Cocktail Attire For Men is not a subject that occupies much thinking time as a general rule.
But, what do you do when you receive an invitation to a party that requests Cocktail Attire, Black Tie Optional, or Formal? In times past, the situation was much easier because the dress code was:
- White tie for the most formal occasions
- Black tie for less formal occasions
Since the choices were so limited it was not necessary to give the subject a great deal of thought. Today, very few men actually OWN a tuxedo, which is what keeps the tuxedo rental companies in business. The decision to be made about the nature of the attire is now influenced by the nature of the event. There are different options for different types of party. So, for example, what you choose for a wedding reception will not necessarily be the same as that for an informal cocktail party at home. But there are some basic rules to be followed. For a wedding choose:
- A dark suit, Gray or Dark Blue, but never Black – it’s not a funeral!
- Dress shirt in White or muted color
- Necktie in plain colour or very subtle pattern
- Pocket handkerchief
- Black formal shoes with leather sole
- Long dark colored socks matching the suit color.
Remember, this is the bride & groom’s day, so no pin stripe suit, bright colored ties and flashy accessories – the couple should be the center of attention, not you.
Cocktail parties are more relaxed occasions, so avoid formal business style suits. If the party is during the day, you can be a little more adventurous in your choice of shirts and ties. But, for the evening, you will still need to wear darker suits, fewer patterns and more muted colors. As a general rule, you should keep in mind that more patterns and colors (other than navy and grey) you have in your outfit, the less formal it will be.
And one other tip; if you have a vest – even a contrasting one – wear it if it pairs well with the suit.
And a final observation. The suggestions above apply to a number of western societies that follow some form of established tradition. But, in the modern multicultural world, there are an almost infinite variety of dress codes which are perfectly acceptable to different cultures. And some societies are so casual and “laid back” that the formal dress code for a man at a wedding is “clean, pressed jeans”! But that is a little outside the scope of our traditional concept of what constitutes suitable cocktail attire for men. What kind of cocktail attire do you prefer? You can enlighten our readers by telling us in the comment feed below.
