The Ultimate White Tie Wedding Guide

Table of Content

• White Dress / Tuxedo Shirt
• Detachable Collars
• Color and Your Professional Brand: Women
• Black Tie Optional Men
• Formal White Blazer Outfit

So, wearing a black tie and shirt won’t do the job, anyway. If you are instructed to wear “business casual”, think 9-5 office wear. At this point, it’s best to think about the tone of the event, and dress accordingly.

The Vienna “Opernball” is also a good occasion to wear a white tie suit. By wearing a white bow tie to a black-tie event, you run the risk of looking overdressed and awkward. You will stick out in a crowd full of people all wearing black bow ties. The fit of the outfit is a major pitfall at white tie events.

White Dress / Tuxedo Shirt

The basic technique is to wind each tape around the back of the neck and bring it back to the front of the throat again. As with many methods used in formal dress, however, the trick is to get it right - in this case so that bands are secured and the tapes hidden from view. A stiff-fronted shirt produces a much better effect altogether – especially as the waistcoat and bow-tie can be of the same material. When your finances allow and your inclinations prompt you, you should definitely think about a stiff-fronted shirt. The standardstiff-fronted shirt has its central front panel made of ‘marcella’ or ‘pique’. This is a thick cotton fabric with a dimpled surface (sometimes called ‘golf-ball’) – see the background to this page .

You can opt for either a single-breasted or double-breasted dinner jacket with vents, but only on the sides. So let’s move on to the nitty-gritty of what a black-tie outfit includes and how each clothing element must be worn. Black-tie optional is a signal that the couple wants guests to dress up but doesn't want to require ultra-fancy attire. For women, this generally means a full-length silhouette. When choosing a suit jacket for a formal look, it'll be best to keep things simple.

Detachable Collars

It’s extremely unlikely anybody would say anything to you, and it’s probable that a lot of other attendees will be wearing something similar. Well, it’s that friend’s 50th birthday party next month and they’ve booked out a huge venue to celebrate and invited hundreds of guests. To produce the best effect, don’t twist the tapes as you pass them round the collar band. It may now seem that the job is done once the collar has been dealt with. However, though the bow formed by the ends of the tapes is below the bands, it may be visible. We are going to tuck it into the shirt and do it in such a way that it won’t fall out.

Even though both are available in a wide range of colors, the classic choice is black – matching the jacket. The black-tie dress code is the epitome of formalwear, requiring you to wear a black tuxedo or suit and a black bow tie. A century ago, the white tie dress code was a compulsion for every formal event. But, today, it is more of a highly formal dress code adorn by royals and elite members of society on some special occasions.

Color and Your Professional Brand: Women

Choose from trainer trainings, seminars, live-online workshops, and self-paced online courses, to best meet your etiquette training needs. Every live session is customized for the client and built from our extensive menu of training topics. The trousers must be high waisted with two lines of braid down the outside. They must not be too baggy, since this detracts from the overall elegance the suit is attempting to conjure.

Apart from white tie attire, black tie is the most formal of all dress codes. For women, the code typically calls for a floor-length dress or gown. While cocktail dresses can be an appropriate option for black tie, long dresses tend to be a more elevated choice. Adding black-tie optional to your wedding invitation and wedding website indicates that guests can wear black-tie attire, but at the very least, elevated cocktail attire is required.

Black Tie Optional Men

The wings, of your wing collared shirt should be tucked behind the bow tie and not pushing over it. The white tie or “full dress’ as it is also called is undisputedly the most formal civilian dress code in the 21st century. The white tie suit is also typically worn to European state dinners, society balls or society weddings.

Cufflinks and button studs are classy additions to your black-tie ensemble. I recommend a black leather strap with a silver dial featuring a white background. As for what type of shoes you must wear, you do have some options to choose from.

Defining Dance And Party Dress Codes

Table of Content

• Here's the Real Definition of a White-Tie Wedding (Plus Exactly What to Wear)
• Awesome Etiquette Podcast
• What Accessories Should be Worn?
• Swanky Dress Watches to Help You Clean Up Real Nice

Make sure to that you give yourself enough time for fitting and tailoring. Call a rental place ahead of time to see what is available. This can be especially tricky during prom or wedding season. Black-tie attire isn’t just limited to the formal tuxedo or suit and the dress shirt. However, make sure you read the invitation with attention because not all weddings feature a black-tie dress code.

Instead, they are either tightened using adjustable side tabs or suspenders. The waistband of the pants is covered by either waistcoat or cummerbund. Again, black tie is reserved for social functions and evening events. It is less regulated than white tie dress and has even been considered “semi-formal” at times throughout history. If a wedding invitation states "black tie" on it, etiquette calls for a solid black bow tie.

Here's the Real Definition of a White-Tie Wedding (Plus Exactly What to Wear)

All the rules you make for the dinner jacket also apply to your bow tie. However, you are free to experiment with other colors to give your look some personality without breaking the rules of a black-tie outfit. Traditionally, tuxedos would come in a silk material construction. Today, you can find tuxedos in other materials, including the ultra-fine herringbone or wool barathea. Dark blue or black are the best colors to choose when it comes to colors.

This material is very easy to tie so you should definitely consider it if you intend to wear a tie of type or below. What’s more important — especially if you are tall — is trying to find a pair of trousers which are cut high enough so that no gap appears below the waistcoat and above the trousers. If you do find a pair of trousers cut high (with a “fish-tail back”), you will also need a pair of braces. The cummerbund is a decorative sash that originated in India during British colonialism. It was introduced as an acceptable black tie accessory during the 1930s. Traditionally the cummerbund is black in color has upward facing pleats and is made from shiny sateen silk or grosgrain.

Awesome Etiquette Podcast

Dressing up for a white tie event involves a strict clothing etiquette that must be followed religiously. Therefore, sticking to the basics is the best way to get through. In order to help you dress appropriately, here is the list of all the essential components you need for a flawless white tie look.

I would honestly be indecisive if I had to choose between a waistcoat or a cummerbund. I personally recommend the black peated cummerbund to complement your black-tie getup. You can either opt for a single- or double-breasted waistcoat. Add button studs as an additional accessory to further enhance the grace of the tuxedo shirt.

What Accessories Should be Worn?

I am currently compiling a guide with different ways to fold a pocket square. On the other hand, shawl lapels are explicitly for dinner jackets and work equally well on both single- and double-breasted styles. Pants are commonly accepted as black tie dress if they're palazzo cut, which means wide-legged and loose. Keeping your collar button open is considered uncivilized and is against formal etiquette, whether it’s a black-tie or white-tie event. So, make sure to button up your shirt before heading on a formal occasion.

Below is some more information on different black tie dress shirt options. Besides color there are several designs and cuts available when choosing a tuxedo. The single breasted style is traditional and more classic.

Black Tie for Women

Below are different kinds of attire where largely acceptable at most casinos for both men and women. Fortunately, for us, we now have online casinos and we need no specific dress code to play them. The jacket is actually termed an “evening tailcoat” and as you may have guessed, its defining characteristic is the two tails at the rear. It will need to be narrower in the midsection so that a tapered appearance is achieved and peaked lapels are a must. White waistcoats are usually cut very low and represent something of an optimisation exercise.

You are free to choose whether you want a break at the hem or not. If you are looking for a chic vintage style, a velvet smoking jacket in bottle green, burgundy, or dark blue is also an excellent option. Today we offer a wide range of books, online resources, training programs for all ages and topics, a weekly podcast and a selection of greeting cards and paper products. Find the right Emily Post book or greeting card for you. We have the perfect wedding, graduation or housewarming gift for someone special in your life. Emily Post training and consultation services are available for groups, businesses and individuals.