Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a gown and a dress?

Length and occasion. Britannica's dictionary defines a gown as a long, formal dress that a woman wears especially during a special event, and describes an evening gown as one worn to events in the evening. So in the gown vs dress debate, every gown is a dress but not every dress is a gown, and if you came for the gown meaning in wardrobe terms, think floor length plus a reason to celebrate. The Navy Blue Long Train Sequins Maxi Gown, with gold crystal sequins hand-beaded onto tulle, is the textbook version.

What is the black tie dress code for women?

Go long and you can't go wrong. The Emily Post Institute's attire guide calls black tie slightly less formal than white tie, names it the most common formal dress code for weddings, proms, formal dinners and theater, and lists a formal floor-length evening gown, a dressy cocktail dress or your dressiest little black dress for women. If you're checking the black tie dress code for women before a dinner or an awards night, the high-slit one-shoulder sequin styles and the off-shoulder sequin mermaids with long sleeves cover what to wear to a black tie event, and both suit the black tie event dress code for women with a sweep of sequins to the floor.

What is white tie attire for a woman?

The top of the ladder. The Emily Post Institute describes white tie, also known as full evening dress, as the most formal of all dress codes, and for women it lists a formal floor-length evening gown, with long gloves optional. So white tie attire means no shortcuts on length, and the white tie dress code is where the hand-beaded navy long-train gown, the Meredith black sequin gown and the feather-trimmed strapless sequin maxis earn their invitations.

What is the difference between black tie and white tie?

One step of formality. Emily Post places white tie as the most formal dress code and black tie as slightly less formal, though still above business attire. For women, the black tie vs white tie gap shows in the options: white tie asks for a floor-length evening gown, while black tie also accepts a dressy cocktail dress or your dressiest little black dress. Choose a floor-length gown and you're covered at both, whether that's the forest green satin mermaid with its long train or the silver one-shoulder sequin gown with its draped hip.

Is formal the same as black tie?

Close, but not quite. The Knot's wedding dress code cheat sheet places black tie optional between black tie and formal, says black tie calls for gowns long enough to reach the floor or the top of your shoes, and calls floor-length dresses a safe bet for formal, with sleek jumpsuits and elegant cocktail dresses also appropriate. In the formal dress vs black tie question, black tie is the stricter code, so a floor-length gown like the star-print Starry Night tulle or the long-sleeve navy sequin maxi works for both.

What is formal evening wear?

Dressing for after dark at the top of the scale. The Emily Post Institute's guide uses full evening dress as another name for white tie and lists a formal floor-length evening gown for women at both white tie and black tie, while Britannica's dictionary describes an evening gown as one worn to events in the evening. So what is formal evening wear in practice? A long gown in a fabric with presence: sequins like the geometric sequin mermaids in purple, blue and green, or satin like the Special Memory silver maxi.

What does creative black tie mean?

Black tie with a personality. The Emily Post Institute describes creative black tie as attire with a black-tie foundation and room for creativity and flair, keeping black tie formality while allowing textures, colors and accessories, and for women it lists a floor-length evening gown, a dressy cocktail dress or your dressiest little black dress, plus fun or unique accessories. For a creative black tie invite, texture is the move: the feather-trimmed strapless sequin maxis in emerald, red, black and white, or the star-dusted Starry Night tulle maxi.

What is the dress code for a gala?

Usually black tie, even when nobody says so. Who What Wear's guide to dressing for a gala says galas usually follow black-tie optional codes, advises following black-tie rules even if the invitation doesn't spell it out, and recommends tea-length or floor-length hems in silk, satin, velvet, sequins or feathers, in metallic or jewel tones. If you're asking what is the dress code for a gala because the invite stayed vague, the guide says to assume formal. That's gala attire in one line, and the off-shoulder sequin mermaids with long sleeves or the emerald strapless sequin maxi with feather detailing meet any gala dress code without trying too hard.

What should I wear to the opera?

Less than you'd think, unless it's opening night. The Metropolitan Opera's help center says there's no dress code at the Met and recommends comfortable clothing suitable for a professional setting, adding that people tend to dress more formally for galas and new production openings, though it's optional. So what to wear to the opera depends on the night: for a premiere or a gala performance, the Valerie black lace mermaid maxi or the long-sleeve navy sequin maxi does formal with ease.

Evening Gowns

Some nights want more than a dress. They want a floor to sweep, a photographer who forgets everyone else and an entrance timed to the second. That's what these evening gowns were picked for: sequin mermaids, satin slips, feathered necklines and hand-beaded tulle, cut long and built to hold a room.

Need one evening gown for the gala, the black tie dinner and the awards night? Read the dress code first, then choose the silhouette, then the color. Shopping formal dresses for women who walk in like they own the place? Expect shine, trains and slits that mean business.

Black tie, done to the floor

Black tie on the card? Then your black tie dress should touch the floor, and the sequin styles here were made for that brief. The navy long-train style carries gold crystal sequins hand-beaded onto soft tulle and is described as a show-stopping evening gown for galas, prom and formal events, while the off-shoulder sequin mermaids in black, red, navy and brown add long sleeves, a flared trumpet hem and a sweep train.

Hunting black tie dresses for women who'd rather sparkle than whisper? The one-shoulder high-slit sequin styles come in rose gold, silver, green, red and black with one long kimono sleeve, a backless finish and a draped hip, so any of them makes a dress for a black tie event that does the talking. For a classic black tie evening gown, the Meredith black sequin maxi pairs delicate straps with a plunging neckline, a bare back and sequins all the way down.

Want a floor length black tie dress with more drama than sparkle? The forest green satin maxi has a subtle metallic shimmer, a plunging neckline, a bare back and a long mermaid train for red-carpet drama.

Galas, awards and charity nights

Gala invite on the fridge? Here, gala dresses lean metallic and jewel-toned: the puff-sleeve glitter sequin maxis come in bronze gold, silver and emerald green with a wrapped neckline and a high slit, and the red cross-wrap version is described as ideal for any formal occasion. If one gala dress has to cover the whole season, the Starry Night maxi is a tulle gown dusted in shimmering stars, with a corset waist and sheer long sleeves.

Prefer feathers? Among the gala dresses for women who like texture, the strapless sequin maxis in emerald, red, black and white all carry feather detailing, and the emerald one flows from a high waist into a floor-length skirt. Need a black dress for gala night? The Valerie black lace mermaid maxi layers chiffon over a lace ruffle hem for effortless evening elegance, which also makes it a formal dress for gala dinners where the dance floor opens late.

Sleeves, satin and long lines

Covered up, still the main event. For long sleeve formal dresses, the navy blue, silver and red sequin mermaid maxis pair full-length sleeves with a round neckline, with the navy and silver flaring into a ruffle hem at the floor, while the long-sleeve fishtail in rose gold does the same in metallic sequins. Those are the long sleeve gowns for women who want shine without showing skin, and the off-shoulder mermaids round out the evening gowns with sleeves edit. Want a long sleeve evening gown with a plunging back instead? The long-sleeve navy sequin maxi has a low open back and a mermaid floor-length line, described as effortlessly glamorous for formal events.

Not every long formal gown needs sequins. The Special Memory silver maxi is a satin evening gown with understated glamour, delicate straps and an open back, and the light pink satin maxi repeats the deep V and backless cut. In the long formal dresses lane, the Places To See nude glitter maxi is a curve-flattering gown with a deep-V halter, a criss-cross back, a thigh-high slit and a sweeping train, which also makes it the halter evening gown to beat.

Shape matters too. The geometric sequin styles each make a mermaid evening gown with spaghetti straps and a plunging V, the ruffled satin maxi is the off shoulder evening gown with a high split, and any of the sequin mermaids works as a formal maxi gown. Call them elegant long evening dresses or the sparkly evening gown you've been saving for. The Meredith is an elegant evening gown in all-over sparkle, and any geometric style gives you a sequin evening gown with zero effort.

Pick your color

Sorting formal dresses: black first, because it never misses. The black sequin backless maxi with its mermaid fishtail is the black evening gown that catches the light from every angle, the Valerie lace is the black evening dress for softer nights, and the black off-shoulder mermaid makes a black formal gown with sleeves.

Greens come in force. The forest green satin maxi is the green formal gown for satin lovers, the emerald feather maxi is a formal emerald green gown with a feather neckline, and the emerald puff-sleeve sequin maxi is the emerald green evening gown for the jewel-tone brief. Want a green evening gown with a fishtail? The green fishtail style, plunging at the front and bare at the back, is described as a dazzling green sequin evening gown.

Blues and purples hold their own. The hand-beaded navy long-train style is the formal navy blue gown of the edit, the navy blue sequin backless maxi with its fishtail is a navy blue evening gown for holiday parties, and the blue geometric sequin maxi is the blue evening gown made for a grand entrance. For a formal purple gown, the purple geometric sequin mermaid brings a sleek, shiny finish, and the Valerie light purple lace is the purple evening gown in layered chiffon. Prefer pink? The pink sequin backless maxi is a pink evening gown with a sequin bodice and a mermaid shape, and the silver one-shoulder style is the silver evening gown with a high front split.

Evening dresses for every invite

Awards dinner, opera premiere, a charity ball or a cousin's black tie wedding: one category covers them all. Across this edit, evening dresses run from formal evening gowns in sequin to formal evening dresses in satin, so there's an evening dress here for every level of formality. Need an evening gown for wedding season? Pair the forest green satin with gold heels and nobody will ask if it's too much.

Long story short: these are evening gowns for women who would rather overdress than blend in, formal gowns that reach the floor and long evening gown silhouettes with trains, sleeves or slits. Pick the gowns that match the invitation, then pick the one that matches your mood.

Want more? The wedding crowd lives in wedding guest dresses, curves get plus size formal dresses, and the shine continues in sequin dresses and maxi dresses. Finish it with high heels and a handbag.