and perhaps sleeves that skim the shoulders or with a number of straps that brace your arms for the perfect look this season.

We think that a dress like the Jadore gown shown here would do the job very well.

Hope you’ve found yourself enough inspiration to go shopping for your evening dresses soon enough. Check out our evening dress collection on Best for Bride for hundreds of more attractive designs and find dresses that will be just perfect for every occasion you have in mind.