What's the difference? cocktail dress and formal gown?

Question

Anyone care to elaborate?

Answer 1

cocktail dress is just above the knees and a formal gown is just below the ankles.

Answer 2

A cocktail dress or cocktail gown is a shorter-length lady's gown worn at cocktail parties and other semi-formal and black tie occasions. Less elaborate versions may be worn at semi-formal occasions when gentlemen are in dark suits. Prior to the mid 20th. century this type of apparel was known as 'late afternoon'. (When gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or "good" afternoon skirt and dresses). A longer, full-skirted cocktail dress may accompany black tie (although in the late 1960s and early 1970s short cocktail dresses were acceptable black tie attire). By the 1980's a dress was considered to be cocktail less by where the hem fell, but more by the level of sumptuousness the garment attained. The length of cocktail dresses varies depending on fashion and local custom; it ranges from just above the knee to tea length (about two inches above the ankle) and sometimes ballerina length (touching the ankle), although ballerina length dresses usually fall into the evening gown category.

A gown is a long, often loose, flowing garment. It is a type of dress, ranging in length from tea and ballerina to full-length. Gowns are often made of a luxury fabric such as chiffon, velvet, satin, or silk. A gown for a black tie event may be full length, ballet, or tea (mid-calf to ankle) length. In general, the same rules as a white-tie event apply to a black-tie event, though in some cases a cocktail gown may be acceptable.

There ya go, it's all about the length and the event!

Answer 3

Cocktail dresses are shorter than formal gowns. Gowns go to the floor and cocktail dresses are generally around knee length. I always think of cocktail dresses as the famous "little black dresses." Julia Roberts wore a black cocktail dress on one of her dates with Richard Gere in the movie Pretty Woman. It was the scene where they met at the bar in the hotel, and he didn't recognize her.

Answer 4

As a rule, a cocktail dress falls just below the knees and is less formal than a gown, which falls to just above the ground.

Answer 5

A cocktail dress is usually short and less formal. A formal gown usually skirts the floor and is more elaborate. (sequins, taffeta or lace)

Answer 6

formal gowns are the very long, elegant, ones. their like the most dressy you can get. cocktail dresses, is a dress, and is usually shorter than gowns, and sorta a little less formal. cocktail dresses are cute little dresses that are sort of dressy.

Answer 7

Cocktail dresses tend to be shorter, around knee length. Formal gowns tend to be floor length.

Answer 8

In a formal gown you go to a red carpet party or a huge gala. In a cocktail dress you do just that, go to cocktails, less formal :)

Answer 9

A cocktail dress falls just below the knee.

Here are some examples....

http://www.edressme.com/cocdres.html

A formal gown is usually very long and elegant and vary from princess poofy to flowy to form fitting styles.

Here are some examples........

http://www.edressme.com/formal.html

Answer 10

A cocktail deres is something you wear to parties that is usually not long and flowy, but around the knees but still elegant.
Formal gowns are usually worn to special occasions like prom, weddings, etc.
I hope that helps.