WHAT TO WEAR TO A PARTY

Choosing what to wear to a party can be a lot trickier than it first appears. Knowing the type of event you’re attending is extremely important. Here’s how to dress for a party.

FORMAL PARTY – BLACK TIE

Black tie is at the high end of men’s formal party clothes. The good news is that the tuxedo, though sometimes expensive, is actually an effortlessly stylish dress code to nail, encompassing a single-breasted dinner jacket, tailored black trousers, crisp white dress shirt, hi shine leather shoes (a court shoe or oxfords) and, of course, a black dickie bow. And, on the note of expense, even if you wear it only a couple of times a year, a well-made dinner suit is timeless and could last you a decade or more, so think of it as an investment.

As with white tie, the key here is to keep it classic: stick with traditional colors – black or midnight navy only – and go for a self-tie bow tie if you can. It may take some time to master the actual tying, but you will feel oh-so-suave when you can hang it loosely round your neck at the end of the night: much more James Bond than school prom.

CASUAL PARTY

The key to cracking a casual dress code is deciphering what kind of ‘casual’ your host means. A party in a smarter setting – a fancy family home, a wine bar – will require a classier kind of casual than a party at the pub or on the beach, for example.

The good news is that men’s casual party clothes do not include a tuxedo or tie, so leave your formal finery at home. The bad news – depending on how you look at it – is that party clothes for men is the perfect opportunity to express yourself and demonstrate what a well-groomed guy you are. No pressure!

Just because the function might be relaxed, doesn’t mean you should let your style slide. Sure, a casual dress code generally means anything goes, but – since you’re attending a party – you still need to put in some effort with your outfit and appearance. Here are the top men’s casual party clothes looks.

WARMING UPS, PUBS & ANYTHING THAT FOLLOWS…

If your Saturday night starts (and ends) at a club, you need to make sure you feel comfortable and confident. Good fitting jeans with a statement t-shirt and trendy shoes looks cool, as does a casual shirt with sleeves rolled up and 2-3 buttons left undone. Just be sure you’ve chosen material that breathes: nothing ruins a look like sweat patches. Seriously.

RAVE

As we all know a rave can get messy. However, this is no excuse to drop all pretence of style and dive straight into raving attire. Keep it casual but sleek. Put on a pair of kicks (preferably not white as they don’t withstand moshpits) and opt for dark jeans or chinos. A slim fit tee on top works well, but avoid anything that will show up obvious sweat patches. Add a statement jacket to tie the outfit together, just please remember to put it in the cloakroom; shoe prints on jackets aren’t a nice surprise come morning.