Ever faced the dilemma of what cocktail party attire to wear? Figuring out what to wear to a cocktail party is easy as long as you consider the four Ws – who, what, when, and where. Ask yourself, who will be going/hosting? What are you celebrating about? When is this event, time-wise? And where is the event?
That said, there are two general types of cocktail parties, the corporate and the festive cocktail party. Below are tips to help you dress well for the occasion.
Corporate Cocktail Party Attire
Not because there would be cocktail drinks and even some martinis in the menu you can actually go tipsy and all-daring for the night. Remember, the stakes are high when it comes to wearing the wrong outfit. Poor choices on your wardrobe can serve as a window to your superiors – does she make wrong decisions on other areas too? So bear in mind that a corporate cocktail party is still pretty much part of the job. You want to dress smart enough to party while maintaining an ambiance of professionalism on your look.
What to wear:
Go for dark colors, traditional silhouettes with a twist such as a ruffled white long sleeve teamed with a black pencil skirt pulled together with a patent black belt, black opaque tights and a pair of elegant pumps. Or go for a black dress with subtle ruffle detailing at the hems of the skirt or a peplum style on the waist. Another alternative is a semitransparent black dress which is opaque enough to be work appropriate covered with a conservative jacket. Update a very formal look with some interesting and fun accessory.
What not to wear:
Steer clear from informal fabrics such as knits and jersey, and anything that shows too much skin. Don´t wear the exact same thing you would wear to work, and worst, the things you´d wear to night clubs. Avoid mini skirts, club shoes, daytime shoes, jewelry overload, and trendy make up.
Festive Cocktail Party Attire
Whatever is the reason of this cocktail event – celebrating someone´s achievement, ring in the holidays or simply to meet new people, the goal in dressing for this fete is to look marvelous. Remember, the purpose of this event is probably not as important as the outfit you´re wearing. You´d like to kick the ball in every way by looking lovely!
What to wear:
A festive cocktail party outfit should deliver that message, “Oh, yeah, a fine drink would be great!” This includes a little bit of sparkle, think embellishments, sequins, and the fancy neutral – metallic. Although champagne or pale silver metallic can work, they can also look cheap and it´s so easy to make a mistake. So if you aren´t sure, stick with darker it-erations – gunmetal, pewter, and copper – instead.
You can also opt for cocktail dresses that embrace the current trend, sparkly tops, blazers or skirts, little black jackets, black skinny pants, and party clutches. When it comes to shoes, go for peep-toe ankle boots, ultra-sexy pumps, or embellished stilettos.
What not to wear:
Avoid informal fabrics, day dresses, corporate outfits, holiday-themed outfits, blue denim, day bags, and too casual ensembles.
Now your turn … what cocktail party attire would you love to wear?