Dressing Formally

Most people are comfortable dressing for their day-to-day lives, but dressing for a special occasion—particularly a formal one—can be daunting.

General Grooming Tips

Before you get dressed up for a black-tie ball, you need to have the basics under control. Here are some fundamental grooming tips to keep in mind:

Keep clean: Bathe regularly, brush your teeth twice a day, and keep your nails tidy.
Smell good: Use deodorant to prevent body odor. If you use fragrance, keep it subtle.
Mind your clothes: Keep your clothes laundered and pressed. Repair tears and holes as soon as they appear, and remove stains immediately. (See the Quamut guide to Stain Removal.)
Shine your shoes: For formal occasions, always clean and polish your shoes.
Comb your hair: Keep your hair clean and get regular haircuts. If you color your hair, don’t let the roots get out of control.

Dress Codes

Many formal events have explicit dress codes, each of which calls for particular kinds of dress for both women and men. The table below explains what to wear for the most common dress codes.

Dress Code	What Women Should Wear	What Men Should Wear
White tie	Long, formal evening gown (gloves, if worn, should be taken off during dinner)	Black tailcoat and matching black pants, white wing-collar shirt, white piqué vest, white piqué bow tie, white or gray gloves, black patent shoes, and black socks
Black tie	Long, formal gown or short cocktail dress	Black tuxedo with white shirt, black bow tie, black cummerbund or waistcoat, black patent shoes, and black socks
Black tie optional	Long, formal gown, short cocktail dress, or separates	Black tie clothing (as above) or a dark suit, white shirt, and tie
Creative black tie	Same as black tie optional but with more daring accessories	Same as black tie but with a bit of zing, such as a more colorful tie or cummerbund
Semiformal	Short cocktail dress or dressy long skirt and top	Dark suit with white shirt, tie, dressy leather shoes, and dark socks
Festive attire	Short cocktail dress, dressy long skirt and top, or dressy pants ensemble (funky or seasonal accessories encouraged)	Pants, sport coat, and shirt (festive-type tie optional)
Business casual	Slacks or skirt, with a knit or open-collar shirt; avoid straps or décolleté (low-cut attire)	Khakis or slacks with sport coat or blazer; no tie
Beach casual	Sundress, khakis, or knit shorts with polo shirt, solid-color T-shirt, or casual button-down shirt	Khakis or knit shorts with polo shirt; sport jacket optional

Black Tie and White Tie Attire

One of the most challenging aspects of men’s formalwear is knowing how to put on a cummerbund and tie a bow tie. Cummerbunds should be worn so the flaps in the garment open up, so as to catch falling crumbs (the purported reason for the cummerbund’s existence). You should always wear actual knotted ties when wearing formal wear. Never succumb to the temptation of a clip-on. Tying bow ties and other formal knots can be challenging. (For info on tying a tie, see the Quamut guide to Knots.)