Cocktail Attire 101: Your Guide to Nail the Dress Code

How many times have you been invited to an event and the dress code is cocktail and you have no idea what that means? Don’t stress - we are here to help! 

Understanding cocktail attire 

Cocktail attire = Semi-formal attire. We like to think of cocktail attire as the middle ground between business casual and black-tie attire.

Tips for nailing a cocktail attire dress code: 

  1. Midi dresses are the way to go: Midi dresses provide that perfect medium of still being elevated, while not being too over-the-top. While full-length gowns and mini dresses can still be appropriate for a cocktail event, mini dresses can be considered not formal enough, while full-length dresses may be considered “too dressy”. 

  2. Don’t be afraid of colours or patterns: Unlike formal events which sometimes dictate that you have to wear darker, more muted colours, cocktail dress codes are the perfect opportunity to experiment with a bright colour or fun pattern! If anything, sometimes cocktail dresses encourage you to wear a fun colour or pattern - for example, for a garden party wedding! 

  1. Have a look at our website! On our website we have a whole collection full of cocktail dresses which would be perfect for your upcoming cocktail event!

  1. Still lost? Book an appointment and let our expert stylists help you! Our stylists always know how to nail the brief. So when in doubt, make an appointment at Gorgeous Gowns! 

No directed attire? What events are cocktail dresses best for? 

It’s hard to go wrong with a cocktail dress… they’re so versatile and can be dressed up or down with accessories, hair, and makeup to help you fit your event’s dress code. 

With this in mind, cocktail dresses always look incredible at:

  • Graduations 

  • Weddings

  • Fundraisers

  • Elegant dinners 

  • Engagement parties…. the list goes on! 


 

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