Written by The Strategy

What’s the deal with dress codes, right?

Every time there is a note of “semi-formal” or “cocktail” or the like on an invite, I am overwhelmed with confusion. 

I mean, I kind of have an idea of what all these codes mean, but there is always a lingering feeling of doubt. What even is “formal” these days? When I’m confronted with it, all knowledge flies right out of my brain. If you’re like me, you know the feeling. The fear of showing up to an event in the complete wrong outfit, being super underdressed, or way too overdressed is enough to question going out in the first place. 

I did some digging, and as a service to the people, here is a breakdown of what’s what in the world of Dress Codes:

White Tie: The most formal. Evening gowns, jewels, hair dos – the works. Think awards shows and fancy galas.

Black Tie: Less than White Tie, but more than regular old Formal. Separates are allowed, so feel free to bust out a suit or a skirt/shirt combo.

Semi-Formal/Formal: This one is a trick. Semi-Formal works by the time of the event. Daytime events should be marked Semi-Formal, which is basically Cocktail. Nighttime events should be marked Formal, which means a slight step down from the sometimes stuffy Black Tie. 

Cocktail: Some party dresses make the cut. Elegant, but fun. Think of it like the fun sister of Formal.

And bonus…

Business Casual: Work appropriate! 

Side note: White/Black Tie, Semi-Formal/Formal have the biggest differences in menswear. The lines are blurred when it comes to womenswear. There are a lot of subtle changes for women, while for men it’s the difference of a full tux or suit.

The more you know!

Written by Katrina Garofalo

*Image via nbcnews.com