How to Dress for Black Tie and Other Formal Events
Not all black tie events are alike. You must read your invitation carefully to understand what your host/hostess expects of you, find acceptable, and, more importantly, what they may take as a personal affront.
Though many of these rules may seem archaic, your host/hostess obviously follows them or would not have indicated how to dress on their invitation. Etiquette never goes out of fashion, and respecting your host/hostess’s wishes is the first rule. Take the advice of the foremost authorities on the subject, including industry professionals and etiquette mavens.
Jump Ahead
- Dressing for Black Tie Events
- Dressing for White Tie Events
- Dressing for Black Tie Preferred Events
- Dressing for Black Tie Optional/Invited Events
- Dressing for Creative Black Tie Events
- Resources
Dressing for Black Tie Events
According to the Emily Post Institute, black tie attire is the most common formal dress code for weddings, formal dinners, and proms. You are expected to wear a black tuxedo jacket and matching pants, a formal white shirt, shirt studs and cufflinks, black bow tie, black cummerbund or vest, black patent shoes, and black socks. White tuxedo jackets are appropriate for summer events, especially if held outdoors. [1]
Women are expected to wear floor-length gowns, though a bit more latitude is given as very dressy cocktail dresses are generally acceptable. [2]
Dressisng for White Tie Events
A white-tie event is the most formal of events, even more so than a black-tie event. Generation Tux dresses clients for special events, including the white-tie event, and shares the following advice. At white tie events, you are expected to wear an evening tailcoat or a dress coat with peaked lapels, full-dress trousers, full-dress white shirt, full-dress white bow tie, waistcoat, patent leather shoes or Oxfords, and full-dress jewelry, which includes shirt and waistcoat studs and cufflinks. Optional accessories include gloves, a pocket watch, a boutonniere, and a top hat. [3]
Women are expected to wear a floor-length evening gown, clutch bag, formal accessories, and patent leather shoes or metallic heels. And according to Generation Tux, elbow-length gloves are optional but “highly stylish.” [4]
Dressing for Black Tie Preferred Events
With a black tie preferred invitation, the hostess indicates that though she won’t be so bold as to force your hand, she will likely not be pleased if you do not wear black tie attire.
Dressing for Black Tie Optional/Invited Events
With the black tie optional invitation, the host/hostess indicates that they will undoubtedly be wearing black tie ensembles; you don’t have to if you don’t want to, but still, they’re mentioning it for a reason.
Brides.com advises that black tie events may be “slightly” less formal and allow for a “little” more flexibility. Tuxedos are preferred, but if you opt not to wear a black tie ensemble, you should at least select a formal suit and tie. [5]
For women, floor-length gowns are still encouraged, but cocktail dresses are acceptable. [6]
Dressing for Creative Black Tie Events
Specifying creative black tie may be the host/hostess’s way of letting you know that they are trendy and less formal than their stuffy acquaintances. Whatever the purpose or motive, they are giving permission to waive a bit of the formality that encompasses a black-tie event. But be wary. The fact that they have specified a black tie ensemble indicates that they still expect all guests to adhere to proper decorum.
The event still calls for a tuxedo but allows for the addition of trendy items. These should be relegated to accessories such as bowties, cummerbunds, or vests. A dress shirt other than white may also be acceptable.
Women should dress formally but should add creative touches to their accessories.
If you are looking for creative ideas for your next formal event, GQ has plenty of inspirational ideas from their “creative black tie” dress code they requested for the inaugural GQ Global Creativity Awards. [7] You can check out ideas and photos through the above link.
Resources
- [1][2] Emily Post Institute – “Black Tie Dress Code.“
- [3][4] Generation Tux – “The Complete Guide to a White Tie Event.“
- [5][6] Brides.com – “A Guide to Black-Tie Optional Wedding Attire for Guests.“
- [7] GQ.com – “How to Do Creative Black Tie: 15 Standout Looks From GQ’s First-Annual Global Creativity Awards.”
