Since the dawn of civilized society, the evening gown has been a staple in women’s wardrobes. Evening dresses are the garments we all lust after, 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 that requires black-tie attire.
The right evening dress 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 each year. Before we discuss the evening dress trends you may decide to embrace this year, there are a few considerations you need to have in mind when choosing evening dresses.
- 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 trend with what actually looks good. Also consider what time of year it is, as jewel tones are always flattering in the winter.
- Pattern: Again, not all patterns will suit all personalities, body types, and season. When in doubt, stick to block colors.
- Silhouette: the silhouette of your evening dress should be flattering and complimentary of 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.
- Material: Again, this is often influenced by the time of year and what sort of event you’re planning to wear your evening dress to. Materials like velvet, rayon and silk are very popular this year but should be worn wisely depending on the event and time of year.
The preferred shape, material and color of an evening dress has changed over time, so let’s explore some of the top evening dress trends this year.
5 Must-Wear Evening Dress Trends for 2020
Ombre Evening Dresses
You’d be forgiven for thinking this was just a hair trend, but that ombre and dip-dyed look is always head-turning. Long evening gowns in an ombre style will add length and elegance to your look. For an additional slimming element, choose a dress that starts with a darker color that gradually gets lighter towards the bottom.
Tiered Evening Dresses
Tiered is a particularly popular style for wedding gowns, but is a strong trend for 2020 moving into 2021. Whether entirely tiered all the way down or just on the bottom, tiers are feminine and can work to hide parts of your body you’d like to minimize, or if you choose a thicker fabric, they can also emphasize your curves.
Slip Dresses
Remember the slip-style evening dresses of the 90s? Well, just like everything else from the 90s, they’re back! Combine a slip-style evening dress with luxurious fabrics and jewelry for the ultimate elegant 90s call-back.
Bardot Neckline Dresses
This shape of evening gown is a timeless classic and lends itself well to a slim-fitted cocktail dress, a mermaid shape gown, or a princess style. This shape is perfect for showing off your shoulders and collar bones 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.
Bold Two-Tone Dresses
Wearing a single color will never lead you wrong, but if you want to be on-trend this year, think about choosing a statement dress that pairs two bold colors. This could be black and white, red, and blue, orange and yellow – just keep it bold and bright. To be head-turning in all the right ways, keep the silhouette simple and fitted on top, bottom, or both.
Now you know the trends, you can choose to follow one or simply choose from one of the many classic evening dress styles available. Remember, the number one thing to keep in mind as you choose from all the evening dresses here is that you need to love it – the rest is just a bonus!