Dress Code – Black Tie Optional

This weekend I attended a Gala Night for one of the local non profits – their invitation card stated: Black-Tie Optional.

Had it not been for my genuine interest in meeting other kind hearted people championing a cause, me being the practical dresser would have preferred skipping the whole event so I would not have to dress up.

This whole Gala thing spawned my quest to understand more about dress codes. There is certain dress code for business, for attending religious events, playing sports and dinner parties.

I believe it is natural “animal” instinct to size people upon initial contact; the way we dress and groom ourselves makes that first impression before we even open our mouths. (You can get some good tips for business professional dress code Click Here)

Dress-codes allows an employer to set standards and a party hostess to create uniformity.

Quick reference to dress codes for social events.

Black Tie (or Formal)
A Black Tie invitation calls for formal attire. Men wear tuxedos, women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.

White Tie
A White Tie or Ultra-formal invitation requires men wear full dress, with white tie, vest, shirt. Women wear long gowns.

Black Tie Optional
A Black Tie Optional or Black Tie Invited gives you the option of wearing a tuxedo or formal dress, but it should clue you into the formality of the event, meaning a dark suit and tie would be your other option. Women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.

Creative Black Tie
Creative Black Tie leaves room for trendy interpretations of formal wear. He can go more modern with a tux — maybe a black shirt, no tie. She wears long or short dresses or evening separates.

Sometimes, themed parties call for dress codes like Texas Black Tie or other variations of Creative Black Tie. In that situation, you can have more fun with it, choosing a dressy look with a theme (for him, it could be a tux with boots and for her it could be a long dress paired with Southwestern style silver belt and jewelry).

Semi-Formal
Semi-Formal or After Five means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.

Business Formal is the same as Semi-Formal for him, but for women it suggests that women opt for more tailored dressy suits and dresses (nothing too slinky or sexy).

Cocktail Attire
Cocktail Attire means short, elegant dresses for her and dark suits for him.

Informal
Informal is often interpreted as the same as Casual but it actually calls for the same dress as Semi-Formal — dark suits for him, short dresses for her — especially when associated with a wedding or special event.

Festive Attire
Festive Attire is usually seen around the holidays, with the mood of the party being Informal or Semi-Formal. For her, it means to choose looks with a bit of sparkle or holiday bent (i.e. a beaded sweater with black pants, a red silk blouse with a black skirt).

Casual
Dressy Casual calls for dressed-up versions of casual looks. For him, it could be trousers and a sportcoat, for her a dressy pants look. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts and other casual looks are not appropriate for Dressy Casual.

Casual generally means anything goes.

Fortunately I learned a long time ago that a girl should have two little black dresses in her closet – a little short black dress and the long black dress. Guys have it a little harder because Black-Tie Optional really means that you don’t have to wear a Tuxedo… but a suit is recommended.

Darn, what to do with my hair!

Daisy Says: You are your own art work-take pride.