What is a Cocktail Party?
I’m guessing you wouldn’t have clicked on this article if you didn’t have some idea of what a cocktail party is. But you guessed it, a cocktail party is a gathering where alcoholic beverages are served.
If your goal is to find a party where you can have a few drinks for business or networking purposes, you would be looking for a “mixer”. A mixer is my kind of cocktail party. Who wouldn’t want to network with a few local businesses? The best part about a “mixer” is that there will always be someone getting a little tipsy at this “professional” event and will make a fool of himself/herself. Don’t let that person be you. 😉
So, What are you wearing?
The good news about cocktail parties is the invitation (verbal or handwritten) will tell you what the dress code is. If you’re like me, this would be the beginning of heading into “panic mode” of trying to figure out exactly what “casual” or “business wear” is.
Cocktail parties are NOT the time to stick out, especially if the one you are going to is meant to impress some clients, or business prospects, or meet new people.
If someone remembers what you wore to a cocktail party, let it be because you looked “too perfect” or “undyingly sexy”.
Before we start talking about what cologne you should be rocking on this evening out, I think we should first figure out, what the heck you should be wearing. Johnny Mannah wrote an incredible article over at The TrendSpotter to solve the problem of what you need to wear.
But for those that want a quick guide…..
Wear a suit/blazer top.
In almost every situation, make sure to wear a tie unless it’s specified you don’t need to. The guys you are going with will most likely be a good indicator of whether or not wearing a tie is acceptable. So if you’re absolutely clueless, try asking another dude what they are wearing.
If you ask your boys if it’s “casual”, I would say ditch the tie, but keep it close just in case. Some guys have different definitions of the word casual so keeping one handy might be a good idea.
Make sure you are wearing a shirt that matches your jacket. Don’t be that guy that looks utterly ridiculous unless you really want to…
Down Below…
Don’t forget your belt! Keep those pants up! If there is going to be a situation where you need to take your jacket off, people are going to notice if you’re not wearing a belt so make sure you’re looking good underneath.
Don’t be afraid to wear some crazy looking socks. Hardly anyone ever notices them unless they are obnoxious like the dudes in the picture. If you’re looking to feel a little edgy, there is nothing like sneaking some colorful socks in underneath. That way, if you need that special article of clothing to satisfy your creative side, let it be your socks.
Lastly, make sure you’re wearing some dress shoes. You don’t need to show off and wear the shiniest thing anyone has ever seen, but make sure your shoes are cleaned up enough that people don’t notice. Cocktail parties are events where you need to look good and having your dress shoes look like a natural disaster, is not a good way to start.
Top 6 Colognes To Make Your Cocktail Attire Dynamite
The completion to dressing up and looking like a champion is wearing fragrance to help you smell like an absolute boss. If you nailed the part of looking good, then smelling good is going to send you over the edge and make men envy the “aura’ you’ve created and it’s going to make women throw themselves at you.
Choosing the right cologne to match your attire is so important, that if you choose wrong, you will loose the credibility you’re trying to create and you can kiss your night goodbye kind of like the guy featured below.
When deciding which cologne you are going to wear on your evening out, you need to make a major decision…
Would you rather smell clean and refreshed or a little extra spicy and sophisticated?
If you wish to smell like you just emerged from the shower, walking through a waterfall, or walking on the beach, then choose one of these 3 colognes.
If you would rather smell confident, sophisticated, and a little more unique, check out the next colognes a little further down the page.
Either way, these 6 fragrances are perfect for you to wear at a cocktail party so don’t get too caught up with analysis paralysis. Just pick one already!
Top 3 Colognes to Leave You Smelling Fresh and Clean For Your Cocktail Party!
These colognes are of the fresh, citrusy cologne class that many of the mainstream colognes smell like. These types of fragrances are non-offensive, which means they can be worn next to anyone without worrying that someone is going to smell you and complain about it.
Each of these fine colognes are outstanding choices and have countless success stories for evenings out and making you smell like a million bucks!
Cool Water by Davidoff (1988)
Cool Water by Davidoff (click here for full review) is an incredible scent if you want to smell fresh, classy, and clean.
What makes Cool Water a classy scent is because it’s old! If you’re at a cocktail party, chances are you ware going to be surrounded by men of all ages. For a few of the older guys, Cool Water was the cat’s meow. In the late 1980s and early 90s, this was the fragrance that every guy either wore or knew someone that did.
If you’re looking for a fragrance that is a little bit old school and a conversational starter with some of the older guys (Hey have you ever heard of Cool Water the cologne), this is something worth checking out.
Chrome by Azzaro (1996)
Chrome is another fragrance that is perfect for cocktail parties. It has a light and sophisticated scent that is perfect for you if you’re trying to fly under the radar.
As you’re starting to have a few drinks and are feeling a little buzzed up, you’re going to want to continue to smell clean and sophisticated. That is where Chrome (full review here) really starts to dominate. It has a clean and refreshing smell that is built to last. If your party looks to continue to an “after party” you’ll want Chrome by your side so you can smell incredible through the night.
Don’t get tempted to overspray Chrome. Although it is a lighter scent, it does have a metallic note dancing in the background which gives it a “manly” scent. If you spray too much, you’re going to smell disgusting. Don’t spray more than 2-3 sprays.
Versace Man Eau Fraiche by Versace (2006)
Versace Man is an EDF but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a weak fragrance. When sniffing a Versace fragrance, you can always tell it was made with the finest ingredients which helps with the longevity of the scent.
What you’ll notice about Versace Man (full review here) is that it emits a smell of sophistication that will rock people’s socks off at your cocktail party. If you’re dressed correctly, Versace man will complement what you’re wearing with style. It adds an aura to what you’re wearing that is clean, refreshing, and a tad of sweetness.
If I’m going to a cocktail party and I want to smell clean, this is the fragrance I’m choosing.
Top 3 Colognes To Make You Feel and Smell Confident, Sophisticated, a “Man’s Man” and a Little More Unique!
Legend by Montblanc (2011)
The legend continues with a masterpiece by Montblanc (full review here). Legend is another great choice to wear at a cocktail party. Women are going to jump all over you because of the manly aroma it brings to the table which makes it one of the top cocktail attire for men.
Montblanc currently has an 8.1 overall rating and is one of the top 10 best men’s colognes as of right now.
You should give Legend a shot if you are over the age of 30 and you’re looking for a fragrance to impress the lady guests at your party.
If you’ve ever smelled Abercrombie’s Fierce cologne, it smells similar but is a tad bit more manly in my opinion.
Armani Code by Giorgio Armani (2004)
Armani Code is another can’t miss fragrance for you to wear during your cocktail party. If Giorgio Armani had a theme song to their fragrances, it would have to be something like “All I do is Win” by DJ Khaled.
It seems like every top list will have an Armani fragrance on there somewhere and if you’re searching for the best cocktail attire for men, there is no exception here. Armani Code (full review here) defines sophistication. It is currently in my rotation because I enjoy the dry down of this scent. The leathery and tobacco combination makes you smell like a man that is on a mission. An excellent choice for your party.
1. La Nuit de l`Homme by Yves Saint Laurent (2009)
Last but not least we have La Nuit by Yves Saint Laurent. If I had to go into my fragrance cabinet and pick out a scent to wear for your cocktail party, this is the one I would choose hands down.
What makes La Nuit amazing is that nobody wears it. You don’t have to worry about walking up to a group of people and smelling like them. It’s one of the best kept secrets of the fragrance world since I hardly see it on any top selling or popularity pages, but yet it has some of the highest reviews out of any fragrance I’ve ever seen.
Secondly, the longevity of this fragrance is also pretty amazing. You don’t have to worry about starting to smell after a few hours because this fragrance has the skills to pay the bills all night long.
Lastly, did I say almost everyone that tries this fragrance loves it?! Yes, it is true… Check out what fragrantica and basenotes are saying about it. You would think it was the best fragrance in the world after looking at those pages. This is the one to take a shot at. We don’t have a full review at CologneMasters yet, but hopefully soon.
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