VintageGent’s Menswear Daily

Deciphering Dress Code

Party and function invites abound this time of year.  What does the dress code actually mean?  With the casualization of things these days, if you follow these rules, you will never be over or under dressed.  This is generally the rule of thumb for those secret codes.  Some people interpret each one slightly differently, but following these guidelines you won’t be embarrassingly underdressed.

White Tie: Men wear white tuxedo jackets.  Vests are also traditionally expected. Tails and gloves are not required but very acceptable.  For the lady, floor length gowns are the norm.  Think Cinderella’s Ball or Fred and Ginger.

Black Tie: Tuxedos for men, formal gowns, cocktail dresses, or formal seperates for women.

Black Tie Optional: Tuxedos or dark suits for men.  Women can wear cocktail dresses, suits, or gowns.

Semi-Formal:  This used to be classified as “After Five.”  Suits for him with matching pieces, cocktail dress or suit for her.  Also called Informal.

Business Formal: Same as Semi-Formal, but the difference for women, is that her clothing should be more conservative or tailored rather than revealing.

Creative Black Tie: Dressy, but without the etiquette restrictions of black tie.  For example, colored tuxedos/tuxedo jackets would be apropriate here, as well as forgoing the tie.   Hats acceptable.  Use your imagination.  Anything Bjork has ever worn to an awards show falls under this category…I guess.

Dressy Casual:  Sport coat and slacks for him, or dress pants and dress shirt.  For her, dressy pants or a skirt.  No jeans, cut offs, sweats. or Tshirts.

Casual: Anything goes.  Jeans, shorts, etc.

Oh, yeah, and a friend I had in the 90s (female) put “Sexy Jeans” as the dress attire on her invites.  I asked what the heck that was.  She said jeans and heels and form fitting or lacey tops for the gals.  And get the hair done.  Men should wear dark jeans and dark colored dress shirts or satin shirts.   Well, everyone pretty much looked like they dressed normally everyday except the women wore full makeup instead of looking like they just ran out of the house to get the mail. The guys just had no holes in their jeans and tucked their shirts in.   I guess either no one “got” her concept or her concept was something in her own mind that didn’t translate well.  She should have just said “Clubwear” but with jeans and don’t wear anything you wouldn’t want to be seen in by the neighbor’s eight year old kid.