The term “Cocktail attire” is often mentioned, yet it’s not always clear what it means — especially when our little girls are the guests! Here’s everything you need to know about finding the perfect cocktail dresses for juniors age 7 — 16 years.
Firstly, what does “cocktail attire” mean? The style was first defined in a 1927 issue of Vogue as “a short dress that is suitable for formal occasions”. That sounds easy enough, but what about the design and colour? Well, that’s the fun part! Your little lady’s look should be elegant yet playful, so experiment with unique cuts, colours and embellishments to find a style that suits her.
Below are five of our favourite short cocktail dresses for juniors that finish at or above the knee:
1. Little Black Dress
No matter what age you are, every girl should have a little black dress in her wardrobe that can be pulled out at a moment’s notice. Our ruffle little black dress with a smart A-line silhouette, sparkly black lurex fabric and a soft ruffled hem is a classic dress for your little lady to cherish. The colour black is a super versatile option as she can wear it time and time again, using accessories to change the look.
Ruffle Little Black Dress
2. Be Bold
Of course, colourful cocktail dresses also look fantastic and we especially love this wine ruffle dress to make a bold statement. With a wine-colour palette and a fit and flare silhouette, it’s the ideal day to evening transitional dress. The addition of romantic ruffle sleeves offers a polished finishing touch ready for your junior to steal the style spotlight.
3. Wear Tweed
Not only can you experiment with the length and colour of her cocktail dress, but the dress material also opens up endless possibilities. Add a contemporary twist with our embellished ivory tweed frill dress. It’s understated yet elegant, which provides the perfect casual cocktail dress balance. With a bespoke random check tweed fabric that has a luxuriously soft texture and a woven aesthetic, this A-line dress also includes a pretty flute hem to frame your daughter’s silhouette from top to toe.
Ivory Tweed Frill Dress
We also offer a heritage-inspired black tweed formal dress with a timeless A-line silhouette and matching ruffle bodice. This black and multi-colour piece showcases the finest tweed fabric to guarantee warmth, comfort and elegance at your girl’s next casual smart event.
4. Fashionable Boucle Fabric
Another unique texture that offers both elegance and durability is boucle fabric and in our festive green boucle gown, your girl can be the belle of the ball! The stunning shade of green combined with the elevated textured boucle fabric and ruffle sleeves offer a fabulous cocktail dress choice to grace her next occasion.
5. Add a Waterfall Feature
Add a little flair to her cocktail dress with our navy waterfall party dress. Available in a smart navy blue colourway that’s perfect for casual occasions or formal best, this dress offers a luxe knitted texture and soft waterfall sleeves for top-to-toe elegance. This chic frill dress is sure to win her plenty of compliments.
Once your girl has the cocktail dress of her dreams, add a glitzy clutch bag or pearl headband as a flawless finish.
At David Charles Childrenswear, we offer a luxury collection of casual cocktail dresses for juniors. View our exclusive range here.