Dinner parties are amongst our favourite sort of social occasion: good food (at least when we’re not cooking, ahem), lively conversation, and free-flowing booze. But what are appropriate dinner party outfits for guys?
If your host has requested that you dress smartly – often known as cocktail attire – then they will be expecting you to wear a suit of sorts. Mid grey and darker dyed suits are most appropriate for the evening, although you could opt for a khaki coloured suit if the event takes place during the day. Wear with a slim fit shirt in a plain, light colour, leather dress shoes and a matching belt if you want to stick with the classics (just don’t wear your work clothes: invest in a party suit that is slicker and sharper).
Unlike the more formal white tie and black tie, however, a dinner party dress code does leave some room for interpretation. Whilst you should stick with a suit as the foundation for your outfit, you don’t necessarily need to be traditionally turned out. How about replacing a shirt with a turtleneck sweater, for example? Choose a roll neck in a dark, neutral colour – black works, though darker blues and maroons are less severe – and layer a blazer over it for a not-too-dressy, not-too-casual take on cocktail wear. Or why not replace suit trousers with smart jeans (dark, not light) for a meticulous medium? Ideal if you’re unsure about the dress code.
