To help you better understand what cocktail attire actually is, we've rounded up a list of dos and don'ts for any formal ...

“Appropriate formal wedding attire for women often includes floor-length gowns, cocktail dresses, or dressy separates and a small purse,” says Amanda Jane Valentine of AJ Valentine Consulting.

Save your floor-length gowns for ... but for weddings or formal events, stick to mid-thigh and longer hemlines. Disclaimer: just because the dress code says "cocktail," that doesn't mean you ...