๐
Dress
dres
Definitions
1
Clothing ยท Fashion
Very Common
A one-piece garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice, typically worn by women and girls. Used to reference feminine clothing, fashion, or formal events.
Commonly used when discussing outfits, shopping, special occasions, or complimenting someone's appearance.
Just bought the perfect ๐ for my cousin's wedding!
Social media post
What should I wear tonight? ๐ or ๐?
Text message
Your ๐ looks amazing on you!
Instagram comment
Represents femininity and fashion consciousness in digital communication. Often used to indicate dressing up for special events.
2
Events ยท Celebration
Common
Represents formal or special occasions where dressing up is expected. Used to indicate attendance at weddings, parties, proms, or other celebratory events.
Often used in event planning contexts or when discussing dress codes for special occasions.
Dress code for Saturday: formal ๐ ๐
Event invitation
Prom night! Time to rock this ๐โจ
Snapchat caption
Conveys excitement about dressing up, which is associated with celebration and milestone events in many cultures.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Introduced in Unicode 6.0 as one of the original clothing emoji set.
Growing demand for fashion-related symbols in digital communication.
2015
Usage spike coincided with the rise of fashion influencers on Instagram.
Fashion content becoming central to social media self-expression.
2018
Increasingly used in discussions about gender expression and clothing norms.
Growing conversations about gender fluidity in fashion.
Cultural Context
The dress emoji reinforces traditional gender norms in digital communication, typically associated with femininity and women's fashion choices.
Younger users often employ this emoji ironically when subverting fashion expectations, while older users tend to use it more literally.
Fashion influencers and brands frequently use this emoji in marketing content, making it one of the most commercially leveraged clothing emojis.
In Western contexts, the dress emoji often represents formal occasions, while in some Asian markets it's commonly used to reference everyday fashion and shopping.
Regional Variations
Australia
Used for both casual and formal contexts, with seasonal differences from Northern Hemisphere.
United Kingdom
Commonly used in reference to formal occasions like weddings and garden parties.
United States
Often used to reference casual summer dresses and formal gowns alike, with seasonal context important.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used more literally to reference actual dresses, often in shopping contexts or event planning discussions.
Gen_Z: Often used ironically or in fashion hauls on TikTok. Frequently paired with other emojis to create outfit combinations.
Older: Less frequently used, but appears in congratulatory messages about special occasions or compliments about appearance.
Millennials: Commonly used when discussing wedding attire, formal events, or fashion purchases on Instagram and Pinterest.
Common Combinations
๐โจ
A stunning or glamorous dress, often for special occasions.
Used to emphasize the beauty or specialness of an outfit, particularly for formal events.
๐๐
Complete formal outfit or getting dressed up for an event.
Represents the full process of dressing formally, emphasizing feminine formal wear.
๐๐๏ธ
Dress shopping or fashion purchases.
Used when discussing retail therapy, shopping trips, or new clothing acquisitions.
๐๐ฅ
An exceptionally attractive or fashionable dress.
Used to express admiration for someone's outfit or style choices.
๐ฐ๐
Wedding dress or bridal attire.
Specifically references bridal fashion and wedding preparations.
Related Emojis
๐
Another women's clothing item, often used interchangeably for fashion discussions.
๐
Frequently paired with dress emoji to indicate formal attire or dressing up.
๐ฐ
Connected through wedding contexts, where the dress emoji often represents bridal attire.
๐๏ธ
Often used together to indicate shopping for clothes or dresses.
๐
Counterpart formal wear for masculine presentation, often used in dress code contexts.