I think a gray suit is preferable to black, which tends to be either too formal or funeral attire. Dress 1 is my favorite and will look great with the heels (great shoes!) and some nice accessories.

For example: you could add some bling with a shawl or wrap. Some examples

evening wrap

I think Dress #1 is perfect. The style and cut of the dress are formal enough to be acceptable for such an event, but the asymmetrical neckline makes it a little bit playful and artsy - appropriate for a museum, I would think. Love the shoes too.

I ordered a couple of dresses like #4 for my wedding, thinking the same things you were, but it is a difficult look to pull off well and ultimately I wasn't satisfied with the look of the dresses I tried on. It can be done, but I was never able to find a "fit and flare" dress that looked right on me. As for the other options, you can't go wrong with a little black dress as long as it looks good on you. I personally like option #1 because it hits a lot of your points. The real question is how does the dress look on you. No way around that other than trying on a lot of options until you find one that looks good. I feel your pain on that one.

Dark grey suits are great, because black does tend to look funeral-ish. You can lighten up a black suit with a more casual shirt and tie, but not every guy can pull that off.

I’m in love with dress 1 and sincerely wish I could wear those shoes! The combo is definitely cocktail attire. A dark gray suit will likely be more versatile.

Just curious as to why all of your choices are black, unless that's what you love and look smashing in. I've been searching for a dressy cocktail dress and black is not even on my list.

That first dress is great! You're braver (tougher) than I am to choose those gorgeous shoes. I'd be in agony after about twenty minutes, lol.

I like the first one the best. I would eliminate two and three for exactly the reasons you mention. The last one is okay and acceptable.

For jewelry, I would just do a bracelet and earrings.

If they fit well, then any of the dresses would work fine.

Have you seen what people wear out these days?

Looks like dress1 and a grey suit for DH. He likes dress1 the best too (and I got it for under $30!! I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a dress, but I never dreamed that I'd find something for so little). Now I'm off to find accessories and a wrap. Thank you!

Rhizo - I certainly lean towards black, but I wasn't opposed to color. I looked at some navy and plum dresses, but they just didn't fit the way the other dresses did.

I think 1 & 2 would work great, but #1 is my favorite. Sounds like a great event. Men have it so easy. It's just a matter of what color suit he decides on. Most of my DH's are black or charcoal.

Under $30? Wow! That's an amazing deal!

I love dress 1, and the shoes would be perfect with it. I agree with you about 2 and 3, although I could see #3 in an outdoor setting perhaps for a fun evening. Dress 4 looks a bit dowdy for some reason to me. Maybe it will look fab on you and I will be sorry I said that, but not my favorite.

And if you do go with #1, I would keep bling very simple. Drop earrings and a simple bracelet are all it needs, and perhaps a colorful clutch if you want to carry off a little color. Otherwise keep the clutch black also.

Glad you chose #1. What a steal! Enjoy the event. We used to go to museum events when DH worked for a large corporation. The most common venue was the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, whereby a wing would be closed for the party. The last one was when the Ansel Adams exhibit was there and I so enjoyed the exhibit that I came home and bought 2 AA prints. They are a wonderful reminder of the good times we shared with colleagues and friends.

Dress #1 is perfect so I'm glad you got it! I'd wear some dangly but not massive earrings and a bracelet. It's a subtle and sophisticated dress and I would want the accessories to match. Don't do a necklace because the dress's neckline speaks for itself and a necklace would just interfere.

Hope you have a fun event. You're going to look great!

Let me put it this way - I want dress #1.

Dress4 arrived. "Dowdy" describes it perfectly.

Blfenton: I recently ordered dress1 in the next size up, since the one I tried in the store was a bit snug. I hope to lose a few pounds, but just in case it doesn't happen I wanted a back up. At that time the website showed "limited quantity". It is the "Chelsea Rose Short Sleeve Sheath Dress" from JCPenney. Perhaps it will be restocked and you can get it too!

Dress 1 is smashing! Elegant without being too serious. Another bote for a dark gray for your DH.

For Canada, it's sold out. :(

Love dress #1, and agree that #4 is dowdy.

Dress #1 also comes in red! https://www.jcpenney.com/p/chelsea-rose-short-sleeve-sheath-dress/ppr5007732695?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000013&urlState=/g/chelsea-rose-women/N-bwo3xZ1z12v52Z1z0pjrh&productGridView=medium&selectedSKUId=22327500042&facetSelected=view_all,brand&badge=new

JCPenney has been out of my radar for a while so I had to go look at the selection of dresses. There really were many good choices for those who need to put another option.

Let us know about the quality.

Prefer men in black or dark navy suits; grey suits seem dowdy. Also, many different color shirts look good with a black suit. jmho

Mdln, I do too, but at the last few wedding I attended, the grays outnumbered the black. I think it's because for some if they only need one suit, a gray is more versatile.

@ eld6161, I attribute it to them needing someone to dress them well. :-)

Have a colleague who I can always tell if his wife dressed him, he looks good on those days. It's a standing joke between all of us.

Ooh, the red is pretty! I still would want the black which is sold out. But, like we mentioned when I had my conference, having a dress that's ready to go is important.

I've joked with one of my colleagues that his wife dresses him so well, maybe I need to hire her, LOL.

I saw the red one. It's two inches shorter than the black one and I'm tall. It might be a little too short for me.

Dress 1 is perfect. I'm always concerned about the foundation garments, though. I don't think you can wear a bra with a strap with that dress? Or does it have/can you sew in, the little snap strap? Or will you go strapless?

Good point Bpath.

Amj, I just now read your comment about dress #4 being dowdy. Had to laugh a little. But glad you satisfied yourself #1 was ‘the one’.

Have fun at the event! You and your DH will look great!

I've not read any comments so I am not biased.

I love dress 3. Dress 1 I have seen a little too much of, and it would be hard to accessorize IMHO. Dress 2 feels a bit blah. Dress 4 may be too girlish.

Dress 3 is sophisticated and interesting. Even if it is a bit revealing perhaps... it is a cocktail party. And you are not an employee. I am sure you will see far more revealing attire, too.

ETA - how interesting, I am a total outlier on this one!

Mtn...maybe we don't get out much...:)

Eld, did you like #3 too? I just feel like I have seen a lot of the asymmetrical stuff, love the hemline on 3.

I ordered the red in #1 so we'll see how it looks.

Mtn, yes I actually do like #3 but probably not in black which is what the OP I going for. (I like anything white or cream.)

Gscience! The red! Yes, let us know what you think.

I liked #3, just not for the or the black shoes. I thought it would be better for something outdoor. I dunno, maybe because I get so chilly inside, it made me feel too cold. Plus I would probably spill red wine on it first thing.

For a real low v-neck I have some less low camisoles that work underneath. Just a thought.

oh yes of course i forgot about the shoes

If you're a size 8 hourglass figure, you need to bring it. I USED to be a size 8 and I wish I would have loved myself more then. Because it just doesn't get any better, kwim???

Get the form fitting red or black you will look amazing. I predict that the attention you will get will be from women like me who wished they had the moxie to wear what you're wearing...

Just a quick update - our party was Saturday night and the dress was perfect. I tried it on with spanx when I bought it, but once I was getting ready and wore it for a while I noticed that the liner was clinging to the undergarment. It caused the dress to twist and ride up. Once I removed the spanx it was perfect. Luckily it was not thin or clingy fabric, so it wasn't a deal breaker. The shoes were great.... in the beginning. By the end of the night the balls of my feet were killing me! So thankful for sneakers this morning lol.

Dress 3 was my favorite, but I would not be comfortable showing that much skin on top at a work event. It's just me. I saw a lot of strapless dresses and those women looked great. I just know I would of felt too exposed.

Thanks again to everyone for your help!

amj, glad it worked out. I got the Chelsea dress (#1) in red and I do like it. They did not have my size in black. I think having a red option is good, too.