This weekend my girlfriend and I will be attending a friend's wedding, the invitation for which stated the dress for the event as "cocktail attire." I've only been to a few weddings, all of which required at least a tie, blazer, etc. if not a suit. So cocktail attire strikes me as being a little more casual than what I'm used to with weddings, yet not completely casual.
But the couple throws me off -- they're pretty alternative, into metal, etc., e.g. the invitation cover was a picture of them in a bathtub drinking wine, him fully clothed and her in lingerie, both soaking wet. It'll be a huge wedding so I'm sure there will be a variety of dress, but thinking about the other guests that I know will be there makes me think that the event will be more casual than I think.
So what's "cocktail attire" for men? Most people I've asked aren't really sure, I tried googling it but the only stuff that comes up is from like GQ that say crap like "a stylish Armani dark suit is a must" etc. Thanks!
― Mark Clemente, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago)
I'm glad you provided the valuable second paragraph. On this occasion, I think turning up in a stylish Armani dark suit drenched in wine is a must. I think you know what your girlfriend needs to do.
― Alba, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 19:51 (seventeen years ago)
If you have to ask...
― Super Cub, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 19:54 (seventeen years ago)
I'm warning your gf, the last time I went to an evening wedding in summer, I miscalculated DRASTICALLY and dressed in blue and white linen for a garden party, basically. Unfortunately the other guests had all correctly interpreted the invitation as "'90s prom attire" and were in sheeny black and maroon taffeta & beaded mini-dresses and shit like that. NB: I never saw the actual invite as it was arranged through Then-Boyfriend.
― Laurel, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 19:59 (seventeen years ago)
my version of "summer wedding cocktail attire" --> tailored tan slacks, slip-on oxblood brogues, a subtle print lightweight shirt, contrasting necktie, and either a ivory canvas blazer or a pewter tailored vest, depending on the heat.
plus, maybe a touch of silver jewelry?
i actually need to think about this, i am headed to a gay garden wedding in less than 2 weeks!
― elmo argonaut, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:08 (seventeen years ago)
I was going to say that cocktail attire is a step below black tie but your description of their invitation confuses me as to what their cocktail attire may be.
― sweet tater, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:12 (seventeen years ago)
Yeah exactly, I guess that's the dilemma.
― Mark Clemente, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:13 (seventeen years ago)
Do you have mutual friends who are attending the wedding that you could ask? At least if you dressed similarly to friends, you wouldn't feel completely out of place.
Or you could call the bride or groom up and ask them! I'm sure you're not the only person wondering what appropriate attire is in this case.
― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:18 (seventeen years ago)
A twist, olive or cocktail onion, usually, I would assume.
― Michael White, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:21 (seventeen years ago)
Sometimes a wedge of fruit or a small, paper parasol, but I think that quite gauche most of the time.
― Michael White, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago)
I have no idea what your normal dress style is, but my guess is that you couldn't go wrong with something vintage-y and fun (I don't mean powder blue suits or anything like that). I mean something that had a definite "look" to it that resonated "classic." The other thing is that if you went in a suit, you could wear a tie & jacket & then ditch either or both of those as necessary.
― sweet tater, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago)
The other thing is that if you went in a suit, you could wear a tie & jacket & then ditch either or both of those as necessary
I was thinking this might be my best option if I fail to figure out what "cocktail attire" really means for this event.
xpost - I figured there would be a joke like that.
― Mark Clemente, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:24 (seventeen years ago)
I would assume "cocktail attire" means dress-up, but not formal. Any color suit and shirt, tie optional. Sexy dresses for the ladies. If this couple is alternative, they mean "don't be a douchbag and show up in dockers, slob"
― sexyDancer, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:27 (seventeen years ago)
in summation, "cocktail attire" means "stylishly dressed up"
― sexyDancer, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:30 (seventeen years ago)
well said.
― sweet tater, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:31 (seventeen years ago)
i think i'm going out for cocktails in about a half hour so in my case it would be a pair of levis and a black gizmos t shirt.
http://www.slippytown.com/gizdrbig.jpg
― chicago kevin, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:37 (seventeen years ago)
http://www.impawards.com/1988/posters/cocktail.jpg
― latebloomer, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:41 (seventeen years ago)
http://www.vintagewedding.com/sb/sb080.jpg
― dean ge, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago)
gis for cocktail attire:
http://www.shaadi.com/wedding/fashion/clothes/images/cocktail-wear-men-1.jpg
― sweet tater, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:50 (seventeen years ago)
KEVIN WINS
― Laurel, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 20:53 (seventeen years ago)