Today, hosts are more creative (and more demanding) when it comes to party attire. They want their party to be a hit, and you want to stand out in the crowd. But what does 8216;elegant casual8217;, 8216;festive black-tie optional8217; and 8216;come as you are8217; even smart casual wear for chubby ladies mean? Ironically, a cocktail party does not necessarily call for Cocktail Attire. While the ladies may have an easy out for a cocktail party look, taking advantage of the appropriately-named cocktail dress, it is not as clear for men what attire they should wear to a cocktail party. You will need to judge the nature of the event before you decide what to wear. The vintage-inspired A-line cocktail dress is a style that flatters many different body types. It looks great on curvier shapes as well as thinner women who want to add some curves to their figure.