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Whatever your reason for themed dress codes, your guests will appreciate a chance to amplify the occasion and spark joy with their outfits. Let’s break down what exactly wedding dress codes mean and how they can work to elevate your special day. There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to wear a dress that is not floor-length. First, make sure that it is formal enough for a black tie wedding.
However, unlike a casual or cocktail dress code, a black tie optional wedding leaves the door open for ultra-fancy wear. You can come dressed to the nines and no one would blame you for it. Tuxedos and ball gowns are widely accepted as proper black tie optional attire, but you can dress down from that as well if you prefer and still fit the dress code.
Black Tie Optional Men
A black tie wedding is a formal event that requires you to be careful with the type of accessories you choose. You should use a few elegant accessories such as a watch, pocket square, cufflinks, etc. The Crescent dress shirt comes with two-button adjustable rounded cuffs that add some class to your outfit. What should you do if you're invited to a black tie wedding—but don't have a tuxedo?
If you’re not looking to buy something new, then I’d say that DB number sounds like a good option. I’m not a fan of notch lapels , as too informal for my tastes at a wedding and the peak lapels are more flattering for 99% of men. The more more the more muted you should be i.e. closer to black tie. If you don’t have anything in your wardrobe that’s appropriate, we can recommend a number of excellent suit brands. Should time be on your side and you’re planning ahead, we’re very fond of the custom suitmakers Black Lapel and Indochino.
FAQs About Black Tie Dress Code
Most of these weddings take place in the evening after 6 p.m., so anything you'd wear for a daytime event likely won't work in this situation. Anything overly-casual – Sneakers, t-shirts, sundresses, and anything else that you might think to wear on a normal day, don’t. Showing up in something too casual can not only be a faux-pas but overtly offensive to the wedding organizers who spent time and effort making this a formal event. In terms of footwear, as long as they look fancy, you should be good to go.
You’ll be the best judge on how formal to go for a “Black Tie Optional” event. I would just make sure there is enough contrast between the blazer and the trousers (color and / or material) to make is 100% obvious they are not form the same suit. Also being different shall add more of a visual interest. With these services, you can submit your measurements online and the suits are made for you. However, the process takes a number of weeks so it requires foresight.
Alexander McQueen Women's Bow Drape Bustier Dress in Silver
The idea of jumpsuits for black tie optional weddings remains a touchy subject. But we advise that you wear them depending on the wedding style, even though you should look too laid back. Avoid patterns and brightly colored fabrics or flowy silhouettes and opt for elevated and custom-tailored looks. Much of this comes down to confidence and with your suggested fit, it sounds like you’re very confident in your sense of style. How about British Tan shoes with a Navy suit to a black tie optional event? If you opt to wear a suit to a black tie-optional event, that’s totally fine.
If you’re not sure, check with other guests if you know some and see how they’re dressing. Traditionally, a dark suit with a white or blue shirt, a dark, simple tie or bow tie, dark socks, and dark leather shoes. The idea of this outfit is to approximate the formality of a tuxedo without actually being a tuxedo. In order to provide a suitable amount of contrast with a dark suit you’ll be wearing, your shirt should ideally be a white dress shirt for a Black-Tie Optional event. Men are expected to wear dark colors to a black tie optional event.
If you are wearing a suit, the tie should generally match the color of your suit jacket. For a more casual look, a solid-colored or patterned tie can be worn with a dress shirt. If you are unsure about what to wear, it is always best to err on the side of caution and dress more formally than you think is necessary. When a man chooses to wear a tuxedo to an event, he is permitted to do so as a black tie optional. Although the term is more tailored to men than to you, you can still wear the same type of dress as men.
You can choose from juicy raspberry or vibrant lemon—both hues are a fun and playful twist on traditional black tie attire. This bold satin jacquard gown is a great choice for an outdoor black tie wedding in the spring or summer. The cascading ruffles of this short-sleeve dress will create beautiful movement as you make your way through the ceremony and reception. A wedding dress code is often listed on invites as a way to explain the overall style of their wedding.
