“Paris couturiers always have been an important source for U.S. fashion industry since the 19th century. However, when Paris was occupied during [World War II] that source was no longer available even as an inspiration,” couture historian Adnan Ege Kutay tells Vogue. “After the war, the fashion industry needed to flourish again and women were ready to buy new clothes.”
In the 1950s, cocktail dresses were often mid-calf length and made of fabrics such as black taffeta, satin, and chiffon; think Audrey Hepburn’s party look in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
However, new trends emerged toward the second half of the century as young people began to include more freedom of expression in their dressing. In Clothing and Fashion: American Fashion from Head to Toe, the authors explain that “Mod styles dominated cocktail dressing for young women in the 1960s. Along with the mod style, it was acceptable to wear a dressy suit to cocktail parties, and for women going directly from cocktails to dinner, a matching jacket could be worn over a dinner dress. Subsequently, the cocktail party came to embrace many types of events, and as a result, dress codes varied widely.”
What does cocktail attire look like today?
What’s appropriate for a cocktail attire dress code can vary depending on the occasion, the time of year, and even the hosts. But there are some key rules to keep in mind. While you can undoubtedly wear trousers, consider leaving the denim in your closet, and pairing your pants with a dressier silk top or one that has a more sophisticated silhouette than a basic t-shirt.
Patterns, like florals, for a spring or summer wedding are totally acceptable, but make sure they’re appropriate. For example, some cocktail parties or events may specify that they would like guests to wear all black.
Cocktail attire offers some leniency when it comes to suiting. Collared shirts or ties aren’t required, and tops can be used as the statement part of the look (like a pop of color or a pattern). In some cases, though, a suit could be worn with a simple T-shirt.
Ultimately, if you need to wear cocktail attire to an event like a wedding, the number one rule is to err on the side of caution and use the dress code as permission to dress up a little more than usual.
