What to Wear for Every Occasion - Dissecting Dress Codes

With the Christmas season on, parties are everywhere, and we are pretty sure that you have received different invitations with different dress codes that it makes your mind go crazy on which dress to choose and which is which for a party? With a whole lot of different dress codes available out there, it can be tough to be certain on what to wear.

We understand your problem, though, so with this article, we will help you identify the different dress codes and how to go about each.

DRESSY CASUAL

Men: Wear pants and a dress shirt among oxfords, a slip-on shoe or leather loafer. Pair it with a sports coat or a blazer. As much possible do not show up with wrinkles or outfits that are either too small, too big, or in a non-coordinating color. The use of tie is discretionary.

Women: Do not wear tennis shoes, cotton tees or denim as much as possible. Rather, go for dress pants, a skirt or silk pants. Pair it with a patent leather pair of flats or a pair with detailed embellishments such as a buckle, print or a bow.

Wear these at the dinner, church, or an invite accepted via phone or e-mail.

SMART CASUAL

Men: Go for the dressy trousers and pair it with a simple collared T-shirt and loafers.

Women: Wear dress pants or a pencil skirt. Pair it with a button-down top or silk and pair of nice high heels.

Wear these at the office parties, business luncheons or during happy hours.

BUSINESS CASUAL

Men: Wear a polo shirt or button-down shirt. Pair it with dress pants or khakis. If you want, layer it with a blazer, a sports coat or a v-neck sweater. Using a tie is just optional.

Women: Wear a skirt, dress pants or khakis then, pair it with a three-quarter sleeve tops or a long sleeve. Wearing a casual dress and flats are just optional.

Wear these at a company party, business lunch meetings or just a daily work attire.

COCKTAIL ATTIRE

Men: Wear a coat, dark suit with a tie. If you want to go for dark jeans, pair it with a jacket and tie. These are acceptable at cocktail events, depending on the atmosphere and as to how casual it is.

Women:  Women can go for a shorter dress with any frill. The classic black dress goes for great cocktail attire and is the simplest way to show your character by accessorizing to satisfy your mood.

Wear these at any evening social events or on any adult birthday parties.

COUNTRY CLUB CASUAL

Men: Wear a polo or open-necked shirt then, pair it with khakis. Accessorize it with a leather pair of shoes and a belt.

Women: Pick a polo or open-necked shirt. You can further opt for skirts and dresses with least accessories.

Wear these at a country club, cruise lines, friend’s home for a dinner, or in a fancy restaurant.

LOUNGE

Men: Go for a dark suit then pair it with a French-cuffed and a crisp white shirt. Using a tie is an option. Choosing a vest over a tie adds to the casualness of the look.

Women:  Use a dress that would be suitable for brunch or an afternoon tea event. It should fall below, or somewhat above, the knee level, and not be too low-cut or too sparkly. Fuse a shawl or a jacket to cover the arms.

Wear these during daytime engagement parties, afternoon tea or during business breakfasts.

WHITE TIE

Men:  Use a short or waist stretch black tailcoat, white bow tie, a thickened white shirt, and a cummerbund which is just optional and or a high-quality sport pair of black pants.

Women:  A floor-stretched ball gown is a requirement. Add an opera length gloves, up-do hairstyles and dazzling jewels for that added glamour effect. 

Wear these at government ceremonies, weddings, charity fundraisers, or at the opera.

BLACK TIE

Men:  Wear a tuxedo without tails or a dark suit then, pair it with a white shirt and a bow tie or just a tie. The use of a vest and a cummerbund is just optional.

Women: Wear a floor-length ball gown. A dressy cocktail dress may be fair depending on the place where the event is held.

Wear these at political dinner parties, charity fundraisers and or weddings.