Where would you shop for cocktail dresses? I'm going on a Caribbean cruise this spring and there are two formal nights. I also have to figure out what to wear to a beach wedding.

While shopping for pretty dresses should be fun, it's turning into a chore. I don't want to wear certain sheath dresses because they make me feel like I should be in the office. Others don't appeal to me because they're too juvenile. Still others look like they're meant for mother-of-the-bride.

What would a posh eclectic gal wear in warm weather? What type of frock is appropriate for a beach? I will have to wear flats for that, because sand is hard to walk in.