What To Wear To A Black Tie Optional Affair
What To Wear When The Invite Calls For "Cocktail Chic"
Q. I am attending a weeknight charity dinner with my husband in New York in late October. The invitation suggests "festive attire". Do you have any recommendations? Would a wrap dress or skirt suit in a luxurious fabric be appropriate? I'd love some stylish tips, especially something I could wear again to another event.
A. Typically, festive attire is less dressy than black tie or cocktail attire but more dressy than casual or work attire. Festive attire is meant to evoke a fun, flirty, party atmosphere. Think metallics, sequins, beading, ruffles, bows, etc. If your invitation is for a holiday party, then festive attire can also include velvet and other fabrics, colors and prints evocative of the holidays.
Your wrap dress or skirt suit in a luxe fabric might work, just be sure to add something fun like metallic shoes or dazzling earrings. Here are a few other options for your weeknight charity dinner:
1. Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Ruffle Dress, nordstrom.com
2. Abaete Women's Arthur Top and Ricky Skirt, bloomingdales.com
3. Jill Stuart Gantz Top (pair it with nice black pants), shopbop.com
4. Cynthia Steffe Marla Top (pair it with nice black pants), shopbop.com
Want more mileage out of these looks? Either of the sparkly tops above can be worn out to dinner or on a date with jeans, while the ruffled top makes an ideal layering piece under a v-neck sweater, cardigan or jacket.
A. Typically, festive attire is less dressy than black tie or cocktail attire but more dressy than casual or work attire. Festive attire is meant to evoke a fun, flirty, party atmosphere. Think metallics, sequins, beading, ruffles, bows, etc. If your invitation is for a holiday party, then festive attire can also include velvet and other fabrics, colors and prints evocative of the holidays.
Your wrap dress or skirt suit in a luxe fabric might work, just be sure to add something fun like metallic shoes or dazzling earrings. Here are a few other options for your weeknight charity dinner:
2. Abaete Women's Arthur Top and Ricky Skirt, bloomingdales.com
3. Jill Stuart Gantz Top (pair it with nice black pants), shopbop.com
4. Cynthia Steffe Marla Top (pair it with nice black pants), shopbop.com
Want more mileage out of these looks? Either of the sparkly tops above can be worn out to dinner or on a date with jeans, while the ruffled top makes an ideal layering piece under a v-neck sweater, cardigan or jacket.
