The term “gown” usually refers to more formal attire, such as that worn at weddings, proms, or balls. A “dress” may be any one-piece clothing with any long skirt, and it can be formal or casual. A dress is an item of clothing that consists of a skirt and a bodice. It comprises a torso-covering upper garment that falls down at least partly over the legs. Any one-piece clothing with a skirt of any length qualifies as a dress. Formal and casual attire are both acceptable. Dress hemlines fluctuate based on the vagaries of fashion and the wearer’s modesty or personal preference.
A gown, derived from the medieval Latin gunna, is a loose outer garment that ranges from knee-length to full-length. Technically, a gown is any full-length woman’s clothing with a bodice and an attached skirt. The bottom section of a dress or gown that covers the wearer from the waist down is called a skirt.