cocktailwear

English

Etymology

From cocktail +‎ -wear.

Noun

cocktailwear (uncountable)

1. Clothing to be worn on semi-formal occasions or at cocktail parties, usually in the late afternoon.
   • 1964 July 13, International Commerce, volume 70, number 28, Bureau of International Commerce, page 53:

     […] medium-priced fabrics for women’s cocktailwear.

   • 1986, Georgina O’Hara, The Encyclopedia of Fashion, New York, N.Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., →ISBN, page 233:

     Stavropoulos’s designs for daywear, cocktailwear, and eveningwear tend to be conservative, but his imaginative use of chiffon and his clever blending ensure his popularity.

   • 1997, Richard Martin, editor, The St. James Fashion Encyclopedia: A Survey of Style from 1945 to the Present, Visible Ink Press, →ISBN, page 365:

     He also likes to design versatile mix-and-match outfits that can unite to create ensembles ranging from glamorous cocktailwear to daywear.

   • 1997, Time Out Guide: Miami: Orlando & South Florida, Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 136:

     Tropical cocktailwear and smart clothing for the modern woman with the perfect figure.

   • 2002, “ModelSearch 2001”, in LadyLike, number 48, CDS, →ISSN, page 26:

     The shows open with cocktailwear (not judged) that is choreographed to make the girls loosen up a bit and test their catwalk skills with other models in a runway scenario.

   • 2007, Patricia Davidson, The Shopaholic’s Guide to Buying Online, Capstone, →ISBN, page 390:

     On their stylish website you can look at their elegantly photographed online catalogues plus their cocktailwear, and find out where your nearest stockist is wherever you are in the world.

See also

• cocktail dress
• cocktail hat