Key takeaways
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01
Cocktail is an evening code: the jacket stays on, even when the tie comes off.
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A suit is the safe choice, but a sharp jacket and tailored trousers will pass at many cocktail events.
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03
Wear a tie unless the event is clearly relaxed. At a wedding, always.
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04
This is the dress code for colour and texture. Keep it to one standout piece.
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A tuxedo is overdressed unless the invitation says black tie.
Cocktail attire for men means a suit, or a sharp jacket and tailored trousers, worn to an evening event. It's a step below formal and a step above semi-formal, so the jacket stays on and a tie is right for most events, but there's more room for colour and texture than at the office.
The cocktail dress code for men turns up on invitations to weddings, work functions, launches and parties. At each one, it asks for the same thing: an evening look that's polished without being black tie.
We cover cocktail attire, along with three other dress codes, in the video below.
What Cocktail Attire Means
What is cocktail attire for men? In Australia, it's the evening dress code that sits between formal and semi-formal on the ladder of men's dress codes. Formal and lounge suit sit above it, and both ask for a dark suit and tie with no exceptions.
"After five" on an invitation means the same thing. The phrase dates from when men changed out of their office clothes for the evening, and it's a reminder that cocktail belongs to the evening. A daytime event with similar wording usually sits a rung lower, at semi-formal.
Many invitations and guides use cocktail and semi-formal interchangeably. We place cocktail a notch above, because an evening event asks for a little more polish than a daytime one.
Two things make an outfit cocktail rather than business wear. The jacket stays on, and there's room for colour and texture that the office doesn't allow: a deeper shade of suit, a cloth with a visible weave, a pocket square with some life in it.
The same two things set its limits. Lose the jacket, or swap in jeans, casual chinos, a polo or sneakers, and it's no longer men's cocktail attire: the outfit has dropped to daytime or casual. Go the other way into a tuxedo and you've overshot: it belongs at black tie events, and at cocktail it looks as if you've misread the invitation.
A dark suit and tie sits safely in the middle. It's never wrong at cocktail, from a rooftop bar to a ballroom, so it's the outfit to fall back on when the wording leaves you unsure.
What to Wear to a Cocktail Event
The Suit or Jacket
Do you need a suit for cocktail attire? A suit is the safe default, but a sharp jacket with tailored trousers works at many cocktail events. Either way, the fit through the shoulders and sleeves matters more than the label.
For a suit, choose a well-fitted two-piece in navy or charcoal, or a richer colour such as deep green or burgundy if you'd like the outfit to stand out.
For separates, the jacket needs structure and a smart cloth: a dark blazer in a smooth or finely textured wool, worn with tailored wool trousers. A casual sports jacket in tweed or cotton reads as daytime, so save it for smart casual.
The Shirt
A crisp dress shirt in white or pale blue works with any suit, and a soft colour works with a plain one. With a tie, a semi-spread or spread collar sits best.
For an open collar, choose a shirt collar that holds its shape without a tie, such as a hidden button-down or one with firm stays. A wide cutaway tends to collapse open.
Tie or Open Collar
Wear a tie to most cocktail events. An open collar works where the event allows it, such as a summer party or a relaxed venue.
The invitation usually tells you which. If it says cocktail for a wedding, a gala or a formal venue, wear the tie. If you're unsure, wear one and take it off once you've seen the room.
An open collar still needs a collar that holds its shape, and the jacket on. Without both, it looks like something's missing.
A bow tie works too, in a colour or a pattern. A plain black bow tie reads as black tie, so keep that one for the dinner jacket.
Trousers
Wear the matching suit trousers, or tailored wool trousers in a contrasting colour if you've chosen separates. Grey trousers under a navy jacket make the easiest pairing. Keep them pressed, and leave chinos and jeans at home.
Shoes
Polished leather Oxfords or Derbies suit every cocktail event, and a monk strap adds a little personality. Leather loafers work for summer and more relaxed events. The sleeker and shinier the shoe, the more formal it reads, so save suede for the relaxed end.
Match the shoes to the suit: black with charcoal and black suits, brown with navy and lighter colours. Whichever you choose, polish them the day before, and match your belt to them. Our guide to dress shoes covers each style.
The classic
Roma Wholecut Oxford
A polished Oxford suits any cocktail event.
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With more personality
Milano Double Monk Strap
A monk strap adds interest without losing polish.
Buy now · $300Accessories
A pocket square is where cocktail attire gets its colour. Choose a richer shade or a pattern that picks up something in the tie without matching it.
Keep everything else to one or two pieces, such as cufflinks and a slim watch. Any more and they start competing with the suit, which should stay the focus.
Emerald & Midnight Check Pocket Square
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Amethyst & Noir Contrast Pocket Square
Buy now · $50Colour, Texture and Pattern
Cocktail attire gives you more room for colour than any office dress code, as long as the outfit stays refined. Here's how we sum it up:
“Cocktail attire is one of the most versatile dress codes. This is where you can start introducing different colours, textures, or subtle patterns while still keeping the look refined. Depending on the event, you can even go open collar instead of wearing a tie.”
For colour, go deeper and richer than you would for work: bottle green, burgundy or midnight navy. A plain navy suit works too, with the colour carried by the tie and pocket square.
Texture reads as evening. A cloth with a visible weave or a soft sheen catches the light in a way a flat business cloth doesn't.
Subtle checks and textures work, one patterned piece at a time. Our guide to suit patterns explains how each one reads.
Keep it refined rather than loud. If the outfit draws more attention than you do, step it back: swap the patterned shirt for a plain one, or let the suit carry the colour on its own.
Cocktail Attire for a Wedding
Cocktail wedding attire for men means a suit and tie. Keep it a shade less formal than the groom, and avoid a white or ivory suit or jacket, which can compete with the couple.
The time of day guides the colour. A daytime cocktail wedding can take lighter shades, like mid-blue or soft grey, while an evening reception calls for darker ones. Our wedding guest outfit guide covers the other wedding dress codes.
The groom and groomsmen still wear suits at a cocktail wedding, often in a colour the wedding party coordinates around. A tuxedo is optional rather than expected, and our guide to a suit vs tuxedo for the wedding helps you decide.
Whichever way the wedding party goes, the groom's suit should stand slightly apart, through a different colour, a waistcoat or a more distinctive cloth. Our wedding suits are made to measure for the groom and his groomsmen.
Summer Cocktail Attire
Summer cocktail attire for men keeps the same code in a lighter cloth. In an Australian summer, the heat doesn't lower the dress code; it changes what the suit is made of.
Choose a breathable cloth, such as a tropical wool or a wool-linen blend, and a half-lined or unlined jacket that lets air through. Our guide to summer suits covers the cloths in more detail.
Colours lighten too. Lighter blues, stone and soft greys suit summer evenings, especially outdoors, and they're cooler in the sun than navy or charcoal.
Casual cocktail attire is where summer loosens up most. An open collar and leather loafers are the usual swaps, and they suit a rooftop or a harbourside cocktail party.
The jacket still comes with you, though. A lighter cloth is what keeps it comfortable, and a crisp shirt underneath keeps you looking finished if it comes off later.
Cocktail Suits Made for You
We make suits for evening events, in cloths and colours chosen for the occasion, from a classic navy to a deep green with some texture. Every suit starts with a custom pattern taken from at least 18 measurements, and standard delivery is about four to six weeks, with express available on request.
Not sure what your invitation is asking for? Bring it in, and one of our tailors will help you settle the cloth, colour and cut. Book a consultation to get started.
Made to measure
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Suits for evening events, cut to your measurements.
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