Black Tie Optional Wedding Women S Attire

Apart from white tie attire black tie is the most formal of all dress codes.

Black tie optional wedding women s attire.

For women the code typically calls for a floor length dress or gown. Black tie optional wedding attire for women most black tie optional weddings take place after 6 p m so anything you d wear for a daytime function probably wouldn t make the cut here. Women can go the long evening gown route but a dressy suit or shorter cocktail dress is fine too. While cocktail dresses can be an appropriate option for black tie long dresses tend to be a more elevated choice.

If you lack a full length gown a special occasion cocktail dress one adorned with sequins and worn with formal shoes for instance would work as well. As far as women are concerned there s not much of a difference between black tie attire and black tie optional attire although mae says it s more acceptable to wear a dress that shows the ankles. As such it requires a sophisticated level of dressing. While attire may be slightly more casual than a black tie affair some overlap in appropriate dress exists when comparing black tie and black tie optional events.

If they end up going tuxedo less though they should wear a formal dark suit and tie instead. It s actually simpler than it sounds. Floor length gowns are always permissible and the most formal outfit. For a black tie optional wedding men can wear a tuxedo but it s not a requirement.

Evaluating the dress code.