"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." What exactly is cocktail attire? Ask ten people what it means, and you'll get ten different answers. Some ...

Let's cut to the chase: dress codes are hard to follow. After all, there are SO. MANY. of them. From white and black tie to whatever smart-casual actually means, it's kinda impossible to get to grips ...

A party invitation brings promised merriment along with a tricky question: What to wear? If the note specifies “cocktail attire,” sartorial stress could be right around the corner. This term rarely ...

Does anyone else out there love the idea of a cocktail party? I like to picture myself in a swanky cocktail dress (don’t own), with kitten heels (also don’t own), sipping on a martini with a perfectly ...

It’s the holidays and now that we’re (mostly) back to in-person gatherings, it’s time to revisit those confusing dress code instructions. What, pray tell, is beach casual? Or creative black tie? Or ...

Q I'm invited to a Labor Day wedding where I'm close to the parents but not part of the wedding party. It is not black tie, in fact, the description is "cocktail attire suggested." I'm wondering if I ...

What to wear to a “Victorian Creatures of the Night” party? A ghostly Queen Victoria comes to Sherry Kuehl’s mind. That said, she believes hosts are going a bit over the top with their suggestions for ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Eustacia Huen is a Hong Kong-based writer who covers food and luxury. Now that video conferencing has become the new normal during ...