The appropriate men's attire for every occasion

All three of these essentially mean the same thing: You're going to be wearing a suit.

If you see "black-tie optional" on an invite, know that wearing a tuxedo is not required, but whoever sent the invitation will most likely be wearing one.

An appropriate outfit could include a navy suit with a formal dress shirt and a dark-colored necktie. Cocktail attire is the least formal of the three, while business formal gives you the least leeway here.

Business casual is today's standard office dress code, and it's a lot more freeform than any of the stuffier dress codes.

Jackets are optional but encouraged. Dress pants or chinos are required, as well as a collared shirt and leather shoes.

Jeans are becoming more and more tolerated with every year. If you're going to wear them with a business casual outfit, ensure they are well-fitting, without tears, and in a dark wash.

The words "dressy casual" on an invitation indicate that the party is not formal, but that the host is expecting a little something extra. Throw a blazer on.

If an invitation has no dress code, you can assume it's casual.

Good news! A casual dress code means you're free to explore and dress to your personal style.

It does not mean that you should just completely let your standards fall, however. You should show respect to the host by putting effort into your outfit while making sure you don't look out of place.

No three-piece suits, but no ripped-up jeans either.