This approach can equally be used to excuse yourself for sporting a Lanvin cocktail dress to the office, when you are merely showing off ("I have a party later and can't be bothered to change").

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If it's a cocktail dress, wear the diamond studs, strip off your tights and jacket, put on the Louboutins and go.

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Taylor Swift wore a prim gold metallic floral cocktail dress by Jenny Packham to the pre-telecast awards before changing into something a bit more revealing for the red carpet.

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Wearing a black cocktail dress, Sally Field said she believed the story of Lincoln appealed beyond America.

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