The Cocktail Dress: History of a Classic
The cocktail dress rose with the cocktail hour in the 1920s. Shorter than a gown, dressier than day wear, the cut filled a new social need. Christian Dior named the cocktail dress in the 1940s. This guide traces the style and how to wear one now.
Born with the cocktail hour
Prohibition-era gatherings created a need for a dress between day and evening. The cocktail dress answered with a shorter hem and a refined fabric. The style spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
Dior names the style
In the 1940s, Christian Dior used the term cocktail dress for early-evening wear. The name stuck. The cut became a fixture of mid-century wardrobes.
The cocktail dress now
Today the cocktail dress covers knee to midi length in an elevated fabric. The style suits weddings, parties, and dinners. Shop cocktail dresses.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cocktail dress?
A knee to midi length dress in an elevated fabric for semi-formal events.
Who named the cocktail dress?
Christian Dior used the term in the 1940s for early-evening wear.
When did the cocktail dress start?
The 1920s, alongside the rise of the cocktail hour.
More in the Fashion History hub. For the modern code, see the cocktail dress code.
Vilmere Editorial Team.
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