Whether you’re attending a wedding, a formal night out or your class reunion, and the invite calls for cocktail attire, you might be puzzled at what exactly that means. So were we! That’s because fashion trends are constantly changing and the different fashion “terms” such as cocktail attire, black tie and many others, it can be hard to keep up. Here’s a basic guide to get a clear understanding of what cocktail attire is and the dos and don’ts of dressing for occasions that call for it.

Cocktail attire is a dress code that implies a degree of formality. It’s not as fancy as black tie, but it does call for elevated evening wear in luxurious fabrics. For women, glitzy dresses of any length are appropriate – just not a gown. In other words, cocktail attire is a dress code that falls somewhere between casual and black tie. It’s generally worn to special events that take place around the dinner hour, such as weddings, retirement celebrations, and of course, cocktail parties.

You might think the terms cocktail attire and semi-formal wear are interchangeable. However, despite their similarities, these dress codes are not the same. The former is a bit more formal than the latter. For cocktail attire, opt for a darker colour palette and more substantial pieces like knee-length dresses or fancy jumpsuits with heels.

Semi-formal wear, on the other hand, includes lighter fabrics like chiffon and linen in brighter colours along with dressy long-sleeve blouses and A-line skirts. Looks that fall under semi-formal tend to still appear polished but are far less fancy.

• Coordination: Umer Mushtaq
• Hair Makeup: Furqan Salon
• Photography & Styling: The Rohail
• Featuring: Hina Chaudhry