cocktail attire dresses The Girlfriend's Guide to Attire: A semi-formal dress code for evening events, weddings, and upscale gatherings. Think: dressy but not stuffy. Cocktail has fewer rules than Black Tie and White Cocktail & Party Dresses

Designed to hug your curves in all the right places, this fitted mini features a structured V-neckline that creates a flattering, modern silhouette

The loose-fitting ruffle hemline dress shows off a woman's curves without being too tight

(Especially after the Great Ballet Flat Revival of 2023.) Considering how much wear you can get out of a pair of black flats, an expensive pair may seem like a justifiable splurge, but you also dont want something too precious that cant stand up to a fair amount of steps

You can even dress it down for a casual daytime look with flats or sandals and a woven straw tote

If you find that the regular Weejuns are a bit too hard on your feet, personal stylist and Kule content director Elizabeth Tamkin suggests trying the croc version, which doesnt require as much breaking in because the leathers a little more forgiving

It is no longer the preserve of slim, middle-class city-dwelling women who work in offices and do pilates