Perfect Cocktail Attire for Men and Women With 10 Stylish Outfits

Perfect Cocktail Attire for Men and Women With 10 Stylish Outfits SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips So you've gotten an invitation to a fabulous party and can't wait to go, but one line strikes terror into your heart: cocktail attire requested. What is cocktail attire, even? Never fear, I'll walk you through the guidelines of this dress code for both men and women and provide images of cocktail outfits you can easily recreate on your own. What Is Cocktail Attire? Cocktail attire is a dress code that is often adopted for parties and events that are somewhat fancy but not to the point of requiring full formal outfits. It’s popular for weddings and other special celebrations. There is some variation in what cocktail attire means based on the type of event, but it's generally meant to be fancy without being black tie. Cocktail attire is for fun but formal social events, so you can throw in a little more personality. The point is not to look like you’re going to work. What is cocktail attire for men? It can range from a more casual ensemble of dark jeans, a button up, and a sport coat to a more formal dark suit and tie. Sweaters and sweater-vests over button-up shirts are also acceptable in most cases. What is cocktail attire for women? Options include dresses and skirts with hemlines that fall slightly above the knee, dressy blouses, and pants. Suits for women are also acceptable. Cocktail Attire: Essential Guidelines Follow these guidelines to create a cocktail outfit that's fashionable, comfortable, and perfectly suited for the occasion. Cocktail Attire Rules For Everyone In crafting your outfit for a fancy occasion, you can't go wrong following the following guidelines. When in Doubt, Be More Formal It’s often best to err on the side of more formal if you’re unsure of the exact level of dressiness the event requires. Cocktail attire can be dressed up or down slightly depending on what sort of function you’re attending. If you’re not in a position where you can be assured that slightly less formal cocktail attire is acceptable, dress more formally. It’s more acceptable to be overdressed than underdressed in these situations. Find What’s Comfortable for You Don’t wear something that you think someone else would wear but that feels awkward or uncomfortable to you. For example, if you hate wearing dresses, don’t force yourself to put on a cocktail dress for this event. You can just as easily wear a nice pair of pants with a dressy blouse. Same goes for footwear - if you don’t like heels, wear flats or booties instead. 4 Rules to Know About Cocktail Attire for Men Dressing for formal occasions is generally simpler for men than women, but there are still some rules you should follow in picking out your outfit. Keep It Simple There are certain simple outfits that will always work for cocktail attire, like a well-tailored suit and tie with dress shoes. If you feel a bit lost when dressing for these types of events, stick to the basics. You can’t go wrong with a classic look (which you'll see examples of further on in this guide). No Sneakers or White Socks Don’t wear sneakers to an event that requires cocktail attire. Instead, go for loafers or other types of dress shoes or boots. Also avoid wearing white socks - they’ll stick out like a sore thumb and detract from the neatness of your outfit. It’s best to wear dark socks, ideally ones that match the color of your pants. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can try some brightly colored argyle socks, but it’s best not to take too many risks if you don’t consider yourself a fashion expert. Prepare for Increased Formality If you think the event falls on the less formal side of things, you can try wearing just a pair of nice pants with a button-up, but you should be prepared to dress more formally if you find yourself feeling out of place. Bring a jacket and tie with you just in case you need to make yourself look a bit more dressed up. Jeans Require a Jacket Sometimes you can wear jeans to events that require cocktail attire, but they should be a dark wash with no rips or other wear marks. If you do opt for jeans, make sure you dress up your outfit by including a jacket. A more informal choice in pants should be balanced out with more formal clothing choices for your upper body. 4 Simple Guidelines to Navigating Cocktail Attire for Women Of course, the standard cocktail attire for women is the cocktail dress, but it can still be hard to know how to accessorize or what to wear if you prefer pants. Check out the rules below to help you pick a fashionable but appropriate cocktail outfit. Accessorize Responsibly It’s best to have just one stand-out accessory rather than going overboard and creating five different focal points within your outfit. If you have a piece of bold statement jewelry that you plan on wearing, keep any other accessories very minimalist. Cocktail attire outfits are supposed to have personality and convey a sense of fun, but they should still make you look classy and put together. Too many loud accessories can make you look a bit tacky. Choose Shoes That Are Fancy, but Not Flashy Dressy sandals, ballet flats, and heels are all acceptable as footwear to go along with cocktail attire. Try not to go overboard with super high heels or shoes that clash with the rest of your outfit and compete too much with other accessories. You also need to be practical - make sure you can move around easily and stand for a long time without feeling like your feet are going to fall off. On the flip side, you should avoid wearing sneakers or flip flops because footwear that is too casual can really mess up the sophistication of your outfit as a whole. More Revealing = Less Loud Short dresses are commonly worn as cocktail attire, but you shouldn’t take this to the extreme. Slightly above the knee is the best place for the hemline to fall, though you can go a bit shorter as long as the dress isn’t excessively revealing overall. Even dresses with cutouts can be acceptable as cocktail attire, but in that case it’s best to stick with solid colors and lengths that don’t make it risky for you to bend over and pick up that hors d'oeuvre you just dropped (five second rule guys, let’s not be wasteful). If you wear a dress with a really out there pattern, that’s fine, but if it’s also skin tight and short, it might not be appropriate for a more formal event. Dress Practically Finally, don’t squeeze yourself into an outfit that makes you feel uncomfortable or that’s totally irrelevant to your personal style. Keep in mind the length of the event and the activities that you’ll be doing throughout. If it’s a wedding, you’re probably going to want to dance. In that case, wear an outfit that allows room for movement and shoes that won’t lead to a broken ankle as soon as the beat drops. Cocktail Attire for Men: Example Outfits Below are pictures of some of the best and easiest to recreate cocktail attire outfits for men. If you're wondering which items you need to purchase for your own cocktail attire, the last section in this guide has a list of cocktail attire staples you should have in your closet. Cocktail Attire for Women: Example Outfits Below are photos of the three most popular cocktail attire outfit combinations for women. Use these photos as inspiration when searching your closet or thinking about which new pieces to buy. Combo 1: Classic Cocktail Dress Combo 2: Pants/Blouse or Jumpsuit Combo 3: Skirt/Blouse Cocktail Attire Basics: Must-Haves for Men and Women Now you have a better idea of what to wear to cocktail party or other formal occasion. The next step is to begin assembling your own cocktail attire. Below are essential pieces you should always have on hand for events that require cocktail attire. For Men Dark or light suit Tie (optional) Button-down shirts (neutral colors are the most versatile) Solid-color sweaters or those with a simple pattern Slacks Blazer Dark socks Loafers or similar shoes For Women Knee-length or slightly above the knee dress Mid-length skirt Button-down shirt or blouse Blazer Flats, heels or sandals

Popular French Acronyms and Abbreviations

Popular French Acronyms and Abbreviations Lost in alphabet soup? Acronyms and abbreviations abound in French, especially in newspapers, on the news, and in political discussions. You might not be able to learn every French abbreviation and acronym, but you can get a good head start by memorizing this list of the most common ones. The ~ symbol indicates that the English equivalent is an approximation. AB agriculture biologique organic farming ADN acide dà ©soxyribonuclà ©ique DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) AEF Afrique à ©quatoriale franà §aise French Equatorial Africa AF allocations familiales ~ welfare, family allowance ALENA Accord de libre-à ©change nord-amà ©ricain NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) ANAEM Agence Nationale d'Accueil des Étrangers et des Migrations "National Agency for the Reception of Foreigners and Migration" ANPE Agence nationale pour l'emploi unemployment and job search agency AOC Appelation d'origine contrà ´là ©e guarantee of origin AOF Afrique occidentale franà §aise French West Africa API Alphabet phonà ©tique international IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) AR accusà ©/avis de rà ©ception return receipt requested, acknowledgement of receipt A.R. aller-retour round trip ASSEDIC Association pour l'emploi dans l'industrie et le commerce ~ agency for payment of unemployment BCBG bon chic bon genre preppy, Sloaney BD bande dessinà ©e comic strip BN Bibliothà ¨que nationale national library BNP Banque nationale de Paris large French bank BP boà ®te postale post office box BTP bà ¢timents et travaux publics public buildings and works sector BTS brevet de technicien supà ©rieur vocational training certificate bx bisous (at the end of a letter) ~hugs and kisses cd,cd c'estdire that is, i.e., I mean CAI Contrat d'Accueil et d'Intà ©gration agreement required of long-term visitors and residents of France CAP Certificat d'aptitude professionnelle required for employees who do not have a college degree CB carte bleue, carte bancaire debit card CCI Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Chamber of Commerce CCP compte chà ¨que postal postal checking account CDD contrat durà ©e dà ©terminà ©e job contract for a set duration CDI contrat durà ©e indà ©terminà ©e job contract for an indefinite duration CEDEX courrier d'entreprise distribution exceptionnelle ~ FedEx (early morning delivery service) CFA Communautà © financià ¨re africaine Community of French colonies in Africa which use a single monetary unit called the CFA franc CFP centre de formation professionnelle professional training center CGT Confà ©dà ©ration Gà ©nà ©rale de Travail ~ AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) Cie compagnie Co. (company) CIO Centre d'information et d'orientation career advisory center CNED Centre national d'enseignement distance Number one distance learning organization in Europe CNR Centre national de recherche National research institute COB Commission des opà ©rations de Bourse stock exchange regulatory commission: ~ SEC (US), ~SIB (UK) COD complà ©ment objet direct direct object pronoun COI complà ©ment objet indirect indirect object pronoun CP cours prà ©paratoire ~ first grade CPE Contrat Premià ¨re Embauche controversial job reform provision introduced in 2006 CRS Compagnie rà ©publicaine de sà ©curità © riot police squad CSA Conseil supà ©rieur de l'audiovisuel French broadcasting regulatory body, ~FCC CUIO Cellule Universitaire d'Information et d'Orientation organization of university-level study and career counselors CV curriculum vitae ~ rà ©sumà © DAB distributeur automatique de billets cash dispenser (ATM limited to withdrawals) DALF diplà ´me approfondi de langue franà §aise ~ TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) DEA diplà ´me d'à ©tudes approfondies ~ PhD minus the dissertation DELF diplà ´me d'à ©tudes en langue franà §aise ~ TOEFL DES diplà ´me d'à ©tudes supà ©rieures ~ Master's degree DESS diplà ´me d'à ©tudes supà ©rieures spà ©cialisà ©es ~ Master's degree + one year internship DEST diplà ´me d'à ©tudes supà ©rieures techniques ~ Master's degree in technical subject DEUG diplà ´me d'à ©tudes universitaires gà ©nà ©rales ~ Associate degree DGSE Direction gà ©nà ©rale de la sà ©curità © extà ©rieure ~ CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), MI6 (Military Intelligence 6) DILF diplà ´me initial de langue franà §aise ~ TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) DK dà ©ca (apocope of dà ©cafà ©inà ©) decaf (decaffeinated) DOM-TOM Dà ©partements d'outre-mer et Territoires d'outre-mer former colonies which remain French territories DSK Dominique Strauss-Kahn French politician accused of sexual assault in 2011 DST Direction de la surveillance du territoire ~ CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), MI5 (Military Intelligence 5) DT diphtà ©rie, tà ©tanos vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus EDF Électricità © de France nationalized French electric company É.-U.É.-U.A. États-UnisÉtats-Unis d'Amà ©rique US (United States)USA (United States of America) FLN Front de libà ©ration nationale Algerian political party FLQ Front de la libà ©ration du Quà ©bec Revolutionary organization in Canada which resulted in the "FLQ crisis" of 1970. FN Front National Far right political party (Jean-Marie Le Pen) FNAC Fà ©dà ©ration nationale d'achats des cadres ~ Borders (megastore for books, music, movies, + electronics) .fr (pronounced point f r) internet country code for France GAB guichet automatique de banque ATM (automated teller machine) GDF Gaz de France nationalized French gas company GE Gentil Employà ©e (au Club Mà ©diterranà ©e) Club Med employee G.I.G.-G.I.C. grand invalide de guerre -grand invalide civile severely disabled veteran - severely disabled person (found on handicapped parking signs) GM Gentil Membre (au Club Mà ©diterranà ©e) Club Med member/guest Go giga octet GB (gigabyte) GO Gentil Organisateur (au Club Mà ©diterranà ©e) Club Med organizer h heure (telling time) o'clock Hadopi Haute Autorità © pour la diffusion des Å“uvres et la protection des droits sur Internet Anti-piracy policing authority HLM Habitation loyer moderà © low-income housing HS hors service out of order HT hors taxe tax not included, subtotal Ifop Institut franà §ais d'opinion publique French public opinion research institute INSEE Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques national institute for statistics and economic studies IQF Invitation Quitter le Territoire order to a foreigner to leave France IVG interruption volontaire de grossesse abortion Jour J literally D-Day (6 June 1944), but can be used figuratively to mean "the big day" K7 cassette audio or video cassette - used in ads LCR Ligue Communiste Rà ©volutionnaire Trotskyist political party in France LEP lycà ©e d'enseignement professionnel vocational high school LlH Longueur, largeur, Hauteur lwh - length, width, height LO Lutte Ouvrià ¨re Trotskyist political party in France LOA location avec option d'achat leasing with the option to buy MEDEF Mouvement des Entreprises de France largest French job union MJC Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture Youth cultural center MLF Mouvement pour la libà ©ration de la femme French women's lib movement Mo mega octet MB (megabyte) MRAP Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitià © entre les peuples French antiracism movement NAP Neuilly, Auteuil, Passy preppy, Sloany NDLR note de la rà ©daction editor's note NdT note du traducteur translator's note NF norme franà §aise approved French standard of manufacture, ~ seal of approval OGM organisme gà ©nà ©tiquement modifià © GMO (genetically modified organism) OLP Organisation de la libà ©ration de la Palestine PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) ONG organisation non gouvernementale NGO (non-governmental organization) ONU Organisation des Nations unies UN (United Nations) OPA offre publique d'achat takeover bid OS Ouvrier spà ©cialisà © unskilled or semi-skilled worker OVNI Objet volant non identifià © UFO (unidentified flying object) PACS Pacte civil de solidarità © legal alternative to marriage in France, with a provision for same-sex couples PAO publication assistà ©e par ordinateur desktop publishing PC poste de commandement HQ (headquarters) PC(F) Parti communiste (franà §ais) French Communist Party Pcc pour copie conforme certified copy PCV paiement contre và ©rification orpercevoir collect call (French on the phone) PDG prà ©sident-directeur gà ©nà ©ral ~ CEO (chief executive officer) PEE plan d'à ©pargne entreprise ~ 401k (except in France, the company puts in 3x the employee contribution) PEL plan d'à ©pargne logement ~ savings account for purchase of a home PIB produit intà ©rieur brut GDP (gross domestic product) PJ pià ¨ces jointes Enc. (enclosed in a business letter) PJ Police judiciaire ~ FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) PMA pays moins avancà ©s undeveloped countries PMU pari mutuel urbain OTB (off-track betting) PNB produit national brut GNP (gross national product) po pouce in. (inch) PS Parti socialiste Socialist Party; one of the three largest French political parties (Franà §ois Mitterrand, Sà ©golà ¨ne Royal) PT Parti des Travailleurs Trotskyist political party in France PTT Poste, Tà ©là ©communications et Tà ©là ©diffusion post office and telephone service P.-V. procà ¨s-verbal meeting minutesautomotive ticket or fine PVD pays en voie de dà ©veloppement developing countries qcm questionnaire choix multiple multiple choice test QG quartier gà ©nà ©ral HQ (headquarters), local pub R.A.S. rien signaler (informal) no problems/issues (e.g., on the condition portion of a car rental contract) RATP Rà ©gie autonome des transports parisiens Paris public transportation authority (mà ©tro and bus) rdc rez-de-chaussà ©e first floor (US), ground floor (UK) RER Rà ©seau express rà ©gional high speed train service between Paris + suburbs RF la Rà ©publique franà §aise the French Republic RIB relevà © d'identità © bancaire summary of bank information (for automatic payments) RMI revenu minimum d'insertion ~ minimum welfare payment, income support RN revenu nationalroute nationale GNP (gross national product)main road RPR Rassemblement pour la Rà ©publique French center-right political party; one of the three largest (Jacques Chirac) RSVP rà ©pondez s'il vous plaà ®t please respond (thus "please RSVP" is redundant) RTT rà ©duction du temps de travail reduction of working hours rv rendez-vous meeting, date SA socià ©tà © anonyme Inc. (incorporated), Ltd. (limited) SAMU secours d'aide mà ©dicale d'urgence ambulance SARL socià ©tà © responsabilità © limità ©e Inc., Ltd (limited liability company) SDF sans domicile fixe homeless (noun or adjective) Sida syndrome immunodà ©ficitaire acquis AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) SMIC salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance minimum wage SNCF Socià ©tà © nationale des chemins de fer franà §ais nationalized French train system SPA Socià ©tà © protectrice des animaux ~ASPCA (US), ~RSPCA (UK) SRM Socià ©tà © des rà ©dacteurs du Monde Society of Editors of Le Mondenewspaper SVP s'il vous plaà ®t please systà ¨me D le systà ¨me dà ©brouillard, le systà ¨me dà ©merder (informal) resourcefulness TEPA travail, emploi, pouvoir d'achat 2007 French fiscal package TGB Trà ¨s grande bibliothà ¨que nickname of the Bibliothà ¨que de France TGV train grande vitesse high-speed train TIG travaux d'intà ©rà ªt gà ©nà ©ral community service TNT tà ©là ©vision numà ©rique terrestretrinitrotoluà ¨ne national digital terrestrial television serviceTNT (trinitrotoluene) TPS tà ©là ©vision par satellite TV via satellite TTC toutes taxes comprises tax included TVA taxe sur la valeur ajoutà ©e VAT (value-added tax) UDF Union pour la dà ©mocratie franà §aise center-right French political party; one of the three largest (Franà §ois Beyrou) U.E. Union europà ©enne EU (European Union) U.L.M. ultra-là ©ger motorisà © ultralight (plane) UMP Union pour un Mouvement Populaire center-right French political party UNL Union Nationale Lycà ©enne national union for high school students URSAFF Union pour le recouvrement des cotisations de la sà ©curità © sociale et des allocations famiales Social Security UV unità © de valeur university course credit vf version franà §aise film dubbed into French vm version multilingue film with choice of sound and subtitles vovost version originaleversion originale sous-titrà ©e film shown in its original language with subtitles in French VTT và ©lo tout terrain mountain bike W.-C. water-closet bathroom, restroom (US); toilet, loo (UK) x fois (par exemple, 10x plus) times (for example, 10x more) X l'École Polytechnique nickname for top polytechnic school in Paris