Evening Dresses

Evening Gowns: 2026 Shopping Tips

Evening gowns are the garments we all long for and dream about. We admire them in pictures, in stores, and on celebrities as they walk the red carpet. In other words, we’re all crossing our fingers and hoping for an invitation to an event with a black-tie dress code.

Finding Perfect Evening Dresses

When it comes to finding your perfect evening dress, there are just a few things to keep in mind. The right evening gown makes a statement, compliments the wearer’s figure, and creates a glamorous silhouette that will turn heads all night.

Just like in every other area of fashion, there are trends in evening wear that come and go. Before we discuss the evening gown trends you may decide to embrace this year, there are a few considerations you need to have in mind when choosing your evening gowns.

• Color: It’s important to consider the color of your evening dress, regardless of trend. For example, if pastel yellow is on-trend, but you’re pale and blonde, you may find it washes you out too much. You’ve got to balance trends with what complements your features. Also, consider what time of year it is: for example, jewel tones are always flattering in the winter. 

• Pattern: Not all patterns will suit all personalities, body types, and seasons. When in doubt, go monochromatic.

• Silhouette: The silhouette of your evening gown should flatter and complement your figure, regardless of the hot trends. The best dress will always be the one that looks great on you, so do some research into the best silhouettes for your body type.

• Material: This is often influenced by the time of year and the sort of event to which you’re planning to wear your evening gown. Materials like velvet, rayon, and silk are very popular but should be worn wisely depending on the event and time of year.

• Event: What kind of evening gown is best to wear can depend heavily on the event. For instance, you’ll likely want something romantic, light, and airy for an outdoor wedding, while heavy fabrics and dramatic cuts may be more appropriate for a formal New Year’s Eve party. 

For more advice, check out our full guide to choosing the right dress for any occasion. The preferred shape, material, and color of an evening gown have changed over time, so let’s explore some of the top evening gown trends this year, including the colors you may want to consider.

Evening Gown Color Choices

When you walk into an event, the first thing that everyone notices about your gown is its color. There are many factors to consider when picking out the color of your evening gown — here are some tips for narrowing it down.

Black Evening Gowns

You can’t go wrong with a black evening gown. Black gowns are timeless and always exude sophistication, in addition to giving you an air of mystery at your event. These dresses also have the added bonus of being universally flattering and easy to accessorize.

Wear a fitted black evening gown for a subtle elegance or a ball gown silhouette for an extra dose of drama.

Red Evening Gowns

If you’re looking to make an entrance at your formal event, a red evening gown will do just that. Red has always been associated with being bold and tenacious, though if you’re looking to tone it down a bit, a darker red can bring in more subtlety.

Red evening gowns can pair nicely with all sorts of undertones and hair colors, which makes it a great option for nearly anyone who wants to make a statement.

Orange Evening Gowns

Orange isn’t a traditional evening gown color, but it’s becoming a popular alternative to other warm tones. As a result, an orange evening gown will ensure that you stand out from the crowd.

If you’re attending an event with a formal dress code, though, you may want to stay away from a short dress silhouette as this may look too informal.

Surprisingly, the color orange is super versatile, complementing a variety of skin and hair undertones, so it’s a fun and unique option for most people.

Gold Evening Gowns

Often thought of as a royal color, gold evening gowns come in all shades of light and dark, and they can have cool or warm undertones. This means they are fairly versatile, and they can fit a range of skin tones and preferences. 

A gold evening gown can help you stand out from the crowd, especially if you opt for a form-fitting style like a slip dress with a satin material or a dramatic ball gown.

Green Evening Gowns

There are so many different shades of green that you can go with for an evening gown; it’s one of the most versatile colors that isn’t a neutral tone. 

Many evening gowns tend to be darker in tone, but light shades of green, like mint or sage, can bring the formality necessary for a black-tie event while still being playful. This makes light green an excellent choice if you’re hoping to turn heads.

On the other hand, dark green evening dresses evoke prosperity and luck, which can be a good vibe to bring into a formal event!

Purple Evening Gowns

Purple evening gowns conjure images of aristocracy and give an air of elegance as well as a dash of mystery. 

Deep purple is a great alternative to black if you want a darker color but also want to stand out from the crowd a bit. Light purple evening gowns add a sense of whimsy to your look while still maintaining a proper sense of formality. Velvet is one of the most popular choices of fabric for a purple gown.

There are many ways to accessorize a purple evening gown, and it will all depend on the vibe that you’re trying to give to your look. For instance, gold accessories can heighten the royal feeling when paired with a dark purple gown, while pastels can bring a playful, feminine touch to your look.

2025 Evening Gown Trends vs. 2024 Evening Gown Trends

Keep the above 2026 color trends in mind to make sure your evening gown look is modern, stylish, and stunning. You can keep most 2025 trends in mind as well when it comes to style and color, though gowns with a sheer statement, dresses that sculpt your silhouette, flouncy fabrics, and textured dresses are more popular than ever in 2026. 

Mermaid Evening Gowns

Mermaid dresses hug the body but flare out at the bottom like a mermaid fin, which gives an eye-catching silhouette that will make you the center of attention. Mermaid dresses are great for accentuating the curves of your figure in a way that an A-line dress may not. Mermaid evening gowns typically have a sweetheart neckline, which pairs well with short necklaces or elegant chokers.

Slip Evening Gowns

Remember the figure-skimming slip-style evening gowns of the 90s? Well, just like everything else from the 90s, they’re back in style! Combine the elegant simplicity of a slip-style evening gown with luxurious fabrics and jewelry for an elevated 90s call-back.

A slip that is sheer over an eye-catching dress color is also on-trend for 2026, especially when the sheer layer and style of the dress tastefully highlights your figure and natural features.

Bardot Neckline Evening Gowns

This neckline is a timeless classic and lends itself well to a slim-fitted cocktail dress, a mermaid-shaped gown, or a princess-style evening dress. This shape is perfect for showing off your shoulders and collarbones and has an inherently glamorous feel to it, no matter what accessories you pair it with. Wear with an updo for an ultra-feminine look.

Metallic Tone Evening Gowns

Metallic tones are the hot color trend for 2026–think golds, silvers, and even metallic blue! To be head-turning in all the right ways, keep the silhouette simple and fitted on top, bottom, or both. When you’re accessorizing with metallics, stay consistent for maximum shine, like pairing gold earrings with a gold dress. To make your accessories pop, choose a complementary color.

Textured Evening Gowns

Embellishments and glamour are in, and an evening gown created from fabric that has lots of texture is sure to turn heads at your next event. Think gowns with embroidery, sequins, sparkles, pleated fabrics, and even decorative wing-sleeve capes are all a fantastic way to stand out in your evening gown.

Find Your Dream Evening Gown

Now that you know the trends, you can follow one or simply choose from one of the many classic evening gown styles available.

Remember, the number one thing to keep in mind as you choose from all the evening gowns here is that you need to love it — the rest is just a bonus! This is true whether you’re shopping for a dress for prom or simply a fun party dress: what matters most is that you feel incredible and happy in your look!