Works Christmas party in a couple of weeks. What exactly does “smart/cocktail” dress entail for your average nearly-40-year-old man?
And how does it differ from my daily work attire of smart trousers (black usually) and a shirt (usually of the blue & white checked variety)?

Obvs.
Probably moving to dj territory.

Suit & Tie would be my guess, certainly no trainers or jeans but not Black tie compulsory.
(or better still ask whoever sent the invite what they meant)

I’d normally expect that to mean a suit – a normal suit, not a DJ.

Hmmm. Last time I bought a suit was over 10 years ago. Styles have definitely changed and I don’t particularly like wearing them. Off to Greenwoods/Mos Bros then….

But what if you wanted to go as sex on the beach? 😯

suit for the men with tie but not either white or black tie – short dress for the ladies

Smart = blokes, cocktail (dress) = ladies, no?

If you both look like this and wear this, give me a call.. I’ll happily escort you for the evening.

You could look at it that way, Cougar, it makes no real difference, as smart for blokes is a suit.

Go retro – go Party Boy.

Go all Mad Men and style it out.

You could look at it that way, Cougar, it makes no real difference, as smart for blokes is a suit.

TBH I hate dress codes anyway. WGAF what someone else is wearing, go black tie or go jeans and a tee-shirt, whatever you’re comfortable in. The world won’t end, life’s too short to fret about whether you should fasten your top button or not.