This week, we take a look at formal and fun creations from the runways of Colombia, Thailand and Portugal.
MOST ladies I know have to have an outfit for every occasion.

This includes shoes that are both fashionable and functional (there is usually a lot of standing around at events) and bags that can accommodate all our essentials.

This is because few dresses fit the “one for all” criteria, and oftentimes I find myself hurriedly peeling off a formal dress after a wedding in a washroom before squeezing into party gear and dancing-friendly shoes. You can’t wear a floor-length dresses to a club, and you can’t show up at a formal event in a minidress and super-high heels!

Recently, however, I’ve been noticing an interesting trend – women don’t mind taking their event dresses to the clubs! While this may strike some as odd, it makes perfect sense to me.

You’re already dressed up, and you just attended a fancy event so why not show up in all your get-up? Doing the “two-in-one” outfit thing will also save you an extra few bucks on laundry.

With this in mind, I took a look at several fashion show reports from around the world that were held within the past week, and found a few beautiful choices. Here are some outfit ideas that could work for semi-formal/formal events, and also be worn on a great night out with the girls after.

Modern traditional

Nothing flatters the figure like a cheongsam, and it is a shame that few come out dressed in this traditional garb when it is not Chinese New Year. This particular creation, for the Hongdu Collection shown during China Fashion Week in Beijing last week, is a perfect combination of formal and fun.

There’s that fantastic halter-neck Mandarin collar, which works wonders for those with smaller bustlines. Also, with a hemline just above the knee, you can jump from wedding hall to the dance podium with the greatest of ease.
Cheongsams are not hard to find, even off-season. If you can’t find more modern ones, just get any old cheongsam and modify it!

Flowy power

This gorgeous green dress from Colombian designer Adriana Contreras as part of her “Mujeres de Ciudad” (Women of the City) collection shown in Baranquilla, Colombia, took my breath away.

The dress may be full length and fit for formal events (prom night comes to mind) but it is just the right combination of flowy and functional to allow for dance movements, and demure and polite for greeting older and more conservative members of the family at weddings.

Check August 8 at The Curve in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor and Tangoo (1Utama Shopping Centre in PJ; Pavilion and Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur) for similar versions of this dress.

Short stuff

These days, people aren’t terribly fussy about dress codes when it comes to events, and pretty much any length and design are acceptable. Except for maybe that high slit in this design by Portuguese designer Fatima Lopez, shown during fashion week in Porto, Portugal …

Fatima Lopez's creation

When you choose an outfit for a formal occasion, it is okay to give it a modern twist like the plunging neckline of this dress. You might even get away with those boots!

Check out Owl boutique in Bangsar, KL, which often has edgy creations like this on its racks.

All flared up

Dresses like this one by designer Fly Now shown during the Bangkok Fashion Week in the Thai capital last weekend are so in right now. A super-tight bodice which flares out at mid-thigh are the hottest thing you can find in most stores at the moment.

Fly Now design shown during the Bangkok Fashion Week

The best thing about dresses like these is that there is no question of its versatility – wear it at cocktail parties, weddings, fashion shows or a night out with the girls and no-one will give you weird stares or disapproving looks, just nods of approval or even, envious glances.

*** Joyce Kristen Wong wrote her last article for Dress Code last week. Nasa Maria Entaban will be giving her take on fashion and trends every week.

Check out some more items from recent fashion weeks around the world:

Chinese fashion house Dunnu's autumn/winter 2011-2012 collection at the China Fashion Week in Beijing.

A model displays a creation by designer Charmklea Ktikasemkul during the Bangkok Fashion Week in Bangkok, Thailand

A model presents a creation by designer LaQuan Smith during Bogota Fashion Week

A model presents a creation by Russian designer Valentin Yudashkin at the Volvo Fashion Week Moscow