Leanne Italie
NEW YORK (AP) – The season’s triple-virus threat notwithstanding, parties are back, and they’ve brought with them the potential for some dress code chaos.
White tie, black tie, black tie creative/festive, semi-formal: It might take some extra re-entry energy to figure out these pre-pandemic guidelines in an exhausted world more used to sweats and sneakers.
Invitations sometimes don’t specify attire, leaving it until the RSVP phase or expecting guests to infer based on experience or an event’s description.
That was perhaps easier pre-pandemic, but many people are ready to take on the challenge, shed their cosy, casual duds and dress up once again.
“The stories I’m hearing from people is that they’re happy for an opportunity to get out of the sweatpants,” said Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter and co-author Lizzie Post of a rejuvenated new edition of Emily Post’s Etiquette to mark the book’s centennial.
With help from the Posts, a rundown from the most formal to the least formal attire:
WHITE TIE
This, the most formal traditional attire, involves a white bow tie, black jacket with tails, matching trousers and white vests for the evening. Swap in a morning coat for the day.
Think royal events, ultra-galas or super formal weddings.
“I think the thing that people are most unsure about is formal attire because most of us have few occasions to ever wear it,” Post said.
“That’s one most people get stressed about, but it’s a category that’s pretty well-defined.”
By well-defined, she means trousers with a satin or braid stripe; plain-front, wing-collar, French cuff shirts; stiff white pique vests; cuff links or studs; black or white braces; black socks; and black patent-leather pumps or lace-up Oxfords. Studs for buttons or covered buttons are options.
Chesterfield coats, which are formal, dark-coloured and knee-length with velvet collars, are suitable as outerwear for cold weather, as opposed to one’s down parka.
Gowns are floor length, or possibly very formal two-piece outfits, with optional gloves of varying lengths. A dress-pant combo is rare.
BLACK TIE
It’s the next most formal attire and means tuxedos in black or midnight blue.
Collars can be wing or regular in white. The bow ties are black. So are braces or suspenders.
Vests are optional, but forget the cummerbund if a vest is worn.
Not any cummerbund will do. Make sure it matches the bow tie and lapel fabrics.
Footwear is the same as a white tie. White dinner jackets are acceptable in the summer or warm climates.
Gowns are floor length here, too, but can be more casual than white ties in materials and structure.
A very formal cocktail dress might do if the hemline is at or below the knee.
Black tie is far more familiar to many than white tie, Post said.
BLACK TIE/CREATIVE/FESTIVE
Attire is the same as a black tie but with colours or embellishments added for a bit more dazzle.
For dresses and two-piece outfits, there’s some wiggle room to experiment with colour, texture and accessories, Post said.
“It’s where you get the groomsman of a wedding wearing flip-flops instead of shoes because the wedding is at the beach and everything’s going to be on the sand,” she said.
“It’s sometimes worn to celebrate a particular holiday or something like that.
Be sensitive to other people’s cultures and holidays, she added.
SEMI-FORMAL
Expect suits, jackets and ties with slacks, dress tops, dress pants, and maxi-length hems that are long but not full-on formal gowns. Tea-length, knee-length or two-piece outfits fit here.
Think maxi dresses in a casual jersey knit for a beach wedding, or a jacket with corduroy pants and suede shoes for a gallery opening.
It goes by other labels, too, such as “creative” semi-formal when a “diamonds and denim” theme or a “dressy Western” vibe is noted, for instance.
Semi-formal events cover a lot of ground, from office holiday parties and charity events to retirement parties and milestone birthdays or anniversaries.
“Given our day and age, people like to be explicit on invitations for semi-formal.
BUSINESS ATTIRE
Dressing for work varies widely, but when business attire shows up on an invitation, tradition may kick in. The safest bet is suits and ties, buttoned dress shirts, belts and dress shoes.
Dress slacks or trousers with a dressy top are acceptable, along with a conservative dress (nothing too low-cut, short or luxurious), and close-toed shoes, all depending on how fashion-forward the crowd is expected to be.
“It’s still important to be you,” Post urged.
BUSINESS CASUAL
Things get confusing here, too.
Many who have returned to work are living in this zone, but what it means depends on the industry or company environment.
It could mean a suit or seasonal jacket worn with no tie and trousers, or dress jeans with a button-down or polo shirts or sweaters.
Dress slacks or trousers with a more casual top might do the trick. The same is true of a skirt-and-top combo, though nothing too short or low cut, depending on the event. If an invitation says business casual, it may be up to you to figure out what’s acceptable.
DRESSY CASUAL
A little less tricky, but still dizzying.
It can mean jeans and a sweater or a casual button shirt. It also means dress pants and a casual top, or casual pants and a dress top.
Comfortable dresses or skirt-and-top combos also work. The best part is any shoes.
“You want to feel out any event to make sure,” Post said.
CASUAL
Almost anything goes. Almost.
Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, pullovers, hoodies, tank tops, dresses or skirts with any top, any shoes.
Some lines can be crossed, however. Casual doesn’t mean unkempt. Leave the stained T-shirt at home, and perhaps the ripped jeans, too.
“I think we’re all out of practice with these delineations, for sure,” Post said.
“There’s been a grey haze of attire for most of us.”
