mfad•3y ago

Tutlenecks and cocktail attire

I’m attending a company event with a cocktail attire dress code. I’ve made up my mind to go in a turtleneck, sports jacket, wool trousers, and leather oxfords. However this got me thinking, do people consider turtlenecks to be acceptable as part of cocktail attire?

This isn’t about what I’ll wear, since our company events’ dress code has never been a strict requirement, to say the least. Just interested in what people’s opinions are.

theodinspire•11/29/23, 12:09 AM

I would wear this to such an event, though I don’t know if that would fall in “cocktail attire” strict

Woolf•11/29/23, 12:15 AM

It'll be fine. I'm assuming you're going to wear a finer knit turtleneck. As far as normal cocktail attire, I think it'll depend on the host.

Benji•11/29/23, 12:17 AM

Sounds like a good fit

Benji•11/29/23, 12:18 AM

I mean turtlenecks have a bit of a connotation (ie Steve Jobs) but wearing one under a sport jacket should remove that

BBenji I mean turtlenecks have a bit of a connotation (ie Steve Jobs) but wearing one u...

theodinspire•11/29/23, 12:24 AM

Do they now?

Benji•11/29/23, 12:25 AM

I think only if you wear it the way Steve Jobs or Elizabeth Holmes did. They're a great utilitarian garment and wearing one under a sport jacket is a classic fit

gimp•11/29/23, 1:17 AM

Cocktail attire is like business casual. There is no strict definition that is widely agreed upon and, therefore, people's opinions on what it means runs a very very wide gamut. I have seen cocktail attire mean everything from "your nicest jeans and a button-front shirt" to "full and proper navy suit and all the accoutrements; full rig."

gimp•11/29/23, 1:19 AM

I think a sport coat, wool trousers, oxfords, and a turtleneck would generally put you somewhere ... between 1/2 and 2/3 up the formality scale, if a 0 and 1 are what I described above, respectively. So, probably pretty decent. I don't know your social circles and their expectations better than you do.

Ttheodinspire Do they now?

beans•11/29/23, 1:33 AM

They don’t at all

beans•11/29/23, 1:34 AM

If you wear a black one with light wash jeans and white trainers then yes but with a jacket and trousers? Not at all

braindrops•11/30/23, 11:53 PM

I would say a turtleneck and suit would be really pushing it for most “cocktail attire” events. They would expect you to be in a neutrally colored dress shirt and dark conservative tie.

That said, a turtleneck and suit or blazer is a killer business casual or holiday party look

gimp•12/1/23, 12:11 AM

I think that if it's cold, allowances are made. Also that many people do not see cocktail attire as strictly as you do.