In the simplest of terms, it's a semi-formal style of dress typically worn on early evening and late afternoon occasions. "Cocktail attire was first popularized in the 1920s as women in the U.S ...

Between holiday parties and wedding season, most of the invitations in your inbox will probably ask for “cocktail attire”—which is really just a fancy way of saying formal, but not too formal.

From traditional black-tie weddings to whimsical garden parties, we asked experts to help us break down what to wear.

Ashley Kosciolek, senior cruise writer for The Points Guy, always packs a gown or a fancy cocktail dress for a formal night. "I work from home and don't have a reason to dress up otherwise ...

Carlos Alcaraz wore a black double-breasted tuxedo jacket by Louis Vuitton, a white dress shirt and a black bow tie, keeping ...

plus rules and tips around cocktail attire, so you’re prepped next time that invite hits your mailbox. In the simplest of terms, it’s a semi-formal style of dress typically worn for early-evening and ...