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First things first—before we jump into how to dress for a black tie wedding, let's quickly cover where, exactly, the black-tie dress tie comes from. You think about weekend-wear and comfort, or "smart casual" for the office. The reality is that a relaxed dress code is far from no-effort, not if you want to keep making a great impression. It involves putting some thought into your overall appearance, even if the final result looks "easy." But, how do you politely tell your guests what to wear? SHOESForrest Gump would say patent leather and black tuxedos go together like peas and carrots.
On the other hand, most men will wear a suit with a regular tie which may not fit the special ceremony. On the other hand, if the women will not wear floor-length dresses, which are most preferred, they should wear a cocktail dress that is not very revealing. There are a few Etiquette rules guiding a black-tie wedding outfit.
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There's a lot of debate about whether men can wear jeans, but in my opinion, dark, stylish, and formal-looking jeans will do the job; just stay away from rugged, faded, or patched jeans. The word ‘casual’ means relaxed and informal, so clothing is correspondingly functional and comfortable. Feeling confident matters, not only for brides or grooms but also for wedding guests. So, while there’s no guarantee how late the reception will last, following the dress code guarantees you’ll be the best dressed, from cocktail hour to afterparty. Unless you have to color-coordinate with the rest of the wedding party, you have a free range of options when it comes to the color of your dress. In terms of footwear, as long as they look fancy, you should be good to go.
A black-tie attire wedding event starts at 5 pm at the earliest and 7 pm on average. It is acceptable to wear medals and orders with formal wear providing the invitation expressly indicates this. For details of how they are to be worn, see the Black Tie Decorationspage.
The Best Black Tie Brands
And try to keep the rest of your outfit understated and unfussy. But a boutonnière or floral decoration is a nice touch. Edward VII, tired of traditional formal wear, decided to swap out his typical tailcoat. To replace it, he commissioned a silk smoking jacket with matching trousers, designed by iconic Savile Road tailor, Henry Poole.
Other colors may fit your outfit, so you have some options here. However, make sure they shoes are formal enough to pair with your suit and not look out of place. We suggest you match your socks to your outfit as well and avoid any zany colored socks unless you’re certain the bride and groom will appreciate your style. However, unlike a casual or cocktail dress code, a black tie optional wedding leaves the door open for ultra-fancy wear. You can come dressed to the nines and no one would blame you for it. 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.
How to Dress for a Black Tie Wedding
Even Daniel Craig bid adieu to James Bond wearing a hot pink dinner jacket to the No Time To Die premiere. The waist covering is completely optional, and in the case of the cummerbund, super traditional. Tricky garment, but when they’re right, they’re all kinds of right. Is there any way to incorporate color into black tie wedding attire? Jeans should not be worn but the jacket and shirt are ideal. A pair of solid navy, grey or even charcoal dress pants pleated or flat front are the perfect choice for business casual wear.
A final and significant faux pas for a Black-Tie Optional event is wearing a different type of formal ensemble, such as White Tie or Morning Dress. Effectively, the “Optional” in Black-Tie Optional means that men who do not wish to or are not able to wear conventional Black Tie have the option to wear something else. Plus, you shouldn’t rule out floral prints, which are also an excellent option for a black tie event. You can also decide to gift your groomsmen and bridal party with a part of the dress code, such as cufflinks for the men’s shirts or shoes for the ladies.
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Here’s our rundown of some of the best luxury sneakers on the market. For men, the monochromatic uniformity of wearing a dinner jacket and a crisp white shirt is synonymous with sophistication. There’s a reason why James Bond, infinitely suave and style-savvy, always appears at least once in a tuxedo during a movie. Men can tone down the seriousness of a tuxedo by opting for a dark-colored suit on a crisp white dress shirt. You may instead wear any dark, plain necktie or bow tie, or a black necktie if desired. You should not, however, wear a black bow tie for a Black-Tie Optional event, as the black bow tie is a centerpiece of the Black Tie dress code.
Black socks and a bowtie are the only truly appropriate options. (Tradition dictates that only hand-tied bowties are acceptable.) A vest or cummerbund , as well as snazzy cufflinks, can also elevate the sartorial foundations. The only Texan tuxedo you ever need to know about is Tom Ford’s. The Austin-born designer does laser-precise eveningwear for every kind of black tie invitation that might come your way. From impeccable wool and velvet dinner jackets to patterned jacquard and baby pink colourways, it’s all exquisite.
