How to Dress Up Your Man for Formal & Casual Events

By Stephanie Hancock

There is a standard for what should be worn to different types of social events for men. There are dress codes that need to be adhered to so your man isn't rejected at the door, or left looking foolish in his jeans while everyone else is in black tie.

Formal Attire

Formal and Black tie are synonymous. Men should wear a tuxedo, with black bow tie, white tuxedo shirt, and a black tuxedo jacket and pants. Don’t forget to wear nice dress shoes, preferably polished.

White tie is ultra-formal. The highest level of formal events, men should outfit themselves in full dress with a white shirt, vest and white tie. Suit is preferably a black tuxedo or other formal black suit.

Did your invitation simply say ‘formal attire’? Formal and black tie are synonymous, however modernly formal attire has also seen a black shirt with a tux, no tie, as being appropriate and modernly trendy.

Black tie optional hints at the true formality of the event. Tuxedo’s optional, however a dark suit and tie is the only other option you have to fit in nicely to your surroundings. This type of event status is generally for those who don’t own a tuxedo, but do have a nice, dark suit and tie that will be suitable.

Black tie invited is similar to black tie optional. The event is still truly formal, and a dark suit with tie is the other option over a full tuxedo. Perhaps a bit more relaxed than ‘formal’, the event still requires your dress meet a certain code.

Creative black tie calls for more modern formal wear. The trendier styles of tuxedos, for example a tuxedo with a collarless black shirt being worn with no tie is acceptable. However, a typical tuxedo with white shirt and black tie is appropriate as well.

Semi-formal Attire

Semi-formal attire is the broadest of all dress codes. The time of day the event is taking place will dictate your dress for the event. During the day time, a suit of varying color is appropriate. However, night time or evening semi-formal calls for a dark-colored suit, preferably black or navy blue, with a matching tie.

Cocktail dress dictates a dark suit, preferably black or navy blue for the gentleman. A tie is appropriate to be worn with the suit as well.

Dressy Casuals

Dressy casual attire is much more relaxed attire, with the exception of jeans and shorts, anything goes. A pressed pair of khaki’s and a dress shirt or sweater is appropriate, as are suits of varying color from black, to the trendier colors like olive green. A tad dressier than business casual.

Business Casuals

Business casual means attire you would wear to work. A suit and tie, a suit with a collarless shirt, khaki’s, short sleeve dress shirts, much more casual than dressy casual, however appropriate for business wear. No jeans, shorts or sandals are acceptable at this type of event.

Informal Wear

Informal wear events can be synonymous with casual. However, depending on the type of event you are attending, blue jeans may still not be an option. Wearing blue jeans to an informal wedding invitation would still be seen as tacky and tasteless. However, black jeans are widely popular and acceptable at informal attire events.

Casual attire means that anything is acceptable. Blue jeans, shorts and sandals are acceptable to wear, however whatever clothing you decide to wear should be in good condition, with no fraying, rips, tears or stains.