By Bhawna

 

Whether it is an invitation to a party, a wedding, or anything else, seeing the theme or dress code as “formal attire”, can be daunting for anyone. You just don’t get any clue as to what to wear. Formal events are exciting. A formal thing for women is an expensive gown. Now, what decides that a particular dress is formal? The formality of an attire depends on length and tailoring. For women, formal dresses are floor-length. In some cases, midi or knee-length options can do. Formal attire is something that you wear for formal events. The key is to wear attire according to the occasion and venue. There are different kinds of formal events. What you may wear at one particular place may not fit in the other. A ball gown is ideal for a white-tie wedding but not for a formal business event.

Pay attention to the invitation. Is it dressy or semi-formal? Then you would be able to get the vibe of the party. The location or the venue also plays a role here. The type of event is also important- whether it is a wedding or a business formal event.

 

White tie event

Image source: amazon.in

 

 

 

 

Image source: gentlemansgazette.com

White tie events are formal events. Usually, a ball gown is reserved for the fanciest galas, wedding parties, and dinners, but in a white tie event, you can wear a ball gown. You can wear ball skirts or a shiny metallic gown. You can accessorize yourself with statement jewelry and heels. Men should carry tuxedo pants with a dress coat. The shirt should be wing-collared. This is the fanciest of all. And plus it is the most formal. For women, the hairstyle should be formal.

 

Black tie event

Image source: etsy.com

Image source: pinterest.com

You can wear a long floor-length gown. You can wear jeweled shoes. You can carry a nice bag. Men should wear a tuxedo jacket and a black tie. A black tie means that you wear something black. This is the dressiest of all. Here, a floor-length gown is the best.

 

 

 

 

Black tie optional

Image source: theknot.com

Black tie optional is considered formal too. It is a little bit more relaxed than white or black tie events. But here also staying formal is required. Here, you can dress in elegant, long, or mid-length dresses. This theme is less conservative. You can play with different silhouettes, shades, and textures. You can wear heels. This dress code is more flexible. The look has to be elegant. You can accessorize also. You can wear a formal floor-length gown. A sequin dress would do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outdoor formal

Image source: anindigoday.com

Outdoor formal may sound very contradictory. But just because an event is taking place outside doesn’t make it casual. You can wear silk wrap dresses. You can wear printed frocks. You can dress up with shiny jewelry. You can carry a handbag.

 

 

Cocktail

Image source: stylecraze.com

It is the most common of all event dress codes. Here, you don’t need to wear a gown, instead, you can wear miniskirts. You can wear sun dresses. In the cocktail theme, you can wear knee-length midi dresses. You can wear a jumpsuit. You can add accessories. Here, there is more scope for silhouettes and colors. You can wear shorter dresses here. You can wear maxi dresses. Be dressier and add a fashion statement. Show some style. You can wear black pants.

 

 

 

 

Business formal

Image source: semissura.com

 

Image source: pinterest.com

If you have a formal work event, it can be confusing. You can wear something stylish. You can wear a nice fitted sheath. You can wear a pantsuit. You can add a finishing touch to your attire with a handbag. You can wear a statement necklace. Men can wear a simple suit with a nice tie. A two-piece suit would do. The colors can be gray, navy, or black. A classic button-down shirt can look good. You can wear lighter colors also. Black or brown shoes would do. Oxfords can also look great. Ties are also very important. Dress shirts also look great.

 

 

 

Creative black tie

Image source: stjohnknits.com

If the theme is creative black tie, then you may shift from traditional black and white attire. You can wear colors and patterns. Women can wear colorful shoes and jewelry. They can carry colorful bags. Tuxedo pants and a silk blouse can also look good.

 

Just formal

Image source: pinterest.com

Just formal can be a vague description. In that case, you need to take into account your host, the occasion, and the venue when you are choosing the attire. If a black tie is not mentioned in the invitation, men can wear a dark suit. A formal gown can also look great. Or you could wear a cocktail-length skirt. You could also wear a little black dress. You can carry earrings and a clutch.

 

Conclusion

When you receive an invitation to a formal event, you become puzzled. You don’t know what to wear, what bag to carry, or what jewelry to carry. This depends on the dress code. The type of event is the first criterion. Is it a party, a wedding, or a formal business event? Also, the time at which the formal event is scheduled is also an important thing. Is it in the evening, or in the afternoon? Or, does it start in the afternoon and end in the evening? The location or the venue of the formal event is also an important criterion. Is it a banquet hall a church or, a restaurant? Is there a theme color? Are you supposed to wear something according to the theme? For men, tuxedos with a bowtie are the classic attire and outfit. For ladies, there are wider options. They can wear a black dress, gown, or cocktail dress. They can wear a jumpsuit. They can wear a midi-skirt, or a floor-length gown. Always accessorize yourself before you go for a formal event. This can be some statement jewelry or amazing shoes. Remember, hairstyle is an important and key factor in a formal dress event. For ladies, there are a variety of hairstyles but they should always opt for something formal. For men also, hairstyle has to be formal and not like casual. Another important aspect is the makeup. You of course cannot do without makeup. Makeup is simply so essential. It should be flawless. It should be not too much.