Invited to a cocktail party or other semi-formal gathering? Don’t stress over what to wear; if you’re not lucky enough to have a woman help you out, this fool-proof guide will help you figure out what to wear to your next semi-formal event.
Depending on the keywords in the invitation, you may have to choose from several different items to wear. Does the invitation say cocktail attire? Black tie? Semi-formal? Semi-casual? With all these different terms, it’s no wonder people get confused over acceptable attire!
If the invitation doesn’t state a specific dress code, determine what to wear based on the time of day the event will be held. For example, an afternoon event usually calls for something a little less formal; think light weight fabrics and pair a knit blazer with casual slacks or black denim jeans with a dressy sports coat and loafers.
Evening gatherings will probably require you to wear darker colors and something a little MORE formal, such as a full on suit and tie (if it’s black tie) or “business casual” if it’s semi-formal.
Ultimately, when in doubt simply ask the host of the get-together. They will be able to inform you of the proper attire, so you won’t have to be clueless when it comes to your neck cocktail party or formal/semi-formal event!