Whether you're headed to a wedding, a party, or simply want to get dressed up for a fancy date (check out some of our fall date ideas!), the best Cocktail dresses for women over 50 are wardrobe essentials.
Though we're firm believers that you can wear whatever you want at any age (every body is beautiful), you might be looking for something specific, or for a party dress that meets certain criteria. If you're in search of a high-low dress, we're sharing a few options in a slew of colorways, sizes, and price points that you're sure to love. Or, if you're on the hunt for a short-sleeved or long-sleeved cocktail dress, we have you (and your arms) covered with some gorgeous options. And if you have a budget to adhere to (don't we all?) or are looking to splurge, we've found dresses that range from $40 to $400—there's truly something here for everyone. Some can be worn as summer dresses while others are best for winter. And we've found the perfect little black dress, which works for every season.
How we chose
We consulted Andrea Zendejas, senior accessories editor for Cosmopolitan, Danielle Fume, associate fashion editor for Cosmopolitan, and sifted through countless online reviews—choosing dresses with more than 1,000 reviews and nearly five stars—to find the most stylish and cute cocktail dresses for women over 50.
Our top picks
1 Best Colorful Cocktail Dress
MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS
Chain-embellished pleated recycled crepe maxi dress 2 Best Tea-Length Cocktail Dress
Lulus
Reinette Black Midi Dress 3 Best Bodycon Cocktail Dress
Ezbelle
Sexy Off Shoulder Short-Sleeve Ribbed Wrap Bodycon Pencil Party Dress 4 Best Vintage-Inspired Cocktail Dress
MUADRESS
Sleeveless Hi-Lo Lace Formal Dress Cocktail Party Dress 5 Highest Rated on Amazon
Sarin Mathews
Off-the-Shoulder Short Sleeve High Low Cocktail Skater Dress 6 Best Plus-Size Cocktail Dress
Kiyonna
Wildflower Embroidered Dress in Nude Blush 7 Best Little Black Dress Cocktail Dress
Knitee
Deep-V Neck Ruffle Sleeves Cocktail Dress 8 Best One-Shoulder Cocktail Dress
JASAMBAC
Cocktail Dress 9 Vineet Bahl
Vineet Bahl Feather-Trimmed Shift Dress 10 JASAMBAC
Fit and Flare Cocktail Dress 11 Berydress
Cap Sleeve Deep V-Neck Draped Waist Tie Belt Knee-Length Faux Wrap Dress How to choose the best cocktail dress for women over 50
When looking for a cocktail dress there are a number of things to keep in mind.
- Style. As far as cocktail dresses are concerned, there are a number of styles and designs to choose from. Both Zendeja and Flume recommend looking for something that makes you feel confident, and that has great tailoring so you can feel put together without needing alterations.
- Material. If you're looking for a seasonal cocktail dress, choosing lightweight fabrics for the summer and heavier wools for the winter is a no-brainer. But if you're looking for something year-round, breathable fabric with short or billowy sleeves should do the trick.
- Price. If you have a set price in mind, try to adhere to it as close as possible—few things are worse than falling in love with a dress out of your price range. But, if you're looking to splurge, think of how many times you're likely to wear the dress to see if it's worth the price.
