Party Dress Styling Rules Fashion Girls Always Follow

You’re at home staring at your closet, about to get ready for a cocktail party or an elegant soirée. Thoughts of your fashionable friend who always looks better than everyone else at these types of things dance through your head, and you instantly feel defeated. Does this situation sound at all familiar?

Whether you resonate with the girl at home thinking these unfortunate thoughts, or maybe you're even the more well-dressed woman, the party dressing style tips you’re about to read are crucial to looking great at every event. Some of these tips might seem obvious to you, whereas others fall more on the obscure side, but a combination of unique and classic style is what fashion girls aim to achieve on the daily, and if you follow the rules ahead, you'll be sure to make a dazzling statement no matter where you go. 

Keep reading to discover the party dressing style tips every fashion girl follows. 

choose statement-making outerwear

Don't bring down your overall party ensemble with a coat or outerwear piece that is not up to par. In fact, we recommend making your top layer just as fantastic as the dress underneath. 

add an unexpected layer

Olivia Palermo's look proves that white button-downs really do go with everything. If you want to really stand out from the crowd and prove your fashion knowledge, and layer one underneath a more traditional frock to spice it up. 

go all out

There's no time like a fabulous gala or event to wear your most extreme dress. Whether it's feathered, sequined, or bejeweled, don't hesitate to pull that baby out for your next party. Fashion girls would rather be overdressed than underdressed any day. 

show off one current trend

Just because you're going to a fancy party doesn't mean you have to skimp out on the latest trends, but we advise you limit it to one in effort to not overwhelm the look. Here, platform suede booties (a major trend right now) perfectly off-set this sequin-dripping look. 

balance timeless and modern

The perfect party dress is one that somehow manages to capture traditional formalities while looking to the future. Think dresses with timeless fabrics—lace or satin—with a structure and shape that is a little more forward. 

wear an unconventional piece

Mixing and matching elevated apparel and street-wear is something fashion girls have down to a science. Take it from Chiara Ferragni, who fully committed to layering this bomber jacket over a strapless appliqué party dress. The look reads formal but intriguingly careless all at once. 

keep accessories minimal 

Take this tip with a grain of salt, as it really does depend on what your dress looks like, but when you have a gorgeous party piece that you want to show off, don't distract your viewers from the main attraction by overly sparkly deterrents. 

Speaking of party dressing, be sure to check out our official list of the dos and don'ts of cocktail attire for women.