6 Foolproof Special Occasion Dresses

Jacket dress When you want more coverage and don't want to fuss with a wrap, the jacket dress is a great option. The matching dress and jacket is perfect for mother of the bride looks, anniversary parties and wedding guests. Keep the fabrics shiny and luxe, not stiff or heavy, so the overall look is beautiful.Shorter or bolero jackets pair nicely with long gowns; dusters go best with dressy pants.

Embellished Dress Head-to-beads are difficult to carry off, but a touch of embellishment is spectacular. Make sure your beading is on a part of your body you want to highlight, including the bodice, waist or neckline. Embellishment can be as subtle as tone-on-tone embroidery or as showy as bugle beads. Keep accessories to a minimum when wearing heavy embellishment up top.

Dressy Separates Not every figure looks best in a dress. For hard-to-fit bodies or more casual occasions, dressy separates can do the trick. Choose one special piece -- a beaded skirt, a sheer embellished shirt, an embroidered jacket -- and mix it with a solid piece in a special occasion fabric (crepe, jersey knit, organza, etc.) Sharon Stone famously did an offhanded mix at the Oscars once by wearing a Gap mockneck T-shirt with a ballgown. Take this idea and mix different elements for a fresh look like a simple sweater tank with a beaded skirt or a sheer, beaded blouse with man-tailored trousers.

Off-the-Shoulder Dress Designer Donna Karan has famously been a proponent of the sexy exposed shoulder for years, feeling that most women have pretty shoulders to show. An off-the-shoulder dress instantly shows lots of skin, but not necessarily areas you might be uncomfortable showing like the lower back or cleavage. The silhouette of the off-the-shoulder dress adds width to the upper half of your body, balancing your lower half. It's a great look for all but those with really wide shoulders. Accentuate the look with a great necklace, strategically placed brooch or dangling earrings.

Corset Dress Need an instant upper body lift? The corset dress will lift your breasts and whittle your waist, and look fantastic and edgy while doing it. You can choose a dress with a built-in corset for the bodice or opt for a separate corset top with a skirt. This look adds curves to slender figures and structure to fuller figures: it's great all-around for flattery. You will look sexy and charming with it on.

Print Dress A fresh flowery print dress is perfect for daytime occasions, from weddings to bridal showers to a special tea time. Big bloom prints look good on most women, just be sure to scale them to your figure: larger women look best with the prints close together and less background space showing, the opposite is true for smaller women. Don't be tempted to accessorize with a silk flower or buds on your shoes. A more sophisticated approach is to pair with metallic or bright sandals and an oversized bead necklace (pearl or gold) to counter the cuteness factor of a flower print dress. Most ladies will choose print dress as they will look younger with the dress on.The flowery print can wake up the memory of the childhood.