Black Tie Attire

An event that requests that its guest wear “Black Tie Attire” is a formal event in which guests are expected to wear formal attire. Black tie requests a very specific style of dress which means, a tuxedo for a man and a formal dress for a woman. Black tie means one thing for a man but for a woman the line can become a bit hazy. A formal dress is usually floor length and could be beaded or contain another eye catching feature such as a plunging backline or neckline or an interesting overlay. If the dress is not floor length then the style of the dress must balance it out in order for it to be considered “formal.”

Guests should look for the attire specification on the invitation. If the attire is not specified then it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. The guest should also be aware of the type of event or reason the event is being held, for instance, summer barbeque invitations do not need to state the attire as “shorts and t-shirts.” If the event is a cocktail party then it would be obvious to wear cocktail attire (cute short dresses and casual suits or slacks and blazers). Black tie attire is usually requested at:

• Weddings
• Formal sit down dinners
• Awards events
• Galas
• Any commemorative event

The attire of a crowd also adds to the overall ambience of the event. If everyone is dressed to kill and feeling their best then people are more likely to have a great time. The attire can raise the level of the event; if all the men are dressed in formal suits and the women in dresses it looks very elegant and festive. If the event planner and host have gone through extra lengths to plan a fabulous party and everyone shows up in jeans, it could be viewed as disrespectful. Guests should make sure that their attire fits the atmosphere of the event and as mentioned before, it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. If you choose to ignore the attire requirement, you could be denied admittance. If the event requires that you wear a shirt and tie and you show up without a tie in a blazer, one you would appear to be out of place, and two, you might not be allowed to enter.