How to Dress for Any Occasion

The Occasion: A Party That Calls for “Festive Attire”

Old etiquette: What old etiquette? Hosts only recently began confounding their guests with the f-word.

New etiquette: Get dolled up; have fun with it.

What to wear: “‘Festive’ means wearing playful cocktail attire,” explains etiquette authority Sue Fox. “There are lots of options, from slinky tops with dressy slacks to a dress in a bold color or print.” Or start with a little black dress and dial it up with a fancy clutch and something glittery, like a cocktail ring or chandelier earrings. You might consider whether there’s a theme at play and “if you can incorporate that into your attire,” says Post. Don’t overdo it, though. For a Cinco de Mayo bash, you could opt for a peasant top and large hoop earrings, but hold the line there; you don’t want to cross into costume territory. And when a holiday invitation calls for festive attire, don’t feel pressured into wearing anything that’s red or green―or that features reindeer.