Cocktail Party Attire For Men & Women

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

We are invited to a cocktail party. How fancy do I need to dress? For some reason I think I'm supposed to wear black. Does my boyfriend need to wear a tux?

Signed,

Don't Know What To Wear

Dear Don't Know What To Wear,

Your boyfriend should wear a suit and tie. You can wear an elegant-looking dress in any color, but no formal gowns. The skirt length can be anything that you are comfortable wearing. Perhaps you are thinking of black because the popular "little black dress" goes well with any party, except white tie.