Wear It Well... Cocktail Dress
A cocktail party is the sharpest dressed of all the parties you'll probably ever be invited to. It's simply not good enough to wear your business suit or worse a sports casual option. Women love it when men dress up in a tux and make a real effort. Buying a good quality Tux or other cocktail attire is a very expensive experience, it's probably not worth it unless you're on the charity ball's socialite invite list, so we suggest you rent. Here's Base London's guide to dressing for a cocktail party.
White Tie
This is the most Ultra-formal of cocktail events, white tie is only worn after 6pm and is normally reserved for important fundraisers or diplomatic balls. A crisp white wing collared pique shirt should be accompanied with a white tie and white waistcoat. Classic Black trouser with satin strip and a traditional black tailcoat (waist length in the front and sides, and has two long tails reaching to the knees at the back). Wear highly polished black Base London patent lace ups, remembering cufflinks and white gloves.
Black Tie
Black Tie events are the most common of Cocktail events. Wear a black tuxedo teamed with white shirt, and a waistcoat or cummerbund with a matching colour tie. The cummerbund should always be worn with pleats facing up. Again go for a dressier black patent lace up.
If you are unsure on how dressy to be, it's far better to be overdressed than underdressed.
How to Tie a Bow Tie
It's far classier to wear a self-tied bow tie rather than a clip on or even worse elastic version, and tying one is easier than you think
1. Adjust the strap to match your collar size using the measurements at the back.
2. Place the tie around your shirt collar and have the two ends dangling at equal heights.
3. Pass the right end over the left and under to form the beginnings of a knot. Pull it fairly tight.
4. Fold the right hand side into the bow shape and hold the narrow part to the centre, in line with your buttons
5. The loose side should now be passed over the centre of the bow.
6. A loop would now have formed between the first knot and the front of the bow.
7. Tuck the middle of the loose end through the loop grabbing the emerging end and pull tight
8. Adjust the tie to the desired shape, neat and even.
