The safe, reliable choice vs. a little outside my usual box, more fashion forward question is the tricky piece isn’t it? My usual mode is staying safe, but it would be fun to make the more unexpected choice if I can find something that looks good and fits my budget. I tend to be an impatient shopper who wants to get in and out of the mall as quickly as possible so will settle with what works, rather than spend hours trying to find the perfect dress. Maybe I can try to be more patient with this choice! It would be fun the find something I love.
Oregon101, jumpsuits are still in. IMO, wide-leg, flowy black pants with a sparky jacket are perfect eveninwear.
@Anxiousmom1 - the dress just like the one in your post #15 is on sale at Saks.
This is such a pretty color!
http://www.zappos.com/adrianna-papell-cap-sleeve-illusion-sequin-lace-cocktail-turquish-blue
That’s gorgeous, BB.
Nice price too! Good to have free shipping both ways so you could get several sizes and choose the best fitting dress.
BB…Thanks for the heads up on the Meister dress. The Zappos dress is very pretty…and that’s a great color for me. I worry though that at 5’4" these will be long on me and with the embellished hem they can’t really be shortened. I don’t think many of these are available in petite.
Oh dear, now I’m feeling like I need a new dress for the graduate students graduation party!
I love 'em all! And, of course, have no foreseeable need for a new dress. Sigh.
"I will be attending a California summer evening wedding at a vineyard that asks guests to wear gowns or evening wear for women/men in tuxes or black/blue suits. I am hoping a knee length cocktail dress is ok as I do not look good in full-length "
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m a little put off by the specificity of the dress code. I seem to recall even Miss Manners was against putting “black tie” on a wedding invite because it was inconsiderate to people, esp young ones, to assume they had tuxes or could afford to rent them. Nowadays, I get saying something like “beach casual” for a destination wedding or whatever, but in this day and age, if I were invited to such an event and had a nice knee length cocktail dress or even a dressy suit (not business type, the type intended for a special occasion, like gold brocade), I’d wear it and not feel obligated to buy a gown. (And really, like a guy couldn’t wear a charcoal gray suit - has to be navy or black??)
I was fairly surprised when I saw it. This will be a lovely wedding and both families are wealthy, but they are also pretty casual people. I would not have expected a “formal” wedding. That said my goal in all social settings is to not be the outlier, so I’ll do my best to dress appropriately, although I will not be in a gown!
The David Meister dress is fabulous. But since you need to be reality based and not spend a fortune, I vote for the CVM. It’s classy, elegant and perfect for the venue.
Pizzagirl, I think “black” includes charcoal grey or even very dark brown by the West Coast standards. 
Thanks :-). Still, not liking the trend of dictating what guests wear. I’m sure the women could figure out how to look nice, and the guys could figure out how to wear suits, without explicitly being told. These aren’t costume parties where you have a theme, like a red dress gala or black-and-white party.
I sent out very formal wedding invitations and the wedding party wore tuxes. One of our guests showed up in a polo shirt.
@Pizzagirl Miss Manners doesn’t disapprove the “black tie” designation at all. She does say black tie optional is incorrect because dressy cocktail dresses and dark suits are already acceptable substitutes.
If these hosts wanted a formal reception, then what they should have done is write “black tie” on the invitation. What they are really saying is that men are permitted to take advantage of an alternative, but not women. I agree with you that it’s inappropriately controlling.
OP said that women were given the choice of “gowns” or “evening wear.” To me, that sounds like a wide variety of options given. I think by mentioning “gowns,” the couple says it is ok to go all out if someone wants to wear a long formal dress.
But I agree with roshke that “black tie” would have eliminated a lot of confusion.
Thanks, roshke - I must have misremembered.
This came up in my ad feed- great color and price! 
“Model shown is 5’10” (177cm) wearing US size 4," so it will not be this short on an average height woman.