dresscodes
FORMALLY OR SOCIALLY IMPOSED STANDARDS OF DRESS
Some occasions are not an opportunity to express yourself. It’s an opportunity to show you can respect the form of the occasion.
A.K.A. SMART CASUAL
Business Casual
Seasonal sport coat or blazer with slacks or khakis.
Dress shirt, casual button-down shirt, open-collar or polo shirt.
Optional tie.
Loafers or loafer-style shoes, and socks.
BUSINESS ATTIRE
Business Formal
Dark business suit. The darker the suit, the more formal.
Matching vest (optional).
Dress shirt.
Conservative tie.
Leather dress shoes and dark dress socks.
SEMI-FORMAL WESTERN DRESS CODE FOR EVENING EVENTS
Black tie
Black tuxedo jacket and matching trousers.
Formal (piqué or pleated front) white shirt.
Shirt studs and cuff links.
Black silk bow tie.
Black cummerbund to match tie, or a vest.
Dressy braces to ensure a good fit (optional) No gloves
Black patent Oxford shoes and black (silk) dress socks.
In summer, in the tropics, or on a cruise: White dinner jacket, black tuxedo trousers plus other black tie wardrobe
ATTIRE WITH A BLACK-TIE FOUNDATION WITH ROOM FOR SOME CREATIVITY AND FLAIR
Creative Black Tie
Tuxedo combined with trendy or whimsical items, such as a black shirt or a matching colored or patterned bow tie and cummerbund
THE MOST FORMAL DRESS CODE
white tie
Black dress coat (tailcoat), matching trousers with a single stripe of satin or braid in the US; two stripes in Europe or the UK.
White piqué wing-collared shirt with stiff front.
Braces, to ensure a good fit.
Shirt studs and cuff links.
White vest.
White bow tie.
White or grey gloves.
Black patent shoes and black dress socks.
