The best cocktail dresses are the middlemen of the formalwear world. From fancy dinners to work celebrations to, yes, even ...

From black tie events to beach ceremonies, these dresses fit any occasion.

Dress deals at Bloomingdale’s Get the Aqua Sleeveless Floral Midi Dress for $61.95 (Save $20.65) Get the Fore Cutout Midi Dress for $66 (Save $22) ...

Anrabess Sleeveless Maxi Dress, $36–$43; amazon.com Aqua Tiered Sleeveless Dress, $59 (orig. $118); bloomingdales.com Wolddress Maxi Dress, $30; amazon.com ...

—K.D., Charlotte, N.C. A: Sleeveless and backless dresses have been confounding women of all ages—when designers began pushing winter sheath dresses without sleeves in recent years.

Kathy Braga, of St. Paul, will take a different route for her two daughters. “Sleeveless Easter dresses, no way — not even with a sweater. I still think it looks too cold,” Braga says.