My Tie.

part of this past weekends festivities included numerous dress codes. and all the confusion that ensued. i figured since even I (yea, i know) was a bit confused, i thought i'd do everyone a favor and clear up all the misunderstanding. and with it being wedding season and all...

here goes.

black tie.

black tie calls for formal attire. women in long dresses or formal cocktail dresses (beads and sequins appropriate here) and men in a tux.

formal.

women in long dresses or cocktail dresses, and men in a tux, BUT it can be sans tie. this is a trendier dress code.

white tie or ultra-formal.

women in long gowns and men in full dress (think white tie, vest, cummerbund, etc.)

black tie optional.

this gives men an option of wearing a tux, a dark suit is the minimum. women can wear long, but cocktail dresses are also fine.

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.

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. think LBD.


(image via Google Images and Info from about.com)