The look: Dark suit or blazer with dress pants Dress shirt (tie optional, depending on the event) Dress shoes oxfords, derbies, or polished loafers Room for a little more color, texture, or pattern than the dress codes above Our pick: The Blue Suit For a deeper breakdown including what to wear to summer cocktail events, what counts as a cocktail mistake, and how it compares to semi-formal see our full guide to cocktail attire for men
Floor-length or midi dresses with clean lines tend to photograph better than busy prints or heavily ruched silhouettes
Um, well first you dont wear a pleated plaid skirt
But if shorter mini dresses aren't in your comfort zone, go for a midi dress to find that happy medium not too short, not too long, but just right for all kinds of activities
Start your journey outside of the box with this silk-and-linen-blend stunner from Brooks Brothers, which would look great with an oxford and suit separates
Ladies have a little more flexibility with a black-tie event
