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LA affords some of the most awesome parties ever, and with the summer temps steadily rising, it can be a major challenge to look cool, stay cool, and be party-ready. Leave it to our favorite hometown brands to find the perfect blend of breezy, laid-back, but seriously upscale dresses to carry you from work to cocktail hour in style.
Forget the stuffy silhouettes and uptight fabrics that are typically associated with cocktail attire in favor of easy shapes, flowing lines, and that quintessentially relaxed LA attitude that manages to stay high-end without looking to fussy or finished. The best part? You can definitely repeat and recycle most of these looks by adding different accessories, throwing on a blazer, and swapping your heels for sneakers or wedges.
Whether you're looking for something sleek and sophisticated, an irreverent pattern, or a classic slip dress, these LA-based brands have you covered. Scroll through the gallery for our favorite local takes on the ubiquitous cocktail dress and find the one that fits your aesthetic.