Women
- Headwear Tiara Where 'state decoration' is called for, married ladies wear a Tiara. - Neck Stole A shawl made out of an expensive fabric. - Gown Ball Gown A full-skirted gown long enough to reach at least the wearer's ankles. Normally with a decollete neckline. Ball Gowns come in two lengths: Ballerina which is to the ankles and Full Length which reaches to the floor. Appropriate materials include satin, silk, taffeta and velvet, with trimmings of lace, pearls, sequins, embroidery, ruffles and ruching. - Footwear Formal Shoes To suit your gown. Sandals To suit your gown. Ballet Slippers To suit your gown. - Coat Cape A short cloak which just covers the shoulders or extends to the waist. Typically black. Velvet, silk, or satin. Cloak A loose over garment which covers the wearer and their evening dress from shoulders to ankles, normally fastening at the neck. There are no arms. Wool, cashmere, velvet, satin, silk and fur are all common materials for evening cloaks. Good quality linings and trimmings. Opera Coat - Accessories Formal Gloves White or coordinated to gown. Opera length. Normally removed only during dining. Jewelry Couture or Vintage. Show off your best. Watches should be avoided unless jeweled and with a covered face to give the appearance of a bracelet. Evening Bag Clutch style. |
Men
- Headwear Top Hat. Black silk, either satin or grosgrain weave to match the lapels and bow tie. Fur, generally reserved for races, is too informal elsewhere. Collapsible, or crusher hats, are appropriate for the opera, but hard shells are preferred. The height of the crown should not exceed eight inches. Obviously it should be removed when indoors. - Neck Tie White cotton pique bow tie. Hand tied is most suitable. Scarf White silk. - Jacket Tailcoat Black. Also known as a Swallow Tail Coat. The standard - White Tie evening dress. A tail coat has a horizontal cutaway design, waist length at the front and sides and knee length at the back.Waist Coat Pique' Waistcoat White.Top. Formal Shirt. Single cuffed and winged. White. True traditionalists have detachable collar and cuffs. Bottom Formal Trousers Black. Two satin seams (braid) on the outside leg. No turn ups/cuffs. No belt loops (normally worn with braces or incorporate side adjusters).Ankles. Socks Black. Knee length. Silk (ribbed) - Footwear Formal Shoes Black. Lace up. No toe cap or decorative brogueing. Patent leather in the evening, non-patent leather during the day.Court Shoes / Opera Shoes / Formal Shoes Patent leather. Silk (ribbed) bow. - Coat Cloak A loose over garment which covers the wearer and their evening dress from shoulders to ankles, normally fastening at the neck. There are no arms. Wool, cashmere, velvet, satin, silk and fur are all common materials for evening cloaks. Good quality linings and trimmings.Opera Coat - Accessories Formal Gloves White. Optional.Cufflinks Preferably black or gold.Studs Preferably black or gold. Braces To support the trousers. Handkerchief White silk or linen. Boutonniere White. A flower for your jacket button hole. Cane Unusually.Buttonhole Flower |
|
|
Women
- Evening Gown A long flowing dress. Evening Gowns come in various lengths: Tea which is from mid calf to ankle, Ballerina which is to the ankle, and Full Length which is to the floor. Suitable materials include chiffon, velvet, satin, and silk.Cocktail Dress A short gown. Also known as a 'Dancing Costume' or a 'Cocktail Gown'. Ranging in length from just above the knee to about two inches above the ankle (Tea length), however the longer length is appropriate to semi-formal wear. Popular materials include silk, satin and chiffon. Less elaborate dresses are most appropriate for semi-formal wear.Dinner Suit Dressy. - Headwear Hats are not worn for Semi-Formal evening wear Top Camisole Lace. To complement a Ball Skirt. Sweater Cashmere. To complement a Ball Skirt. Dressy Top To complement a Ball Skirt.Bottom Ball Skirt Full long skirt as an alternative to a gown. A relatively recent innovation. - Footwear Formal Shoes To suit your gown or skirt.Sandals To suit your gown or skirt. - Coat Chesterfield Coat The ideal accompaniment to Semi-Formal wear.Luxury Coat If weather permits. Cape A short cloak which just covers the shoulders or extends to the waist. Typically black. Velvet, silk, or satin.CloakA loose over garment which covers the wearer and their evening dress from shoulders to ankles, normally fastening at the neck. There are no arms. Wool, cashmere, velvet, satin, silk and fur are all common materials for evening cloaks. Good quality linings and trimmings. - Accessories Jewelry As much as you feel is appropriate. Show off your best.Dress Code Variants Black Tie Optional? If the invitation requests 'Black Tie Optional', then this means exactly that. If you feel more comfortable in black tie or wish to convey your respect to your hosts or fellow guests, wear Black Tie. If you prefer not to dress so formally, a dark Lounge Suit will be sufficient. Ladies also get a free choice of evening wear. Anything from Evening Gown to Cocktail dress would be more than suitable. Dressy separates could also be considered. Obviously some guests will be wearing Black Tie, so all clothing should be of the highest quality.Creative Black Tie?If the invitation requests 'Creative Black Tie', or some other variation on the 'Black Tie' code, this generally means that, for him, more modern trousers and dinner jacket is acceptable. Maybe a black shirt, a long tie or some other local neckwear. The key thing is that the suit and dinner jacket should be black and dressy. For her, there's more creativity with her dress length, or even wear dressy evening separates. Obviously, follow any themes requested in the dress code, but remember this is still intended to be a classy event.Alternatives Scottish Dress A White Gown with a tartan sash. Alternatively a long kilted skirt with a jacket. The tarten of the lady or her companion can be used for the skirt or sash, or a 'district' tarten approved for general use can be used. Traditional Dress Traditional dress is always appropriate for semi-formal events. |
Men
- Evening Dress The semi-formal dress for evening events is classic Black Tie dress code (shown here). During the day the well dressed gentleman wears the Stroller dress code instead. - Headwear Homburg Hat While most modern people do not wear a hat with black tie, a black or midnight blue (to match jacket and coat) homburg hat was traditionally worn although this rule can be bent to allow a black or grey fedora to be worn. Obviously it should be removed when indoors.Bowler Hat Black. An optional accessory, useful in winter. Obviously it should be removed when indoors. - Neck Tie Black silk or satin bow tie. Hand tied is best.Scarf White silk. - Jacket Dinner Jacket Black. Midnight blue (with black trimming) is a recent innovation. White can be acceptable in tropical climates. Single or Double Breasted. Satin, silk (ribbed), or grosgrain lapels which can be peaked, shawl collar, or the popular notch collar (which is less traditional). Ideally no vents. White is sometimes worn with a black cummerbund in the summer. - Waist Coat Waist Coat Ideally black. Other colours can be acceptable. Low cut. Full satin back.Cummerbund Ideally black. Other colours can be acceptable. (Worn with the pleats upwards.) (Worn instead of a waistcoat.)Top Formal - Shirt White. Cotton, linen, or silk. Shirts designed to be worn with a bow tie have a spread collar (which diverges more than a standard collar so that the bottom of the bow tie sits between the peaks of the collar). This is the more modern look favoured by Hollywood and James Bond. Or alternatively a stiff winged collar adds formality. Double cuffed with long collar if worn with a long tie. Single cuffed and winged is the only option if worn with a cravat such as at weddings. If not worn with studs the shirt often has a flap of material over the buttons. Marcella, piqué or pleated front. True traditionalists have detachable collar and cuffs. - Bottom Formal Trousers Black. One satin, silk or ribbon seam on the outside leg to match jacket lapels. No turn ups/cuffs. No belt loops (normally worn with braces).Ankles - Socks Black. Knee length. Silk (ribbed) - Footwear Formal Shoes Black. Lace up. No toe cap or decorative brogueing. Patent leather in the evening, non-patent leather during the day.Court Shoes / Opera Shoes / Formal Shoes Patent leather. Silk (ribbed) bow. - Coat Chesterfield Coat The ideal accompaniment to Semi-Formal wear. - Accessories Cufflinks Preferably black or gold.Studs Preferably black or gold. Optional but recommended. Braces To support the trousers.Handkerchief White silk or linen. Coloured with a white Dinner Jacket. |
|
|
Women
Informal This dress code in high society is considered informal. Informal may sound casual and it is compared to White Tie and Black Tie, but it normally refers to a respectful standard of dress. Typically Lounge Suit and Cocktail Dress are worn to such events. In very relaxed events it might mean Smart Casual, but generally, unless you know for sure it is best to stick to the dress code, to present a sophisticated image to new people you may meet. It's always better to be overdressed than underdressed.Cocktail - Dress A short gown. Also known as a 'Dancing Costume' or a 'Cocktail Gown'. Ranging in length from just above the knee to about two inches above the ankle (Tea length). Popular materials include silk, satin and chiffon. Try not to upstage the hostess.Evening DressTo suit your company for the evening. Generally, the more elegant the better. Try not to upstage the hostess. - Headwear Hat Hats are a popular accessory for outside summer events. Essential for a wedding. - Footwear Formal Shoes To suit the rest of your outfit.Sandals To suit your dress. - Coat Luxury Coat If weather permits.Wrap To cover bare shoulders or upper arms. Especially useful during weddings.Cape A short cloak which just covers the shoulders or extends to the waist. Typically black. Velvet, silk, or satin. - Accessories Jewelry As much as you feel is appropriate to the occasion. |
Men
Informal This dress code in high society is considered informal. Informal may sound casual and it is compared to White Tie and Black Tie, but it normally refers to a respectful standard of dress. Typically Lounge Suit and Cocktail Dress are worn to such events. In very relaxed events it might mean Smart Casual, but generally, unless you know for sure it is best to stick to the dress code, to present a sophisticated image to new people you may meet. It's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. - Neck Tie Required. Bow ties are acceptable but are very unusual and should be avoided. The top button of the collar of the shirt must be done up. Tie pins are generally out of fashion. Avoid novelty items. - Jacket Suit Jacket Dark colours are best for evening occasions. Very dark, if being worn to a 'Black Tie Optional' occasion. During the day dark colours are most suitable in winter, and lighter colours in summer. - Top Formal Shirt Collared. Clean and well pressed. White is always the safest colour. Ideally the shirt should be double cuffed and worn with cufflinks. - Bottom Suit Trousers Must match the jacket. - Ankles Dark Socks Ideally the same colour as your suit. At least as dark as your suit. Mid-calf length. No logos or pictures. - Footwear Formal Shoes Preferably black. At least as dark as your socks. Always wear lace up shoes. - Coat Overcoat If weather permits. The classic supplement to a suit. - Accessories Cufflinks Worn with a double cuff dress shirt. Avoid novelty items.Watch If desired. Should be a good quality analogue watch. |
|
|
|
|
Women
Hats are not normally worn There may be some regional variations, particularly due to local climate and season. - Neck Blouse Scarf If desired. - Jacket No Jacket Jackets are not normally required for ladies. Although suits are increasingly popular.Suit Jacket A lady's business suit is an increasingly popular choice especially in senior roles. - Top Blouse Clean and well pressed. White is the universally preferred colour. - Bottom Suit Skirt Must match the jacket. At least knee length.Smart Skirt Preferably dark, grey, or beige in colour. At least knee length. - Trousers Black, grey, navy, brown, or khakis are suitable colours. Tailored. With creases.Hose - Footwear Formal Shoes Closed Toe. Low Heel. - Coat Dark Coat The smarter the better.Raincoat / Mac' If weather requires. More practical on public transport and popular in cities. - Accessories Watch If desired. Should be a good quality analogue watch.Jewelry A small amount of jewelry may normally be worn but should not distract from your status as a professional business person. Avoid religious symbols if possible. There is more scope for jewelry in a creative role than there is in a more conservative environment.Rings A wedding or engagement ring is always allowed. Other rings should be kept to a minimum. Notes In General Different industries, cultures, and companies have their own conventions which you should try observe and adopt. The purpose of full business dress is to present a uniform face which is conducive to business so it is generally counter productive to individualise your own style. People generally like to do business with people like them themselves as they often feel they can communicate and work well with them.Dress For SuccessGenerally it's best to 'fit in', so take your cue from your peers and try to dress to the same standard. This helps with interpersonal communication. Or if you are ambitious and don't mind showing it, dress to the standard of the role that you aspire to.Religious ItemsReligious clothing or other items are generally allowed if they are prescribed by a recognised religion. Optional items may not be appropriate if they may impact on those around you or restrict your activities. Policy varies between organisations but in western cultures there is normally a right in law to wear clothing required by religious belief, except where this prevents you from fulfilling your duties (such as where it might conflict with Health and Safety considerations). |
Men
Hats are not normally worn There may be some regional variations, particularly due to local climate and season. - Neck Tie Required. Bow ties are acceptable but are very unusual and should be avoided. The top button of the collar of the shirt must be done up. Tie pins are generally out of fashion. Avoid novelty items. - Jacket Suit Jacket Plain dark suits are the safest option, but any good quality suit is suitable. A pinstripe can also be a good choice, especially in the finance industry or in management. (A blazer is not normally acceptable.)Top Collared Formal - Shirt Clean and well pressed. White is the universally preferred colour. Ideally the shirt should be double cuffed and worn with cufflinks. Avoid button down collars. - Bottom Suit Trousers Must match the jacket. Avoid wearing the same suit for two consecutive days. A second pair of matching trousers is always a good idea with every business suit, if available, as they suffer more wear than the jacket. - Ankles Formal Socks Ideally the same colour as your suit. At least as dark as your suit. Mid-calf length. No patterns, logos, or pictures. - Footwear Formal Shoes Leather. Preferably black. At least as dark as your socks. Always wear lace up shoes. People are often judged on their shoes so good quality shoes can be a good investment in business.Oxfords Leather. - Coat Overcoat If weather requires. The classic supplement to a suit.Raincoat / Mac'If weather requires. More practical on public transport and popular in cities. - Accessories Cufflinks Worn with a double cuff dress shirt. Essential, unless impractical due to the nature of your work, or not worn by your colleagues. Avoid novelty items.Watch If desired. Should be a good quality analogue watch.RingsA wedding or engagement ring is always allowed. Other rings should be kept to a minimum.BeltLeather. Notes In General Different industries, cultures, and companies have their own conventions which you should try observe and adopt. The purpose of full business dress is to present a uniform face which is conducive to business so it is generally counter productive to individualise your own style. People generally like to do business with people like them themselves as they often feel they can communicate and work well with them.Dress For SuccessGenerally it's best to 'fit in', so take your cue from your peers and try to dress to the same standard. This helps with interpersonal communication. Or if you are ambitious and don't mind showing it, dress to the standard of the role that you aspire to.Religious ItemsReligious clothing or other items are generally allowed if they are prescribed by a recognised religion. Optional items may not be appropriate if they may impact on those around you or restrict your activities. Policy varies between organisations but in western cultures there is normally a right in law to wear clothing required by religious belief, except where this prevents you from fulfilling your duties (such as where it might conflict with Health and Safety considerations). |
|
|
Women
- Headwear Hats are not normally worn There may be some regional variations, particularly due to local climate and season. - Jacket No Jacket A jacket is always optional with casual styles.Suit Jacket Smart Jacket The smarter the better. A dark colour often looks more professional especially if it is made out of a nice material. - Top Blouse Clean and well pressed. White is the universally preferred colour.Pullover Or Jumper. If desired. - Bottom Skirt At least knee length.Dress At least knee length.Slacks Black, grey, navy, brown, or khakis are the best colours.Trousers Black, grey, navy, brown, or khakis are the best colours. Ideally tailored with creases.Hose - Footwear Formal Shoes Black is safest.Shoes Black is safest. Closed Toe. Low Heel. - Coat Any Coat If weather requires. The smarter the better. A dark colour often looks more professional especially if it is made out of a nice material. - Accessories Jewelry As little as possible. Nothing large or extravagant. There is more scope for jewelry in a creative role than there is in a more conservative environment.Watch Rings A wedding or engagement ring is always allowed. |
Men
- Headwear Hats are not normally worn There may be some regional variations, particularly due to local climate and season. - Neck Tie Normally optional but discouraged. Always worth having one tucked away in a bag, though, just in case. - Jacket No Jacket A jacket is always optional with casual styles.Suit Jacket Sports Jacket BlazerMight be considered a little conservative or old fashioned.Smart Jacket The smarter the better. A dark colour often looks more professional especially if it is made out of a nice material. - Top Formal Shirt Collared. Long sleeves are considered less relaxed than short sleeves. Clean and well pressed. White is the universally preferred colour, but not essential in a casual environment. Light blue or stripes are also popular. Avoid double cuffs and cufflinks if you are not wearing a tie.Pullover Or Jumper. If desired. - Bottom Trousers Good quality.Chinos Good quality. - Ankles Dark Socks Ideally the same colour as your trousers but normally a darker shade. Black will go with most things. Mid-calf length. Avoid patterns, logos, and images. - Footwear Formal Shoes Black is safest.Oxfords Leather. - Coat Any Coat If weather requires.The smarter the better. A dark colour often looks more professional especially if it is made out of a nice material. - Accessories Watch Rings A wedding or engagement ring is always allowed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|