DECIDING WHAT TO WEAR
Cruises
Most cruises
will require at least one night of formal attire. There are almost always
opportunities to wear a tuxedo on a cruise, even if it's not required, it
is suggested or recommended.
Appropriate tuxedos for cruises include any black tuxedo excluding
tails. White or Ivory dinner jackets are always a great option for a cruise.
They are an affordable way to have two completely different looks especially
if you are wearing a tuxedo for more than one evening. For the ladies a
sequined or dressy short dress.
Casual Occassions - Private Parties and informal get togethers.
The invitation should
indicate whether it is "Casual Dress" and certainly if the event does not
have a "formal" printed invitation then such events are typically very informal
and enable you to wear any clothes that expresses your style. Blue Jeans
are to be avoided, use coloured jeans with discretion, even if coming straight
from a "jobsite", perhaps bring a change of clothes! Typically more dressy
appearance perhaps similar to the modern "casual business" dress would be
quite appropriate. For the ladies perhaps a skirt and blouse combination.
For the record! our parties mainly fall into this category. Keep an eye
on the newsflash page and our calendar for changes in dress requirements
at the studio.
Events billed as "semi-formal" in absence of an actual printed
invitation
Take
your cue from the method of invitation, typically if an event does not have
a formal invitation and is billed as "semi-formal" a jacket and tie is called
for. It is not necessary to wear a tuxedo and you may see more "suits" than
tuxedos for this type of event. For the ladies perhaps the business style
of dress would be quite approptiate even perhaps moving up to a cocktail dress
if the mood strikes you!
Company Holiday Parties and Banquets
The invitation should indicate whether it
is "Black Tie" or "Black Tie Invited / preferred / optional." Company
events are typically a little less strict and enable you to wear a tuxedo
that expresses your style.
Occasions with Black Tie or White Tie
Read your
invitation to know what is appropriate as all black-tie events have different
levels of formality.
Black Tie Invited or Optional (Sometimes
referred to as "Semi-Formal" if accompanied with an actual invitation!)
It is not mandatory to wear
a tuxedo, but you will typically see more tuxedos at these functions than
suits. You can never be overdressed. Black tuxedos or White or Ivory Dinner
jackets are appropriate. Dinner jackets should only be worn between Memorial
Day and Labor Day. If your date is wearing a sequined or dressy evening
gown, follow her lead and wear a tuxedo. If she is wearing more of a business
dress, then a suit may be more appropriate.
Black Tie Preferred
If the event is black tie preferred then the host would
like to see all guests in tuxedos. You could wear a dark suit, but the
host is requesting a tuxedo. Similarly for the ladies a cocktail (mid-thigh length dressy or sequened) dress is requested, you could also wear a business
like suit but as for the gentlemen, this is not what the host is requesting.
Black
Tie
If the event is black tie, it means that you must
wear a tuxedo. It does not refer to wearing a black tie, rather it means
you must wear a black tuxedo and as indicated above dinner jackets should really only be worn between Memorial
Day and Labor Day. All guests are
required and expected to wear formalwear so again for the ladies a cocktail (mid-thigh length dressy or sequened) dress.
White
Tie
If the event is white tie, it means you must wear black
tails with a black trouser, white pique wing collar shirt, white pique
vest and tie, white jewelry and white gloves. For the ladies this
would demand a full length evening gown. Unfortunately there are few evening
gowns that are tailored to allow for serious dancing but you might find a
suitable and impressive ballgown or a gown with at least two full circles
of material in the skirts. This
is a very formal event and the guidelines are probably very strict. There is also likely to be a very formal protocol and
procedures at such an event.
This Page first posted on; 24 July 2001