blake lively met gala dress Lively's Looks Over the Years Blake Lively Met Gala 2018

Since then, cocktail dresses have withstood the test of time and today they strike the perfect balance between formal and semi formal dress codes for evening events and special occasions

Remember, you can always add more if needed

"In her line of business, Lady Gaga has a hard time being 'over the top', and wearing a dress made from cuts of dead cows is offensive enough to elicit comment, but someone should whisper in her ear that more people are upset by butchery than are impressed by it and that means a lot of young people will not be buying her records if she keeps it up," she said

Example Outfit: A floral chiffon maxi dress with a cropped denim jacket, brown sandals, and a wide-brimmed hat

Take a deep breath, grab your frills, and remember: excess is the point