
Think of it like a nice balance between casual and formal. It’s more than business casual but less than a black tie. The modern society got a more fun twist out of it while still keeping it elegant and smart. In the past, the cocktail attire followed more specific and rigid rules, but nowadays is takes a more lax and laid back approach. It’s a call to dress up for a party or an expensive dinner, for an anniversary, a new year’s party or any other celebration with a slightly formal tone.
COCKTAIL ATTIRE FOR MEN CODE
While for some it’ll mainly be formal, the cocktail attire is a versatile dress code intended for a wide range of events from weddings to evening parties and professional events. You might receive an invitation in which cocktail attire is specified, but you surely won’t find a clear definition of it. That evolved over decades, but kept the same laid back semi-formal style, dress up and show-off intentions behind. That happened somewhere between the 1920s and the 1930s.Īfter World War II, the American society began enjoying a more relaxed and laid out cocktail party, so the dress code loosened up a bit, entering the era of fancy jackets and silk embroidery. It was a social event that required wearing appropriate clothing, usually a formal dress code, which soon became known as a cocktail attire. If it says especially “cocktail attire” then go for it.Back in the old days, the wealthy had the habit of spending two or three hours between lunch and evening in a new kind of social gathering, discussing and sipping cocktails. You have to make a judgment call if the dress code is not stated. Ironically enough, cocktail attire does not merely mean it is the attire for cocktail parties too. While it is usually apparent for what women have to wear at cocktail parties, it is mostly vague for men majority of the time. This is the one thing that ties the whole cocktail attire together. Wearing casual shoes such as sneakers and loafers.Wearing casual tops such as polo shirts, sports t-shirts, denim jackets.Wearing casual bottoms, such as shorts, chinos, ripped jeans, and khakis.If it is a wedding, you don’t want the attention all to yourself. Wearing flashy things such as a pinstripe suit and vibrant ties.Wearing a black suit, since that is usually worn for more solemn events.Wearing a tuxedo because that would be way over the top.Some things go entirely against the dress code of cocktail attire, and you should not be seen doing them. Photo Credit: Deposit Photos What are the things to avoid in cocktail attire? Making sure that you have a decent haircut, with facial hair either trimmed or clean shaved.Black is the safest bet, but you can get something to match the color of your suit.

A pair of medium-length socks that should go over the calf.Oxfords work best for this kind of attire. A bowtie that complements the color of your suit.This is usually just a plain white shirt. A button-down shirt to wear with that suit.Just make sure that they aren’t too vibrant.

There are some staples that a cocktail attire outfit requires. Photo Credit: Deposit Photos What are the things required to complete a cocktail outfit? This is why men need to have a cocktail outfit ready because you never know when you may need it. This is because you don’t want to be too casual in your attire since that will come as inappropriate but you also don’t want to overdo it by wearing a tuxedo. Cocktail attire is a safe bet for when the dress code isn’t specified. Apart from that, you can wear to almost all kinds of formal events if the dress code isn’t specified, such as a wedding or a soiree. You can wear an outfit in line with cocktail attire to important meetings at the office, or if you have your first interview somewhere. It is more formal than business casual but not more than the black-tie dress code. When it comes to the formality of dress codes, cocktail attire for men, falls somewhere in the middle. When is the right time for cocktail attire? What are the things to avoid in cocktail attire?.

