Party-dress-a-palooza

Whether you have one, two or twelve parties on your calendar this holiday season...

Whether you have one, two or twelve perfectly pretty party dresses already hanging in your closet...

Whether your bank account bottom line ends with one, two or twelve zeroes...

If you're like I am and given the choice would follow a semi-formal dress code all day, every day, there's no more intoxicating a journey, no more thrilling a transaction and no more anticipatory a feeling than finding, buying and wearing a figure-enhancing, trend-transcending, timeless cocktail dress.

Below, you'll find a 16-strong selection of elegant, subtly sexy, uniquely-detailed party frocks you'll be able to wear from your mid-20s well into your mid-30s without a hint of Dina Lohan/Leslie Panettiere/Teri Hatcher shame.

Provided, of course, you do what is necessary to maintain that mid-20s figure.

For motivation to step away from the leftover pecan pie and to increase your weekly gym visits by x+1, first click here to see 41 year old Cindy Crawford frolicking on the beach bikini-style this past weekend, then check out 40 year old Kate Walsh doing the same, and finally, scroll down and scour these snaps for your favorite under-$300 belle-of-the-ball party dress.

Enjoy.

Embellished-belt silk pleat dress by BCBG Max Azria

($208.60 at bloomingdales.com)

Silk crochet-neck dress by AKA New York

($219 at intermixonline.com)

Poppy dress by Christopher Deane**

($252 at activeendeavors.com)
Della dress by Elie Tahari

($180.80 at bluefly.com)

Pleated scoopneck dress by Abaete
($199.20 at bluefly.com)

Ruched shimmery goddess dress by Vanessa Bruno Athe
($280 at lagarçonne.com)
Ruffle-neck dress by Mint*
($254.10 at basicboutique.com)

Pintuck bubble dress by Dorothy Lee

($101 at basicboutique.com)

Volante wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg

($297.50 at queenbeegirls.com)

Scalloped shift dress by Tracy Reese

($259 at eluxury.com)

Twill collared pouf-sleeved silk dress by Betsey Johnson**

($245 at betseyjohnson.com)
Sleeveless dress by IRO

($180 at shopbop.com)

Short twist shoulder dress by Rachel Pally

($228 at shopbop.com)

Taffeta with lace dress by Brunya*

($278.90 at nordstrom.com)

Jeweled neck dress by Ellen Tracy

($238.80 at saks.com)

Ruffle silk halter dress by Geren Ford*

($254 at singer22.com OR $119 at intermixonline.com)

*your Editrix's top picks

**unless you're 5'10" like the models in the photos, expect these hemlines to fall two to three inches longer