How to Dress for a Wine and Cheese Party

A wine and cheese party can be formal or informal. If you're the host, be sure to let your guests know whether there's a dress code. If you're a guest, be sure to adhere to the dress code set by the host. Below are some basic guidelines for wine and cheese party dress codes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Dress for a Wine and Cheese Party in Feminine Style

1. Choose a long dress for a formal wine and cheese party. Formal evening events generally call for darker colors such as black, blue or red. While bold colors can be worn to formal daytime events, brighter colors are typical for such occasions.

2. Pick a shorter dress for cocktail attire. The standard cocktail dress is black, but other colors are favored during daytime hours. Floral dresses can be worn to outdoor events in the spring and summer.

3. Dress in business attire if the dress code calls for it. Business attire includes dressy suits, skirts and tailored dresses. Business attire shouldn't be revealing or suggestive.

4. Keep to informal dresses, skirts, blouses and slacks if the dress code is casual dressy.

5. Wear your favorite, casual clothing to laid-back wine and cheese parties. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops are all fair game.

Choose Masculine Clothing for a Wine and Cheese Party

6. Purchase or rent a tuxedo for a formal, dressy or black-tie wine and cheese party. Daytime parties sometimes call for white tie tuxedos.

7. Dress in a dark suit and tie for evening cocktail parties. Lighter suits are appropriate for daytime parties. If the weather is very warm, an elegant, button-down shirt and slacks may replace a tie and blazer.

8. Wear a suit to parties that require business attire. Darker colors are most appropriate for business attire, even during the day. If the dress code is business-casual, a jacket and tie isn't necessary; a dressy, polo shirt may fit the bill for business-casual events.

9. Put on a pair of slacks and a button-down shirt for casual, dressy events. Add a sport jacket if the weather calls for it.

10. Don your favorite sneakers, jeans and t-shirt if the dress code is casual.

Tips & Warnings

• If no dress code is indicated, dress in casual, dressy attire. Casual dressy strikes a nice balance between jeans and formal wear.
• Dressy separates, such as a classy top and skirt, are acceptable as formal wear.
• Renting a tuxedo is an inexpensive alternative to purchasing your own. It may be a better choice if you don't frequent black-tie events.