Exactly What to Wear to a "Cocktail Formal" Wedding (Plus, How to Dress for EVERY Other Wedding!)

While we were chatting in the comments of this post yesterday, Save the Date reader Lauren_F mentioned that she once got a wedding invite that indicated guests' attire should be "cocktail formal." Her reaction: "Well, what the hell is that?! I know what formal is, I know what cocktail is, but I don't know what cocktail formal is, so I just showed up in jeans and a t-shirt."

Kidding! "Okay, I actually wore a dress."

I agree that "cocktail formal" is a little bizarre! I would take a simple chiffon cocktail dress and jazz it up with some sparkly accessories, like this. (I can't decide if I love or hate the belt. Thoughts?!) And I think I'd try to fashion my hair in some sort of updo. (I'd probably fail, but I'd try!)

Forget Me Knot With Straps from Ivy & Aster, $297. ASOS Bug Buckle Metal Waist Belt, $21.11. Faceted Triple Drop Earrings from New York & Co., $14.95. Lulu Townsend Pump from DSW, $49.95.

Regardless of the attire, if you're in your 20s it's hard to go wrong with a pretty chiffon dress in a muted color. The dress above would work for almost any wedding (except black or white tie) and it has a removable belt and removable straps, which make it extra-versatile.

Here are the rest of my "How to Dress for a Wedding" guidelines. I've shared these before, but they're worth repeating!

White tie is the most clear-cut—and the one you're least likely to see. This is the only time, as a woman, I'd feel obligated to wear a long dress. Guys wear tuxes with white shirts, ties, and vests.

For a black tie wedding, I'm okay with wearing a dressy cocktail dress and nice shoes. (Rory would wear his tux, which—trust me—is super-cute.) The old rules of etiquette said women should wear long dresses, but as long as you're in the friends-of-the-bride-and-groom group—as opposed to the friends-of-the-parents group—I think a respectable, not-too-short short dress is fine.