At cocktail hour in 2014, a lady can always pass muster by wearing a little black dress. The gentlemanly equivalent of the LBD is a jacket, a necktie, and a nice pair of trousers.

Smart casual is a craft beer or a glass of Pinot Gris, but we’ll get to that. “Cocktail is more open when it comes to the styles you can wear,” says Rebecca Vallance.

Smart casual: This can also be ... Depending on the time of year, a “garden attire” gathering could mean light-colored linen and summer dresses. Cocktail attire: Sometimes called “cocktail ...