These Cocktail Dresses for Women Over 50 Are So Elegant and Flattering

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Whether you’re headed to a wedding, a party, or a fancy date (check out some of our fall date ideas!), there’s one thing that every fashionable woman could use in her closet: A chic, flattering cocktail dress. But how do you find that perfect one with the right fit, style, and preferred price point? Shopping for the right dress can be a challenge no matter your age—but if you’re specifically looking for the best cocktail dresses for women over 50, we’ve got you covered with stylish, flattering options right here.

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. Thankfully, we found so many options in a slew of styles, colors, and price points for every type of occasion. There are sleeveless and high-low options that make for beautiful summer dresses or flowy spring wedding guest dresses—but if you’re looking for something with more modest coverage, we also have plenty of elegant, stylish options for midi dresses and silhouettes with longer sleeves.

Ahead, check out all our best cocktail dresses for women over 50 that are flattering, stylish, and comfortable. From long-sleeved to sleeveless to tea-length to mini, these top-rated picks are sure to help you look (and feel!) your best.

Women’s Short Sleeve Lace Floral Cocktail Dress

Lace always add a touch of elegance—and this beautiful dress is no exception. Great for all occasions, this top-rated pick features an intricate eyelash lace detail with a short sleeve fit and a flattering round neck. Plus, it comes in 15 different color options to choose from. “The dress looks very elegant, the length is perfect and the lace sleeves offer enough coverage of my upper arms,” writes one Amazon shopper.

Sizes: S-XL

Off The Shoulder Short Sleeve Ribbed Casual Party Bodycon Midi Dress

If you’re looking for a more figure-hugging option (that comes in 26 colors and patterns!), Ezbelle’s hot off-the-shoulder bodycon dress fits the bill. With more than 7,000 reviews and nearly five stars, it’s a customer favorite too. “I absolutely love this dress. The material is soft and stretchy,” writes one shopper. “I bought it in my size and felt like it fit great, it just hugged my curves and my tummy a bit. Although it hugged my body it wasn’t tight.”

Sizes: 4-22

Tiffany One-Shoulder Midi Dress

This elegant dress comes in a midi length with a form-flattering silhouette—but the star of the show is undoubtedly the beautiful one-shoulder neckline, which adds a touch of sophistication. Besides the bold red shade, it also come in 12 other colors to choose from. “Gorgeous and flattering...The waist is structured and defined making it look more slender,” writes one Nordstrom customer. “The length is perfect and the shoulder detail takes the dress from fancy to elegant.”

Sizes: XXS-XXL

Women's Elegant Bell Sleeve Cocktail Party Dress

If you’re looking for more coverage of your arms, this modest cocktail dress features a tasteful 3/4 length with its elegant flared bell sleeves. The flattering A-line midi fit comes together with a decorative bow belt that accentuates the waistline. And did we mention this dress also comes in countless colors and patterns? (It doesn’t just come in velvet, either—there’s also sequined and floral options!).

“[Thia dress] is so pretty on and very modest and classy yet is fitted in all the right areas to accentuate your curves and femininity,” writes one Amazon reviewer, while another says: “It fits beautifully, comfortable, just the right length. Lots of compliments!”

Sizes: X-3XL

Sequin Lace Midi Dress

Looking for a little sparkle? This lovely midi dress is embellished with pretty sequins for a touch of glittery glamour that’s fitting for holiday parties (or just whenever you feel like sparkling). It also offers a fit-and-flare silhouette for a flattering style, and is available in three colors.

“I’m 63 years old, curvy but fairly fit and so many of the cocktail style dresses seem too flashy or young,” writes one reviewer. “This dress is form-fitting but I don’t have to suffer through pantyhose or Spanx to wear it. Love the light sparkle of the sequins and the all-over lace...It is a great dress for this price and I’m a picky shopper.”

Sizes: 6-18

Off-the-Shoulder Short Sleeve High Low Cocktail Skater Dress

With more than 33,000 reviews and a 4.2 star rating, this cocktail dress comes in 16 colors and patterns. The high-low style shows off legs without being too revealing in the back, while the off-the-shoulder bodice perfectly accentuates your decolletage.

“Fits like a glove and material is thick so everything looks smooth! Beyond happy,” raves one Amazon reviewer. “It’s beautiful and is made from a thicker material which smooths out any areas that you might be concerned with. The shoulders stay put and don’t ride back up. Shows off my waist and shoulders...It is form-fitting so it keeps its shape without feeling too clingy.”

Sizes: XS-XXL

Deep-V Neck Ruffle Sleeves Cocktail Dress

This highly-rated dress (it has over 11,000 Amazon ratings!) features a flattering A-line silhouette with a ruffle embellishment and ruffled cap sleeves. It comes in 12 colors so you’re sure to find a hue you love.

“I wore this for my 50th birthday party and I received many compliments. I am a plus-size gal,” one satsified shopper writes. “I was self-conscious about wearing this dress but it photographs beautifully. Nice stretchy but thick material. I wore the wine-colored dress and it was a beautiful color. I love the ruffle on the leg part.”

Sizes: S-XXL

Reinette Black Midi Dress

Both Andrea Zendejas, senior accessories editor for Cosmopolitan, and Danielle Fume, associate fashion editor for Cosmopolitan, love this beautiful cocktail dress—a great option if you want to show off your arms. With a super flattering faux-wrap silhouette and midi length, this dress is also available in seven stylish colors
(including a siren red hue).

Sizes: XS-XL

Sleeveless Hi-Lo Lace Formal Dress Cocktail Party Dress

Available in 33 colors and a range of sizes, this vintage-inspired cocktail dress is beloved by Amazon shoppers for a reason. In fact, it has a nearly five-star rating from over 21,000 customers. “This dress is soft to the touch, a little stretchy, and fits wonderfully. I got the dark blue one, and it's the perfect color,” one customer writes.

Sizes: XS-4XL

Women’s Vintage V-Neck Party Wrap Dress

If you want the appearance of a wrap dress without worrying about a tie coming undone, this beautiful pick is so affordable and comes in a slew of stylish colors and patterns (23 to be exact). And shoppers love it too, with over 11,000 reviews and a 4.2 star rating. “The dress hugs in all the right places. It hides my mommy pooch very well, I can control the amount of cleavage that shows and it hangs just above the knee,” one happy customer writes.

Sizes: S-XL

Wildflower Embroidered Dress

Looking for an elevated, plus-sized dress? This top-rated dress from Kiyonna makes a great option. A beautiful floral pattern floats atop a cream-colored slip dress with elbow-length illusion sleeves. A pleated hem adds a bit of flounce to the party frock. “I bought this for an evening wedding. It's a beautiful cocktail dress that fits just as it looks on the model,” says one satisfied Nordstrom customer.

Sizes: 0x-5X

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.

How we chose the best cocktail dresses for women over 50

We consulted Andrea Zendejas, senior accessories editor for Cosmopolitan, and Danielle Fume, associate fashion editor for Cosmopolitan. We also sifted through countless online reviews, ratings, and product specs to find the most flattering and stylish cocktail dresses for women over 50.

Why trust us

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

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