Dressing for a cocktail party can be challenging — in part because the rules for women’s semi-formal occasions have changed. Back in the day, ladies wore knee-length skirts with gloves, for example. But modern life has grown ever more casual, taking cocktail party style along for the ride.
That casual evolution has widened the range of acceptable cocktail party outfits. Your options are vast enough that you’ll want to consider what you want before you shop. Without direction, you’re headed for a frustrating and, possibly, expensive experience.
Read on for five steps to building the perfect cocktail outfit, plus five pieces that’ll inspire you to get shopping.
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Dress for a cocktail party in 5 steps
Here’s a five-step plan to build a gorg and stylish cocktail party outfit.
1. Start with the right piece
The primary garment in your outfit sets the tone. A solid tone for a cocktail party is two parts dressy, one part friendly, and one part mysterious. Cocktail parties are for mingling, so you want to cultivate a welcoming, “get to know me” vibe — without being too pretentious or too needy.
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Experiment with color
Brighter colors stand out against the sea of LBDs. Turquoise, orange, baby blue are all acceptable color choices. Even white is an option if you dare.
Of course, if you’re not sure, you can always wear black. It’s a safe option. If you go that route, plan on adding color or texture with your accessories.
Pieces that work for cocktail parties
The right dress for a cocktail party may not be a dress at all. Midi dresses and semi-formal baby doll dresses fit the bill, but so do jumpsuits and dressy, wide-legged pants.
You could also don a skirt if you choose the top wisely. Pro tip: Whatever the fit of the skirt is, go with the opposite for the top. A flowing skirt goes with a fitted top. A tight skirt goes with a looser top.
Lean into intrigue
The right piece is the one that’s intriguing — it should practically invite conversation from strangers. All you need to add is a smile so your vibe is friendly and not intimidating.
If you take a misstep with your primary garment, you’ll have trouble pulling the whole thing off. Jeans, for example, are an obvious no-no. You show up in jeans and everyone who bought a $300 dress for the occasion will feel disrespected.
Also steer clear of bodycon and bandage dresses, mini skirts, and cutouts or revealing hemlines.
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2. Check your hemlines and necklines
Imagine showing up to a cocktail party and realizing your neckline is too deep or your hemline is too short. Awkward. You will surely mingle with the men, but most of the women will snicker behind your back. Sad, but true.
Skip that scenario by double-checking the hemlines and necklines before you buy that garment. Try to think objectively about this — which is admittedly hard when you find a garment that looks amazing on you. Set aside how hot you are for a second and evaluate how revealing that piece is. If you have more than an inch of cleavage or upper thigh showing, you might keep shopping.
When it doubt, go for a midi-length dress. It’s classy and always on point for a cocktail party.
3. Add shoes
A delicate strappy sandal is a favorite choice for cocktail parties. You could also wear a closed-toe pump if your pedi needs some love. If you don’t care for a tall heel, a kitten heel works too.
You can wear a black or silver shoe, of course. But a shoe that’s nude or has clear straps will make your legs look loooong.
Ankle boots, tall boots, OTK boots, and sandals with thick straps are not good options for a cocktail party. Really, any shoe that has any bit of chunkiness to it is probably too casual for the occasion.
4. Accessorize (lightly)
Often, you don’t need more than two accessories, three at the most. One is your clutch. Use that piece to balance out your color palette. If you’re wearing an LDB, carry a bright clutch. If you’re wearing navy, a silver clutch would look fantastic. If you’re wearing a bright color, reach for a neutral clutch. You get the idea.
If you don’t want to invest in a bright red handbag you’ll only use once, use texture instead of color to add interest. Beads or sequins will do the trick.
Beyond that, keep accessories limited to one or two pieces of jewelry. A pair of diamond studs could be sufficient. You might add a delicate bracelet if you just got your nails done. Or a necklace may be the right choice if you’re wearing your hair up.
5. Choose your undies wisely
Head off wardrobe malfunctions by wearing your cocktail party outfit around the house. Practice sitting, standing, using the bathroom, etc. Figure out where your dress bunches, sticks, hangs weird, whatever. Then remedy the issue with the right undergarments.
A snug shapewear piece often solves those issues — and creates smooth, sexy lines so your cocktail party dress hangs perfectly. Purchase a few options from stores with good return policies so you can test them out before the big party.
If shapewear doesn’t fix the problem, take your dress to a tailor and get professional help. This is usually an inexpensive update that’s well worth the cost.