Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!
In today's video, we'll be discussing the history of the dress code, cocktail attire,
its traditional specifications, and some alternative suggestions for meeting the dress code and
still looking stylish.
Long time fans of our channel will be aware that we take pride in the fact the we can
decomplicate dress codes for men.
We got comprehensive PDF guides on the most formal of dress codes like white tie, black
tie, and morning dress available in our shop here.
Also, we have got a video and a full article that will act as a primer on pretty much any
dress code a man could find on an invitation.
You can find those, here.
Further, we've released a recent video on the black tie optional and holiday attire
dress codes and you can check those out by clicking the links here.
Today's video will cover another dress code that many men may find to be a bit confusing
in nature, that being cocktail attire.
The source of this confusion is chiefly that when most of us hear cocktail attire, we likely
think of an informal gathering perhaps after work or something like a happy hour.
And while the sort of outfit one might wear in that situation is technically encompassed
by modern definitions of cocktail attire dress code, that is not merely what's meant in its
more traditional configurations.
As such, we'll start today by taking a brief look at the history of the cocktail attire
dress code.
It first came into its own in the 1920s and 30s when the social elite was flaunting the
prohibition laws of the time took to enjoying pre-dinner drinks and Hors d'oeuvre in the
early evening hours.
More formal than standard business wear but at the same time, too early in the evening
and a bit too casual for black tie or white tie, cocktail attire basically emerged out
of the need for a dress code that would bridge the gap between these two levels of formality.
Almost a hundred years later, what's meant by cocktail attire today then?
While it is still a relatively formal and somewhat strict dress code, there is a little
bit more room for creativity and expression in today's interpretations of cocktail attire.
It can apply to traditional cocktail parties, of course, but also to other events like weddings,
anniversaries, birthdays, and so on.
And yes, even down to the informal happy hour gatherings we discussed at the opening of
the video although this is where more creative latitude comes in.
What is most important here then is that you know for certain what the occasion calls for.
If you are just meeting up informally with a few friends for drinks, then you could look
at this as being a more smart casual variant on cocktail attire.
For more information on what we mean by smart casual, you can check out the dress code primer
here.
If you will be attending a wedding or another event of similar pedigree, however, you will
want to stick to the more traditional interpretation of cocktail attire.
With all that said then, we should answer the question, what exactly should a man wear
to an event that has a dress code of cocktail attire?
The short answer here is as follows: A medium to a dark suit, a conservative dress shirt,
tie, black or similarly dark dress shoes, dark, muted over the calf socks, and subtle
accessories.
Given that there are now some cocktail attire events with slightly less traditional adherence
to these rules, however, you could incorporate slightly more bold elements into your ensemble
though this will depend on a few factors.
So, let us break down that traditional, conservative interpretation of the dress code first and
discuss some of the variations along the way.
The most traditional option for a cocktail attire suit, which is to say, of course, that
being jacket, trousers, and optional waistcoat are all cut from matching fabric, is in a
medium gray color, as I am wearing here today.
Of course, going for something even darker such as charcoal, gray, or navy blue is also
perfectly acceptable.
Because of its historical associations with countrywear, brown suits should be reserved
only for more informal variations on cocktail attire.
In such situations, you could go for something bolder as well.
Say, for example, a burgundy or olive green.
If you choose one of these more Avante-garde colors, however, note that it should be dark
and conservatively styled and most often, without a pattern.
Conversely, a black suit would be much too somber for cocktail attire and should be avoided.
For a video on how we, here at the Gentleman's Gazette, believe black to be the most overrated
color in menswear, you can click here.
No matter what color of suit you choose, solid colors are safest.
You can go with a faint pattern such as a light windowpane or maybe a Glenn check but
keep in mind that that pattern should be conservative and not overly loud.
As far as the styling of your suit is concerned, you can go for single or double-breasted and
two pieces or three, just so long as everything is cut from the same fabric and you are following
the guidelines we have already laid out.
It is not entirely unheard of these days for men to be seen wearing combinations of sport
coat or blazer and odd trousers at cocktail attire events.
If the hosts have laid out that combinations are acceptable, you can certainly wear them.
Although, we think it is still best to go for a traditional suit.
To provide contrast with a more medium to dark suit then, your shirt should typically
be lighter in color.
White is standard, of course, but you can also go for off-white or pastel colors like
pink, yellow, or blue as I am wearing here today.
A Winchester shirt which is to say a shirt with a white collar and sometimes white cuffs,
paired with a colored and occasionally patterned body, can also be an acceptable choice for
cocktail attire so long as the color that is incorporated in the body of the shirt is
similarly light and subtle.
Dark shirts or shirts in jewel tones, take, for example, burgundies, eggplants, and so
on, are too modern and too Avante-Garde for traditional cocktail attire.
Similarly to the suit itself, a subtle pattern can also be incorporated into the shirt though
you should ideally opt for just one of these, the shirt or the suit, to have a pattern,
not both at the same time.
Barrel cuffs are a perfectly traditional and acceptable choice although if you opt for
a shirt that has French cuffs to accommodate cufflinks, the links should also be understated.
We will cover accessories in a moment.
Regarding ties, solid ties are a safe and acceptable choice, of course, but traditional
patterns like small dots or micropatterns, as I am wearing here today, are also a smart
choice.
Just make sure you avoid anything too bold such as an oversized paisley, for example.
Bow ties are a bit less commonly seen for a cocktail attire but so long as you follow
all of the rules we just laid out for long ties, you can certainly wear a bow tie with
your ensemble without complaint.
Smooth silk ties will be your safest option here though you can opt for a bit of texture
as well.
Take, for example, shantung silk or a wool grenadine.
For a wide variety of ties in different styles and materials, take a look at our shop here.
When it comes to shoes, black oxfords are your best bet.
They should ideally be plain toed but a conservative cap toe can work equally well.
Black derby shoes, if well shined, in a similarly conservative style are also acceptable.
If you have a pair of oxfords in a deep brown or oxblood and they've been polished to a
mirror shine, you can feel free to wear those as well.
Just make sure that they are very dark in color.
For more informal gatherings, different types of shoes like a monk strap could also be accepted,
again, they should be conservatively styled otherwise, and dark in color.
Anything in medium brown, tan, or other light colors would be too informal for a gathering
of this nature.
As would a style like a loafer, any other type of slip-on shoe, or a dress boot.
Stick with oxfords or very conservative derbies.
To be most conservative, your socks should ideally match the color of your suit's trousers.
You can match them to another element in your outfit, say for example, your tie if it is
conservatively styled but this is a slightly bolder option.
It goes without saying, however, stay away from anything in bright colors or crazy patterns
as that is simply too informal for a cocktail attire.
We have a wide variety of conservatively styled socks that would be appropriate for cocktail
attire in the Fort Belvedere shop and you can check them out here.
As with the somewhat closely related black tie optional dress code, the area where a
man has the greatest amount of latitude in traditional cocktail attire is with his accessories.
Cufflinks can be silver, gold of any shade, or any other type of solid metal and can incorporate
stones or engraving.
Stay away from novelty cufflinks featuring logos or miniatures, however, as they are
going to be a little bit too informal.
Tie bars, collar clips, and rings can also be incorporated into your ensemble so long
as they are conservatively styled too.
An d as always, it is a good idea to match your metals as much as possible.
Pocket squares should ideally echo the shirt.
That is to say, white pocket squares for white shirts and squares incorporating an element
of color if you are wearing a colored shirt.
You have got some degree of freedom with your pocket square of choice whether it be as conservative
as a white linen square with colored stitching around the edge or as bold as a patterned
silk.
But remember that things on the whole should be somewhat conservative and also that matching
your tie and pocket square exactly is never a good look.
Finally regarding boutonnieres, something light to medium in color and overall understated
is a smart choice.
Of course, you can find a wide variety of boutonnieres, pocket squares, and jewelry
in the Fort Belvedere shop here.
Before we wrap up today, let us look at cocktail attire through the lens of specific social
circulations starting with weddings.
Dependng on the typical and or requested level of formality of the marrying couple, it is
a good idea to adjust the specifications we laid out above so as not to be overdressed
at a given wedding.
For example, if the marrying couple happen to beart lovers, let's say, and their wedding
is going to be bright and colorful in nature, you should incorporate some of the color into
your outfit.
And for a completely informal wedding, you could go so far as to wearing a combination
of navy blazer and khakis, if you so choose.
Remember, the bottom line here is that the marrying couple should always be the center
of attention and you don't want to overdress or outshine them.
Finally, if you are going to a daytime party with the cocktail attire dress code, one particularly
striking option would be the stroller suit.
Traditional daytime semi-formal wear and one step down from full morning dress.
For more information on the stroller suit, you can take a look at this article here and
of course, consider our full morning dress PDF guide available on the Fort Belvedere
shop here.
In conclusion, the cocktail attire dress code was born from a desire to host events that
were more formal than typical business wear but not quite as formal as black tie.
As such, remember to keep your outfits comfortably within this level of formality.
Overall, a concervative ensemble consisting of a medium to dark suit with a few tasteful
personalizations will take you far with cocktail attire.
So, is there anything you think that we missed here based on cocktail attire parties that
you have attended in the past?
If so, share with us in the comments below.
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