What To Wear To A Black-Tie Wedding

Table of Content

• Best Outdoor Clothing Brands For Quality And Style
• Black Tie Shoes
• Smoking Jackets
• The Ideal Accessories for Black Tie or Black-Tie Optional Outfits
• Dress Code Guide: What Does Black Tie Optional Mean?

As the decades went on, the black tie dress code expanded to include fabric color choices like midnight navy and charcoal grey. Although a dress is customary with black tie events, a pair of suit pants and a dressy top would be fine, if paired with sophisticated accessories. But make sure that your outfit doesn’t look too casual because after all the black tie dress code still represents a formal event and you don’t want to be the odd one out at the party. At its most basic level, Black-Tie Optional is an evening dress code that extends to you the option to wear Black Tie.

Smoking jackets take the same button stances and facings as standard tuxedo jackets, but are made with velvet as opposed to barathea wool. They’re paired with standard formal trousers and are often worn with velvet slippers, which are sometimes monogrammed with the wearer’s initials or family crest. Traditionally worn to dinners at the homes of elite members of society, the smoking jacket is where the black tie ensemble values comfort just as much as nattiness.

Best Outdoor Clothing Brands For Quality And Style

The Duchess of Cambridge is a major influencer in the world of fashion, and understandably black tie attire for women is something she has plenty of opportunity to wear. If you’ve ever asked yourself, ‘what should a woman wear to a black tie event? Channel Kate Middleton’s confidence and grace and you’ll never get a black tie event dress code wrong.

However, many style authorities argue that the wing collar should remain the domain of white tie for aesthetic reasons. Etiquette maven Miss Manners is one of those who feel that while the bow tie's uncovered band is fine in a white-on-white scheme, "gentlemen with their black ties exposed all-around their necks look silly". After World War I, the dinner jacket became established as a semi-formal evening wear, while the evening tailcoat was limited to the most formal or ceremonial occasions.

Black Tie Shoes

A curveball is when the invite says ‘black tie optional’ under the dress code category. This means floor-length, and cocktail dresses are welcome, but we’d recommend leaving the extravagant gown at home. This label is British designer Oliver Spencer’s bit on the side. Specialising in small runs of upmarket occasion dress, the brief Spencer seems to have given himself is formalwear, but not boring formalwear. You’ll find exquisite dinner jackets in the traditional midnight blue and black, but also in a range of other colours and patterns. The suit should be vent-free and in black wool or, better still, midnight blue with satin facing on the lapels and with braid stripes down the trouser seams.

Although there are many color options, dark rich colors are preferred. Finish off your look with a pair of dashing black patent Oxfords; the sleeker, the better. You can even opt for a velvet slipper should you be wishing to add a contemporary touch to your look. Finally, please don’t rent, it’ll cost you a sizeable chunk of buying a one, especially if you go for Suitsupply , and it won’t fit. Wear an outfit you can be proud of, one that does your event the justice it deserves.

Smoking Jackets

A creative black tie is best described as attire with a black-tie foundation with room for some creativity and flair. It maintains black tie formality but allows for the use of textures, colors, and accessories to personalize your look. It's important to treat black tie events with a certain amount of formality, consideration, and respect.

While this dress code does sound intimidating at first but once you know what to do you will find that it is a very allegiant and classy dressing code that can make any event look just a bit more fancy. Go for something flirty, fierce and fabulous; the sky is your limit when it comes to cocktail. Bold prints, colours and sleek cuts are encouraged, as well as trendy accessories. Try a chic long skirt and crop combo, or give a knee-length bandage dress a whirl.

Get inspiration for your daily outfits with the latest fashion lookbooks. Black-tie events are not restricted to the UK or US; as the world continues to grow into a global village, there will be similarities in trends and traditions. Fashion is one of those trends that has consistently infiltrated several cultures and people. Sportcoats – Sportcoats fail miserably to exude the right level of sophistication for the black-tie event. The Smart Casual dress code is probably the one dress code that causes the most confusion.

Cocktail dresses were created for early-evening social gatherings. They are usually fit and structured and end at the knees, but that’s not always the case. You can find them in a variety of colors and patterns, but for a formal event, it’s best to stick to black or rich, bold colors. It can be accessorized with a handbag, jewelry, and minimal, sophisticated makeup.

Every Wedding Guest Dress Code, Explained

Table of Content

• Black Tie Optional: A Definition
• The Cocktail Event Dress Code or Semi-Formal Dress Code
• Do you have to wear a hat or fascinator?
• Don’t Let the Black-Tie Optional Dress Code Intimidate You!
• Black Tie Optional Ideas for Women

In this most formal of dress codes, there is – or was – little place or purpose for creativity. There is a little more freedom in what to wear to black tie event if it’s a dance or gala, and this is where you can have more fun with black tie attire for women. A black tie event dress at a gala occasion can be more decorative whilst still meeting acceptable black tie attire standards. Don’t go overboard and descend into full costume wear here, of course, and remember that a little bit goes a long way. A traditional tuxedo shirt, with features like a wing collar, pleats, or bib front, should not be worn as part of the Black-Tie Optional dress code unless worn with a full tuxedo.

Make sure to get your tux tailored, including the trousers, so the length and fit are just right. A slim cut strikes the perfect balance between modern and classic. While floor-length silhouettes are most common, a short-but-fancy cocktail dress will often work for a black-tie event. You might even be able to put together a black-tie look using formal separates, like a long skirt with a nice blouse. However, this is difficult to do without looking overly casual, so it’s best avoided.

Black Tie Optional: A Definition

And also like velvet, it’s an acceptable way to stick your neck out sartorially. Whichever bow tie you opt for, ensure that it’s proportionate in size to your jacket lapels, shirt collar and head. It is important to follow the templates set by the black-tie dress code, whether you’re in the US, UK, or anywhere else you find yourself. So, now when you get invited to a black-tie event, you do not have to scratch your head wondering what it would entail. Hopefully, you get inspired to add your unique twist to it with this article.

If you’re not wearing a black suit then, charcoal and deep navy are also excellent choices. Therefore, if you wish to dress in a traditional Black-Tie outfit for a Black-Tie Optional event, you are perfectly welcome to do so. In fact, if someone owns one or perhaps more standard Black-Tie ensembles, he should look at Black-Tie Optional events as an excellent opportunity to wear them and to dress to that high standard.

The Cocktail Event Dress Code or Semi-Formal Dress Code

You could even wear sneakers here, as long as they’re minimalist and chic, not your Adidas jogging kicks. Casual is very open to interpretation so if you have any burning questions, perhaps it’s best to check with the hosts or the planner to see what they’re expecting. Emily Post, a resident of Tuxedo Park, New York, stated in 1909 that " can have lapels or be shawl-shaped, in either case they are to have facings of silk, satin or grosgrain".

Since there is a strict code for the Black-tie events, which entails what you are meant to wear to these events, is it enough to just know what to wear? It leaves too much room for assumptions and probably a freehand to experiment. The problem with this is, you will lose the uniformity of color, style, and sophistication.

Do you have to wear a hat or fascinator?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what the best tie dress code is for a given situation. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you choose the right tie for the occasion. 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.

At the DCR, we believe firmly that dress codes are not meant to constrain, control or judge an event’s guests. Having a common dress code just assures that everyone understands the level of formality of an event and can get together with a mutual understanding of the event’s importance. That being said, even if you find yourself unable to get into a tux or a formal gown, when you dress the best you can reasonable people should understand and appreciate the effort you’ve made. Wearing a black tie to a business or social event is more formal than attending a regular business function or social gathering, which usually requires a semi-formal dress code.

Don’t Let the Black-Tie Optional Dress Code Intimidate You!

A flowing, floral print or an embroidered mini will turn heads at a daytime event. A dress shirt is traditionally pleated, with either a turndown collar, which has become the norm in contemporary tailoring or a wing collar . Finally, regardless of your choice – a classic style black-tie outfit or a more modern and relaxed one – just remember to have fun. Cummerbunds are not a black-tie dress code staple, but it does show you respect the dress code and have done your research. Timothée Chalamet wearing an unorthodox ‘Air Tie’ style at a black-tie eventBow tie color deviations are accepted as well. As long as the trousers are dark, fitted, match the jacket’s cut, and don’t end up legless during the event, you’ll be fine.

The elevated formality of black-tie weddings is perfectly complemented by extravagant textures. Rich velvets, shimmery sequins, and embossed materials have always been appropriate for luxury. There were many variations on these stunning looks, ranging from long black dresses to stunning champagne slip dresses.