Fashion
Fact-checked

At BeautyAnswered, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is the Difference Between a Dress and a Gown?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The difference between a dress and a gown is largely one of semantics and personal preference. The word "gown" tends to refer to more formal garments, like those worn for weddings, proms or balls. A "dress" can be any one-piece garment with a skirt of any length, and can be either formal or informal. While many gowns are referred to as dresses, like those worn to a wedding or prom, people seldom hear less formal garments referred to this way. For example, a sundress is never a sungown.

All gowns are dresses, but not all dresses are gowns. In earlier English examples from the 16th century onward, the word "dress" referred to both men and women’s clothing ensembles. It might be modified by terms like evening, traveling, riding, and people can still see examples of this on invitations to certain events. An invitation might state that a function requires semi-formal dress or attire, for example. When an invitation states that the occasion is formal, women are expected to wear an evening gown.

An evening gown.
An evening gown.

When the term is used strictly, a gown is fancy and frivolous wear, with a tight fitting bodice and a full floor-length skirt. Certain close-fitting styles, like the form fitting types worn by actresses to award ceremonies, are still often considered to be gowns. Attending the Oscars, for example, tends to require formal eveningwear for both men and women, though notable exceptions have been fashion disasters of the past.

Another related term is frock. A frock may also be a less formal dress, but may also be an evening or formal gown. The word "frock" is more popular in the UK than in the US for referring to any one-piece garment with a skirt.

Emerald green cocktail dress.
Emerald green cocktail dress.

An exception to these general definitions is a graduation gown, which is worn over clothing. A woman might wear a dress under such a garment if she is planning to attend graduation celebrations after the ceremony. Usually, the outfit is flowing and oversized, and it is worn over other clothes, though a few graduates have tried to get away with wearing only the gown as part of a prank or bet. This may be cause for amusement but is considered inappropriate for the event of graduation from high school or college.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent BeautyAnswered contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent BeautyAnswered contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon1003549

What is the difference between “dress” & “gown” if there is any?

anon930863

What about a night gown? They are not fancy at all.

EarlyForest

@lightning88 -- Like the article said, it's not always such a rigid thing.

Whereas I suppose that most evening dresses would be technically considered gowns, it's not like the fashion police are going to arrest you if you call it a dress instead.

I think a lot of the confusion can come from fashion houses calling their designer dresses "gowns" to make them sound fancier.

Long story short, there are technical differences, but it's not a terribly big deal.

lightning88

So is it possible for an evening dress to not be a gown? Most of them have the fitted top and long skirt, right?

rallenwriter

The semantics of clothing is always so interesting to me. For example, a shirt dress can never be a shirt gown, but a cocktail dress can be a cocktail gown if it's fancy enough.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • An evening gown.
      By: ksena32@ukrpost.ua
      An evening gown.
    • Emerald green cocktail dress.
      By: Yurok Aleksandrovich
      Emerald green cocktail dress.
    • Woman wearing a short, summer dress.
      By: fancy123
      Woman wearing a short, summer dress.
    • Gowns are long and generally worn in the evening.
      By: Dmitriy Raykin
      Gowns are long and generally worn in the evening.
    • A cocktail dress.
      By: pelvee
      A cocktail dress.
    • A dress is any one-piece garment with a skirt.
      By: tagstiles.com
      A dress is any one-piece garment with a skirt.
    • Pantyhose are a fashion necessity with any dress or gown.
      By: studiovespa
      Pantyhose are a fashion necessity with any dress or gown.
    • A bride often wears a gown during her wedding ceremony.
      By: photographmd
      A bride often wears a gown during her wedding ceremony.