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Here, formal dark suits are still the favorite, but since its a celebration, you can style things up with colorful ties and pocket squares. Should you wish to wear a tuxedo, were particularly fond of the evening shirts made by Eton. These are excellent for black tie optional as theyre not overly formal.
"Another option is inspired looks, like Gatsby or Roc Nation Brunch," Mae says. Guests can look for inspiration from films or celebrities, depending on the theme. Part of dressing for a semi-formal or dressy casual wedding is taking the time of the wedding into account.
My black tie wedding guest dress
A pair of black patent-leather shoes and a black tie or bow tie are essential to complete the look. Guests should stick to dark, muted colors for their suits or tuxedos unless its a summer wedding and the bride and groom allow for lighter, summery colors. You can only wear a cocktail dress if it’s very formal. It can fall above the knee, but it shouldn’t get much shorter than that for a black-tie wedding. For this occasion, it’s not recommended to show too much skin. Rather, keep the hemline modest and keep any cleavage to a minimum.
These shorter lengths are particularly appropriate in the summer heat. Footwear wise, keep the shoes in the same theme of the dress. A black tie wedding guest dress requires dressy heels (even if they’re kitten heels), strappy heeled sandals or stiletto pumps. Leave your chunky soles and platforms at home for this.
Alexis Berezzi Lace Jumpsuit in Black
Men should wear a dress shirt and slacks, dark or light depending on the time of day, with the option to wear a tie. "Semiformal gives you flexibility on comfort, but be sure not to dress too casual," Mae says. Formal attire may be the most common, but there are plenty of other dress codes that may appear on a wedding invitation. Formal, semi-formal, and casual are a bit more ambiguous than, say, black-tie, and it can be difficult for guests to settle on the level of formality they want to go for.
You can finish off your look by accessorizing it well. Think of a classic pair of cufflinks in gold or silver. If you’re wearing a tux, you can also take your look to another level with studs. While some guys are stepping out of the box by wearing designer sneakers, you don’t want to go that route. You never want to offend someone, especially those throwing the event!
What To Wear To A Summer Wedding
We consulted with personal stylist Adriana Gonzalez-Ramirez to break down black-tie optional attire, as well as the dos and don'ts of adhering to this somewhat ambiguous dress code. This captivating gown made from all-over sequin embellishments is a striking choice for any formal occasion that calls for festive attire. A black-tie wedding calls for gowns in rich textured fabrics with a hint of sparkle.
The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, not allowing the focus to drift outside. Director of Content at WedTexts Michelle loves all things Disney. She spends most of her time with her puppy Bo and believes in Servant Leadership. A loosely gelled hairstyle will be the perfect finishing touch. Despite all its advantages, Black-tie Optional attire is not often seen on wedding invites.
Black-tie optional is an intentionally vague parameter that allows for a lot of flexibility when it comes to your ensemble. With this dress code, you can probably bet that the wedding party will be in floor-length gowns and tuxedos, along with most immediate family members. Expect to see a mix of formality from the other guests—some will take the opportunity to dress up, while others will be happy to wear a more comfortable suit or midi dress. Or got invited to a black-tie summer wedding that starts at noon? There must be a mix of excitement and questions spinning your body and mind right now.
Tuxedos and ball gowns are widely accepted as proper black tie optional attire, but you can dress down from that as well if you prefer and still fit the dress code. As mentioned above, there are differences between black tie and formal black tie optional events, so it can be useful to clarify with the hosts before you dig yourself in a hole. This is particularly relevant for rehearsal dinners, which often go overlooked when it comes to dress codes.
