womens long sleeve midi dresses La Femme Evening Dress 27982 Slip into something smooth Amazing-Snazzy Black Sequin Women's Elegant

Because cocktail dresses are typically considered formal wear, strapless and sleeveless designs are what style mavens usually opt for

And even if she does want to wear white on her wedding day, with the average age of a bride in the UK now being about 33 years old, she has lived a life too

We put together upcoming shows for the last hurrah of 2012 (isnt the world ending?), topping off on NYE with a dont-miss DJ set, so be prepared to put on your dancing shoes because its going to be a long night (or nights)

Or skip the tights and add bold red lipstick for a modern date-night edge

Below, we break down the key elements of black-tie attire for men and women and what sets this dress code apart from formalwear

Adjustable shoulder straps keep it easygoing, while the back cut-out with a smocked panel brings the unexpected twist