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Looking to expand your summer dress wardrobe? Now is the perfect time – many formal looks from spring are at discount and now that autumn is coming, many retailers are offering great sales on their summer dresses to make room for back-to-school fashions. Here’s what to look for as you start shopping:

1) Formal dresses in solid, metallic colors. Red carpets lately have been filled with classy formal dresses that are high on shimmer. Many celebrities are wearing blush and soft colors in metallic fabrics, although a few are opting for bolder hot pink colors that flatter darker skin tones.

2) Ethnic print summer dresses. Bold, multi-colored prints that look as though they hail from exotic locales are all the rage this summer. These dresses also look great with the hippie slouch bags that are hot this summer.

3) Printed swing dresses. Casual summer dresses in bright patterns featuring swing or a-line skirts are trendy right now and perfect for staying cool on hot days.

4) The little black dress – with a twist. Fashion-forward celebrities are embracing little black dresses that feature either cut out shapes or sheer skirts that show off toned legs. These dresses are lighter and more fun than the more formal little black dress, and are perfect for fun summer events.

5) Red one-shoulder dresses. These are popping up at award events everywhere. They really make summer evenings red-hot.

Visit Paris for a few days or weeks and an alarming pattern emerges – everyone looks amazing and elegant, with a stylish, casual style. Start chatting up a few of the locals and an even more alarming fact emerges: many women in the stylish city have less disposable income than the average North American, but tend to live and dress better. The effortless, elegant style can be yours, though. Here are the secrets of that certain je ne sais quoi:

• Buy classics rather than following trends. The most stylish women of history  — Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Jackie Onassis, even Gwyneth Paltrow – did not simply follow fashion. They often chose simple, classic pieces and set their own trends rather than trying to fill up their closets with items that are current in the moment.
• Think quality, not quantity. Rather than buying six blouses made cheaply and that will look frumpy and worn in a few months, buy one or two that are made from quality materials and are well constructed. They will last much longer and look better. The problem is that many of us are not brought up to recognize quality. If this describes you, visit several upscale stores and look closely at top-end clothing (even if you can’t afford it). You will quickly see the difference between poor quality and high quality. Don’t panic, though – quality clothes are available at discount, but you need to be able to recognize them when you see them. Learn first, shop second.
• Buy strategically. Don’t just buy something because you feel like it or you like how it looks. Consider your life – where you go, what events or occasions you attend – and create a list of items you must have to make your life work. Tuck this list into your pocket and when you shop focus on the items you need.
• Buy clothes that do double-duty. Simple wardrobe basics in classic styles and colors go far. A simple dress suit, day dress, formal dress, and a few skirts and tops will see you far and you can dress them up with accessories and other pieces.
• Consider building your wardrobe around a few colors. This will ensure that you can put together more outfits.

If you’re hosting any events over the holidays, you need a fabulous dress that makes you look like the star of your part but you also need to be comfortable enough to take care of all the details of actually hosting a party. Worse, you may have already spent a ton of money on the party itself and may have a limited budget for your dress. In addition to these considerations, your dress needs to be simple so that you can toss it on after you’ve taken care of the food, cleaning, decorations, and other details before the party. While that’s a tall order, you can get the perfect hostessing dress by:

1) Considering appropriateness. If your party is for your office coworkers, make sure that you dress is formal and not too revealing. If your party is for group of friends, you may be able to get away with a dress that is sexier.

2) Playing with texture. Look for dress fabrics that are resilient, since you’ll likely be hugging, kissing, and moving around great deal as the hostess. You’ll want a fabric that can stand up to a lot and doesn’t stain easily when you’re preparing the meal or the appetizers. Fabrics such as velvet and silk are very touchable and make you look welcoming.

3) Going for short sleeves or sleeveless outfits. If you’re working over a hot stove or running around, you don’t want visible sweat stains. Look for breathable fabrics, and sleeves that won’t dangle over your food. Wear an apron over your dress when you’re preparing food, as well.

4) Looking for comfort. Avoid tight clothes, short hems, and low necklines. These will make it easy for you to get into embarrassing situations as you’re bending, serving, hugging, and moving around. A hostess moves around a great deal more than guests, so make sure that what you wear is comfortable and doesn’t reveal too much. Comfort should be the byword for shoes as well. Make sure you have shoes that are well broken in and have a low enough heel so that you won’t be in pain at the end of the night. As a hostess, you’ll spend most of the night on your feet, so think appropriate footwear.

If you have a closet, you need to have at least some formal wear in that closet for the inevitable invitations to events like parties, formal dances, special dinners, and gala events. Even if you don’t think you go to formal events often enough to justify formal dress shopping, formal events can sneak up on you, and being prepared is essential.

Sometimes, we are given plenty of time to shop around for special event, but invitations also do arrive at the last minute. If you don’t want to miss out on great opportunities just because you have nothing to wear, it’s smart to invest in a few formal wear pieces that can take you into the evening in style.

Formal wear does not mean just big ball gowns. In fact, formal dresses can look very much like any dresses – just that they are often made of finer materials, such as lace, silk, velvet, or satin. When selecting your formalwear, look for:

1) A piece that can be worn for daytime events. Look for knee-length or calf-length dresses or skirt suits made of fine material and if you like hats, shop around for a hat that matches. For daytime formal events, look for business formal styles that can be worn to a variety of daytime functions. Daytime formal dresses and suits are usually appropriate for
events that begin during the morning or afternoon, before 6 in the evening. If you go to several daytime formal events or business formal events in a year, you may wish to invest in more than one daytime formal outfit – perhaps one dress and one suit.

2) A piece that is eveningwear formal. This can be a full-length gown, cocktail dress or even separates in shiny or fine fabrics. If you opt for a shoulder-baring style, do invest in a pretty matching jacket or shawl to make your evening outfit appropriate for religious events. Eveningwear formal dresses are usually worn to formal functions that begin after 6 or in the later afternoon or early evening.

Trend forecasters indicate that restyled or customized prom dresses will be the big trend this spring. As the economic crunch deepens around the world, many schools and communities are hosting prom dress swaps or other events to ensure that everyone gets to wear a beautiful gown. Even those who can afford to buy a new dress are indicating that they are not buying high-end off-the-rack creations. Instead, customizing dresses seems to be what most people in the know are planning for the big day. Some of the big trends seem to be:

1) Asymmetrical styles. One shoulder-strap styles and asymmetrical hemlines are still popular, and current evening dresses can easily be transformed into this style with the services of a tailor.

2) Big skirts. Many prom-goers expect to add some volume to their dresses. You can easily do this yourself by buying a tutu or netted skirt, which is affordable at many fabric shops and dance supply stores. The tutu or skirt can simply be slipped under any dress with a nipped waist.

3) Embellishments. Beading and other details are an easy way to transform an existing prom dress. Embellishments are expected to remain hot through the spring collections.

When you’re flush, selecting evening wear can be a breeze – just whip out the plastic and pay for what you like. When times are tough, budgeting for formal dresses and special evenings out becomes more difficult. You may not even be feeling very festive if you are worried about money. While you may not be able to buy anything you like, you can still look fabulous on a shoestring budget. Here’s how:

1) Shop in your own closet. Start pulling out clothes from your closet and try them on in new ways. Pay special attention to clothes that are classic – the little black dress, for example, or that classic cocktail dress. What sorts of accessories can you use to transform these dresses into something great? A shawl or long coat can make your dress into something new and can save you a bundle. Look at dresses you haven’t worn in a while and see whether there is something you can do with the dress to give it new life.

2) Have a clothes swap. Trade clothes with your friends for new-for-you clothes or use online sites to swap for clothes you like. It’s free and good for the environment.

3) Shop smart. Look for discounts, shop consignment or check out online bargains to save considerably off retail prices. You can easily buy a simple formal dress for under $100 and jazz it up into something special. It does mean extra work, though, so shop early.

Retail for evening dresses? Many women who have found the joys of having custom dresses made for them say “never again.” While having a tailor whip off a formal dress for you is not for everyone, proponents claim that this is one of the best-kept secrets in the fashion world. Rather than hitting the stores and trying on a multitude of badly-fitting dresses in styles and colors you can’t stand, you simply find a fabric you love, come up with a look and drop by a tailor. A few fittings later and you have a custom-created evening gown.

First the good news. There are plenty of advantages to getting the perfect dress sewn for you:

1) You get a completely unique dress you can be sure that no one else will have.
2) You get a dress that fits you perfectly because it is created for your body.
3) You call all the shots – you get the exact dress you want in the style, color, and fabric you want. You can even indicate what stitches you want used, if it comes to that.

Now the bad news. You can expect to pay as much for custom-made dresses as you would for full retail – more if your dress is especially complicated. You also need to plan ahead in order to find a tailor who will do a good job.

If you decide to take the plunge, follow these tips:

1) Start planning way, way in advance. Talk to tailors and get recommendations for good tailors in your area. Consider having a simpler garment sewn – such as a skirt – in order to see what quality clothes your tailor can create for you.
2) Learn a little about sewing. Learn about different fabrics, stitches and dress styles. This will make it easier for you to communicate with your tailor effectively.
3) Shop for fabrics. Go into fabric stores and spend plenty of time browsing. Before you decide on a fabric, you will need to talk to your tailor to ensure that he or she can work well with the fabric that interests you. Not all fabrics translate into great evening dresses, so get professional advice before you buy yards of it. While at the fabric store, pick up the quality matching thread, zippers, hooks and other items your tailor will need.
4) Start looking for styles. Flip through books to get ideas for evening dresses or browse available patterns. Discuss what your tailor will need – some will need just a picture of a dress while others will want a complete pattern. If you can’t find a pattern that you love, you can always have a picture of a dress turned into a sewing pattern – several services online do this, although it will mean an extra expense.

Even if you spend hours picking out the perfect dresses, you need a lot more than super outfits to really pull off a formal or fun look. The total effect also takes:

1) Etiquette. No matter how you are dressed, being able to present yourself with poise, confidence, and grace are important. No one wants to deal with a slob who happens to be nicely dressed. Learn the basics about etiquette by reading up about it or contact a local image consultant for a quick workshop on poise.

2) Accessories. Shoes, purses, earrings and other accessories can really make party dresses your own, so spend as much time shopping for the little extras as you spend on your party dresses.

3) Makeup. Applying beautiful makeup is a wonderful way to make your face as stunning as your dress. If you need some ideas, YouTube superstar panacea81 is amazing. Her very detailed makeup tutorials online are all you need to get over any makeup fears you have. There is a reason why she is one of the stars of YouTube. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about party makeup is here.

4) The walk. Tripping over your high heel shoes can ruin your dress and sink your confidence. Once again, YouTube comes to the rescue.