What is cocktail attire (and how to pull it off)?

So you have found yourself invited to a wedding, cocktail party or any event, with the dress code: Cocktail. You may be wondering, what in the world is that? Luckily for you, with a cocktail dress code, you can probably wear clothes that you already own in your wardrobe. So here’s a guide on the cocktail attire dress code and how you can pull it off.

What is Cocktail Attire?

Cocktail attire can be categorised as the dress code in the middle between formal on one side, and casual on the other. With this in mind, there is then plenty of space for you to add your own personality to your outfit since this type of dress code rests in the middle, albeit higher up the scale than smart casual.

However, do not be fooled into thinking that this means you can wear anything – if you’re attending a wedding especially, you should still dress up for the occasion.

Suits are easy cocktail outfits to style

How To Style Yourself in Cocktail Attire

Firstly, choose what type of shirt you want to wear. For cocktail attire, it’s recommended to wear a button-down shirt which can be both formal or casual – shirts from brands like T.M. Lewin are ideal for this as they offer a range of shirts for business and daily wear.

You can opt for patterned shirts if you wish to, but stick with neutral or muted colours with only small patterns as cocktail events, particularly weddings, are still formal events and your outfit should reflect this. If in doubt, you can contact the betrothed couple to enquire about the tone of their wedding to ensure that you don’t end up looking more flashy than they expect you to.

For trousers, dress or smart trousers are suitable for a cocktail dress code. Avoid, at all costs, jeans and any form of ripped trousers. In terms of colour, dark colours are fool-proof, for instance navy, black, or dark grey. For a more polished style, hem the trousers if they’re slouching at the ends, but make sure that they’re not too short either.

Cocktail attire doesn’t mean you should skip wearing a jacket – a suit jacket, blazer or sport jacket are great as part of your final look. If you decide on wearing a suit jacket make sure that you wear matching trousers with it. The type of jacket to wear may also depend on the time of the event as day events may allow some room for bolder colours, but evening events warrant darker colours for a classic and sleek appeal.

Now the easiest choice for the evening – the shoes. With a cocktail dress code, footwear can consist of shoes such as loafers, brogues, Oxfords, or even Chelsea boots. If the happy couple permits it, fashion trainers may also work as part of a cocktail ensemble, but be careful with this – fashion trainers need to be high-end, expensive leather trainers and not your typical gym shoes.

Finally, accessorise according to your cocktail outfit. Belts, watches, and socks, should complement your outfit and add some charm to the overall look. Ties are optional at cocktail events, but if you do wear one, again make sure it matches your outfit or use it as a piece to add colour to your look.