ADJ

ankle-length, full-length, long
short
skimpy
clinging, figure-hugging, tight, tight-fitting
loose-fitting, shapeless
full-skirted
backless, high-necked, low-cut, off-the-shoulder, revealing, sleeveless, strapless
slinky
cotton, silk, etc.
day, evening, Sunday
ball, cocktail, dinner, maternity, party, wedding

VERB + DRESS

zip (up)
unzip
hitch up, lift, pull up
She hitched up her long dress so it wouldn't drag in the mud
pull down
smooth
She sat down and smoothed her dress over her legs

DRESS + NOUN

material
shop
designer
size

PREP

in a/the ~
She appeared in a slinky satin dress

ADJ

ceremonial, formal
casual, informal
correct
evening
modern
period
national, traditional
He was wearing traditional Scottish dress
fancy
battle, military
civilian

DRESS + NOUN

code
The club has a strict dress code
sense
He's got poor dress sense
shirt
uniform
in full dress uniform

PREP

in … ~
a performance of 'Hamlet' in modern dress

ADV

hurriedly, quickly
slowly
carefully

PREP

in
He dressed carefully in the brown suit he had been married in

PHRASES

be fully dressed
She lay down on her bed, fully dressed
get dressed
She got dressed quickly

ADV

beautifully, elegantly, fashionably, immaculately, impeccably, neatly, nicely, smartly, well
Susan always dresses very elegantly. She was determined to be the best dressed woman at the wedding
badly, poorly, shabbily
appropriately, suitably
unsuitably
decently, properly, respectably
improperly
plainly, simply, soberly
ostentatiously, nattily, richly
casually
formally
expensively
warmly
scantily
identically
The twins were dressed identically

PREP

for
I have to dress smartly for work
in
The women were all dressed in blue skirts and white blouses