I’m preparing a reference chart that will hopefully simplify (perhaps even OVER-simplify) the levels of formal dress. When dressing for an event where a particular type of dress is requested, do keep in mind that while you want to dress appropriately, you will be even more uncomfortable if you find yourself OVER-dressed than “under.”
|
Event Type |
Men |
Ladies |
|
White Tie (Very Formal) |
Black tuxedo with tails, white shirt and vest, white tie–with exception of the Groom at a wedding, whose tuxedo tailcoat may be white.
|
Full-length evening dress/gown. For a wedding, avoid ivory/white. |
|
Black Tie (Formal) |
Black tuxedo without tails, white shirt, black vest or cummerbund, and black tie. |
Long dress or cocktail dress, or formal-style dressy separates; somewhat traditional in jewelry and accessories. For a wedding, avoid ivory/white.
|
|
Creative Black Tie (Formal) |
Black tuxedo, with open options for colors of tie, vest, cummerbund and shirt. |
Long dress or cocktail dress, or formal-style dressy separates, more leeway for trendier choices in jewelry and accessories. For a wedding, avoid ivory/white.
|
|
Black Tie Optional (or Black Tie Invited)
|
Black Tuxes, white shirt, vest, and black tie (same as Black Tie) OR a dark-colored suit with a light shirt, conservative tie.
|
Long dress or cocktail dress, or formal-style dressy separates, trendier choices in jewelry and accessories. For a wedding, avoid ivory/white. |
|
Semi-Formal (also called Informal, which might suggest casual–but it’s NOT) Example: Daytime wedding
|
Suit (does not have to be dark), shirt and tie. |
Short dress or dressy suit. For a wedding, avoid ivory/white. |
|
Semi Formal ( or “After Five”) (also called Informal, which suggests casual–but it’s NOT) Example: Wedding after 6 pm.
|
Dark suit, shirt and tie. |
Cocktail dress. For a wedding, avoid ivory/white. |
|
Cocktail Attire |
Suit or slacks and sportcoat, with tie. Or, on a warm day, a trendy shirt with slacks. |
Cocktail dress, “little black dress.” |
|
Business Formal |
Dark suit, shirt and tie. |
Less frilly, more businesslike, tailored but dressy dresses and suits, nothing clingy, short, or too revealing. |
|
Dressy Casual |
Sportcoat, slacks, no tie required, options for darker color, striped or patterned shirt. Jeans, t-shirts not appropriate.
|
Dressy pants outfit, may or may not have jacket. Summery dresses or modest sun dresses with jackets. Jeans, t-shirts not appropriate. |
|
Business Casual |
Colored, striped or patterned shirt; sweater; collared polo/ golf shirt; Docker’s-type chino pants. Only if you know it’s acceptable within this group, new-looking jeans may be okay. |
Blouse, sweater or top and coordinating pants; jackets and blazers in non-dressy fabrics. Only if you know it’s acceptable within this group, new-looking jeans may be okay. |
|
Casual |
Anything goes, but not casual enough to work on your car.
|
Anything goes, but not casual enough to work in the garden. |
These guidelines should be tempered by the dresswear trends in the area of the country in which you live (different regions tend to “dress” more than others); and also by the people involved–checking with someone close to the planning of the event to get a feel for what they expect to see is always a wise move.
