The ladies dress is the classic and most prominent of all women's apparel. The purpose of a dress is to outline a woman's femininity in a way that displays the ladies body with dignity and honor, while also proudly exhibiting the design of the dress and talent of the dressmaker.

The ladies dress has been a symbol of different eras through out history as well--who does not recall the images of the large "bell-like" dresses of 15th and 16th century France, where the woman's waist was the focal point, drawn in as tightly as possible, with the bosom pushed up. This style displayed the top most feminine part of the woman's body, resting atop the large bell-shaped skirt of the dress as though it were designed as the display of this top of the woman's body, tucked tightly in the thick, drape-like material.

Ladies dresses of later centuries were designed differently to reflect those other accentuated parts of a woman's bod, and also reflect the era and positioning of ladies in society

In the US in the 1920's, ladies dresses were designed with a simple, drop-down shape, to make women appear thinner, and also to reflect the progression of women in society. Rather than pushing up the bosom, tightening the waste, or accentuating the hips, these flapper dresses were simple, and flirty, during a period when being thin became the desirable and socially acceptable ideal woman's figure. These ladies dresses were designed with many hanging tassels, that swung with the slightest movement, so that while the dress was not the classic feminine shape, it could still show off a woman's body by how the dress moved.

In the 1950s, women were expected to show morals and values that reflected what was acceptable at that time, so while the waist was emphasized by being drawn tightly, and thus, the bust, so, too, was emphasized by the way the tops of the ladies dress pulled tightly around the bust, the length of the ladies dresses was A-line, or below the knee, with material that did not pull tightly around the woman's body, but circled it with extra, ruffled material, similar to the shape of 15th and 16th century ladies dresses. The female body type of this period that was considered desirable was a fuller, curvier figure, and ladies dress designs reflected this.

By the late 1960s and 1970s, ladies dress designs changed dramatically. Very short lengths to show off the legs became fashionable, and with an era of sexual expression, the dresses gripped women's bodies tightly, and exhibited the female form in a much more blatant way than prior periods had ever done.

Until recent decades, ladies summer dresses were not designed much differently than the ladies dresses of other seasons. The only real difference between the design of ladies summer dresses and dresses worn in colder seasons was the material, but the shapes and cuts remained much the same.

Now, summer dresses have developed their own category in ladies fashion. Just like the cocktail dress, party dress, or traditional daytime dress, the ladies summer dress usually has its own characteristics, not just in lighter material variation, but in its cut and shape as well. Fashion seasons divulge designer's latest summer dress creations, but overall, the ladies summer dress varies--it can be short, long, with shoulder straps or without, simply cut and shaped to appear fluttery and flow in ruffles, or fitted to the body. The idea is usually to achieve comfort, airiness, and a certain versatility, while still appearing stylish.

The ladies cocktail dress has evolved since earlier decades, when, like the summer dress, its design and shape deviated very little from the standard daytime dress.

The ladies cocktail dress has become an essential part of a woman's closet, and is usually the piece that is the most expensive and required the most selection time. Ladies cocktail dresses can pull from a variety of styles influenced by prior fashion eras.

Thin, petite women often select the cocktail dress that is tighter and shorter, influenced by the 1960s. Bustier women often choose the dresses with a tight waist and often strapless top that accentuates the bust area, much like the dresses of the 1950s.

Ladies cocktail dresses are most commonly selected in black, as this is the most versatile shade to work with, in that it can be accessorized with color or without, to attend a fun flirty night on the town, or a more serious event like the opera or ballet. The ladies cocktail dress is usually the dress women have tailored to fit just right, as the fitting of the dress is responsible for its flattery of the woman's body. The cocktail dress is often some combination of the latest fashion and the traditional, more conventional styles. Nordstrom is a popular department store for the ladies cocktail dress, as it not only offers the latest in designer fashion, but also free tailoring.