I'm a big fan of J.Crew dresses for cocktails. I actually got married in a J.Crew cocktail dress (I just ordered it in white!).

Their prices are fantastic and you can get simple and elegant easily.

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Feature_Assortment/NewArrivals/dresses.jsp

Depending on your time frame and body shape, I like these. If you are rather curvy (like me), stay away from the potato sack ones. I find the empire waisted ones to be perfect for slightly dressy. I like my cocktail dresses to usually hold their shape to give a more formal air to them, but have more of an informal/fun shape. So a stiff silk or a stiff cotton/wool usually works nicely.

However, and I'm blanking on the style name right now ... dresses that are flared from the scoop neck down and go mid thigh are pretty popular right now and seem to fit any body type (I think they are called ring-neck?). They are really fun to accessorize and you can where with ballerina slippers or higher heels.

Chronicle of the Hoof

charleyharvey wrote:
SM is a smart lady. She'd run circles around half the people on this board who pride themselves on their cleverness and intellect.
RebelsBuckaroo wrote:
SM's all badass keeping illegal chickens in her yard and what not. She's a G.
baxtersmom wrote:
When the Nation of FiSH arises, SM will be the Intelligence and Communications Director.