petite size cocktail dresses London Times Women's Summer Ruffle Short Dress | Dress for Women weather charm to a sleeveless Cocktail Attire Ralph Lauren Petite

Cocktail attire is the most common modern interpretation of semi-formal

In photos, it reads lighter than dense fabrics, so a full lineup feels less heavy

A piece of material has a life

Whether paired with chic accessories or worn as a standout piece on its own, this black velvet dress is a versatile addition to any fashion-forward closet

So rather than doing a double layer skirt as the pattern calls for, I chose to do an accent band at the bottom of the overskirt

In my mind, the only bad thing about this uniform was the M-65 BDU field jacket, which worked against the cold every bit as well as any crocheted blanket, which is to say, not at all