A rainbow of (affordable) pretty, pretty dresses

I just love a pretty party dress.

I love searching for them online, I love weaving through them on store racks, I love walking by them in glass-encased displays, I love watching them sashay on skinny little things down runways, I love admiring them on other women, I love trying them on, I love buying them, and I love wearing them out on a weeknight to a fancy steak dinner at the Palm followed by an opening-night showing of an action movie at the Chinatown cineplex.

A day without a cocktail dress occasion doesn't go by without notice; if I could, I'd wear one every day of the week, even to a Capitals/Oilers game at the Verizon Center.

And who knows, maybe I will...

For the rest of you dress-hungry ladies, I've rounded up a few more pretty lil' frocks to brighten up this very cold and very dreary DC day.

Enjoy.

Satin tulip dress by Betsey Johnson
($179 at bluefly.com)

‘Claudette’ blouse by Elie Tahari**
($129 at bergdorfgoodman.com)

Draped belt dress by Leyendecker
($79.20 at shopbop.com)

‘Maggie’ dress by SharDann
($225 at starsandinfinitedarkness.com)

Silk taffeta dress by Castle Starr*
($275 at basicboutique.com)

‘Virgine’ high-neck dress by Samantha Treacy*
($231 at shopbop.com)

Cotton ‘Cady’ dress by J.Crew
($250 at jcrew.com)

Round-bow dress by Karen Zambos Vintage Couture
($197 at revolveclothing.com)

Ruffle wrap dress by Eliza J*
($158 at nordstrom.com)

Runway shift dress by Tracy Reese
($183.20 at eluxury.com)

Bead chiffon dress by Phoebe Couture
($147 at nordstrom.com)

Tucked dress by Crispin & Basilio
($218 at revolveclothing.com)

Plaid ‘Dolly’ dress by L.A.M.B.
($230.90 at saks.com)

*your Editrix's favorites
**I desperately tried to find a $250-or-less orange dress worthy of inclusion but after coming across this after this after this, I gave up and instead shared with you this fabulous, orange-ish Tahari blouse that I, myself, may have a "place order" party with later on tonight...
***credit to Etcetera for showing me the Eliza J dress (apologies for not doing so sooner)