Most dinner and dances nowadays usually state the dress code on the invitation which makes determining what to wear a lot easier. Normally the dress code will be one of three, white tie, black tie or black tie optional.
White tie, often called full evening dress, is by far the most formal dress code. You should not wear an ordinary suit but a black tailcoat, waistcoat and a white bow tie not a tie. You should always wear a white shirt and black shoes with dark soles. You shouldn't wear a wristwatch at all, it can be considered rude if you do. If you want to wear a boutonniere you should make sure it is a real flower, never leather or a false flower.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Ford and Bradley Cooper below are prime examples of how to dress for a white tie event.
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Black tie is the next step down from white tie. It is still very formal but you should wear a dinner suit instead of tales. Braces would be a great addition as they add style. You could also wear a cummerbund or waistcoat. You can wear either a bow tie or a long tie but we suggest a bow tie as it creates a smoother look. Again you should wear a white shirt. The colour of your suit can vary as long as it is a relatively dark colour. You could also choose to be a bit more adventurous with a velvet suit jacket.
Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine and Daniel Craig below are great examples of what to wear to a black tie event.
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Black tie optional is leaving it up to the guest to decide whether they wear black tie or not. It is often interpreted to mean you should wear business attire, meaning dress smart but not overly so. A simple suit would be fine, as would a dinner jacket for example. This dress code often leaves guests confused and undecided what to wear.
Some great examples of what you could wear to a black tie optional event are Will Smith, Tom Hardy and Jeremy Renner below.
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