What is an open back cocktail dress?
A cocktail dress is very similar to a sexy dress in several ways, but it has its differences.
 

• First, cocktail dress is not a mini dress. A mini dress is one that finishes higher than mid-thigh. But, a cocktail dress should end between the mid-thigh and the knee.

 

• Second, the dress should be made of a soft material like polyester, satin, or spandex. Other dresses will suffice, but the softer dresses will be much easier on your skin.  

 

•  Third, the dress does not need to be fitted to your body. A cocktail dress may be anything from a flowy style, empire style, to even a bodycon style dress. The cocktail dresses are meant to catch the eye of the people in the room in a sensual and (I dare say) classy sexy way.  

 

• Fourth, most cocktail dresses have either a scoop, square, V-cut, or sweet-heart style on the front of the dress. The difference in the cut from the sexy dress is that the style for the cocktail dress is not as low or as revealing as the one you would find on a sexy dress. Most of the time cocktail dresses will have a “normal” cleavage area that would complement your female area with class. 

 

• Last, I consider the cocktail dress to be displayed in many different dress styles; anything from the halter style dress to the high neck style dress. The Halter style is a style of dress where the shoulder straps grasp around the neck instead of behind the shoulders. The high neck style dress is one that covers you like a turtle neck sweater would.

 
These are the five main features I look for in classifying a dress as a “cocktail dress.” 

 

Visit theis great article for wonderful ideas on the "10 Dresses Every Woman Should Own."