By the end of the year, we might get more invitations to events and parties. The invitation cards might contain some directions for the required clothing, the so-called dress code. This name indicates the rules of the look at the party. Let’s see the most important ones.
White Tie: For gentlemen it is black tail-coat with white shirt made of a special fabric and with standing-collar and hard-breast, white waistcoat, hand-tied, white bow tie, white braces and black patent leather shoes. For ladies it is full dress, commonly with elbow-long gloves.
Black Tie: For gentlemen it is black tuxedo (with white handkerchief in the pocket of the coat), double-cuff white shirt with studs, hand-tied black bow tie, black cummerbund and black calfskin or patent leather shoes. For ladies it is long evening dress without gloves, maybe with stole.
Formal: For gentleman it is dark suit with shirt and low-key tie, which is acceptable before 6 pm also. For ladies, before 6 pm it is an elegant dress made of non-shiny fabric, after 6 pm a cocktail dress.
Semi-Formal: For gentlemen, before 6 pm it is a suit, after it a dark suit and tie. For ladies, before 6 pm it is an elegant dress, after 6 pm a cocktail dress.
Informal: For gentlemen it is shirt, tie, trousers and a jacket not necessarily in the same color as the trousers. For ladies it is an elegant dress.
Business Formal: For gentlemen it is the same as semi-formal. For ladies it is an elegant but not décolleté dress.
Casual: For both sexes it is daily clothes, but sportswear is excluded. They shouldn’t wear jeans or sport shoes.
Smart Casual: Any kind of clothes can be worn but jeans and sport shoes are taboo. For gentlemen it is fabric trousers with easy shirt, maybe supplementing with a pullover. For ladies: elegant trousers with blouse are recommended.
Ask for help of a stylist in the case of uncertainty in choosing the suitable clothes.