Black tie dress code for women, men in clothes. Black tie style optional, photo

Black tie dress code - what is it?

This formal, austere evening style is appropriate for formal events and parties held after 6 pm: weddings, theaters, charity evenings, social events.

Style requires from the invited knowledge of the basics of etiquette and careful choice of attire.

Dress code for women - photo

The classics of the genre are dark tones: from gray to black.

However, the feminine style is not as strict as the masculine one. In addition to dark colors, multi-colored dresses and accessories are quite acceptable.

Black tie style for men - photo

Classification of Black tie styles

Dress code Black tie Invited or Formal Black tie

Invited (translated as "invited")... Classic evening out. Usually it is appropriate at social events in large organizations, dinner parties in restaurants, at fashion shows and other grandiose events in the world of show business.

A woman in an elegant long dress, a man in a tuxedo.

Black tie Optional - what is it?

Optional (translated as "optional")... From the name it is clear that this look offers more freedom: instead of a tuxedo, a strict suit in a dark shade, for example, instead of a bow tie, a tie.

Ladies are allowed a cocktail elegant dress or a set that does not constitute a suit (blouse with trousers or a skirt).

Creative black tie

Creative ("creative")... The most relaxed and free. An unusual cut of a dress is possible, an original handbag for a lady.

Her beau can diversify the color scheme of the outfit: a tie in a bright shade or a scarf in a breast pocket.

Rules for women

What color to choose a dress

The color of the dress can be almost any. Bright and pastel shades, monochromatic and combined, with an overflow effect (for example, from pale blue to dark blue) and duochrome.

YOU CAN CHOOSE A DUCHROME DRESS. IN THIS OPTION, DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS ARE POSSIBLE, FOR EXAMPLE, BODY IN ONE COLOR, SKIRT IN ANOTHER.

Only a white evening dress is not worth choosing. The image of the bride at events with a black tie dress code is not appropriate, and it looks ridiculous. Wear a dress with a floral print with caution: a wrong pattern will simplify the whole look.

Graphic colors are suitable for a Creative exit. But when choosing such an outfit, it should be remembered that an evening out is not a show of avant-garde fashion: overly original colors are not acceptable. But do not "flirt", the vertical division of the outfit in terms of color can resemble a clown costume.

It is always necessary to remember that elegance is the main thing in the image.

What length should the dress have

For black tie, a long floor-length dress is optimal. It's a must for an Invited evening. If you want to showcase slender legs, you can choose a long dress with a slit. But it should be borne in mind that it should not be too high. How to determine the most appropriate incision?

Standing straight, lower your hand freely down, straightening your fingers. The incision should not be higher than them.

For the Optional and Creative outputs, a knee-length or midi dress is acceptable. The length above the knee is strictly forbidden, especially mini is a sign of bad taste.

It will be most correct if the hem covers the kneecap.This length suits almost everyone. You should be more careful with midi: for people of small stature, this length will "steal" a few centimeters and visually they will look even lower.

Accessories

Black tie style implies the presence of some accessories:

• Handbag must certainly be small. Phone, keys, some money, card, lipstick and powder - nothing more is expected. It is considered bad form to wear such a handbag over the shoulder on a strap or chain. Only in the hand. If this is inconvenient, this accessory should be discarded. The emphasis on the purse is quite acceptable: contrasting color, sparkles, jewelry. But so that there is no bust, it is better if such a handbag is the only bright decoration in the outfit.
• Decorations according to etiquette should be selected according to the "rule of three", i.e. no more than three pieces of jewelry: earrings and a ring; chain, pendant and ring; earrings and necklaces. You can make many options, one of which you will definitely like. Ladies with pierced ears and more than 2 piercings should refrain from trying to wear more than one pair of earrings. The jewelry itself can be costume jewelry, but it should look decent and not “cheap”. It is better to choose a dress embroidered with stones, embroidery, which will be an ornament in itself.

Footwear

For black tie you need heels - medium height (6-8 cm) or “stiletto heels” (9-11 cm). Both closed pumps of a classic style and open sandals are possible.

You should forget about the platform - it is a bad taste, besides, this style of shoes looks vulgar. A wedge will also not work.

Special attention should be paid to stockings or tights. Shiny with banned lurex. They will make the whole outfit cheap.

Tight tights are also not appropriate. Ideal matte, no more than 15 DEN flesh. If sandals are chosen, then tights or stockings should be abandoned altogether.

Of course, the elastic of the stocking, even a very beautiful one, should not peek out of the cut of the dress.

Rules for men

The tuxedo

A tuxedo with satin cuffs or other shiny material is a must! There are no slits on the back of the jacket.

The number of buttons is not regulated. But they are almost always covered with fabric. With trousers, it should be a set: made of the same material.

On trousers, stripes made of the same fabric that decorate the lapels of the jacket are allowed... The trousers are strictly classic, not narrowed. And no cropped legs.

The style requirements are very strict.

But with the color options are possible: black, dark blue. Black trousers are allowed, and a white or colored jacket (some models can be made of velvet). Often the pockets on the jacket are "fake". This is done so that thin fabric does not deform.

Shirt

The shirt must be white. The material is cotton or silk. Stand-up collar, good if double. The buttons can be visible or covered with a strap (a special patch along the edge of the shirt, behind which the buttons are not visible). The color of the buttons is strictly black or white.

Of course, the shirt must be perfectly ironed, including the sleeves that are not visible under the jacket. The cuffs are as stiff as the collar. It is allowed if they look out from under the jacket a couple of centimeters. If the shirt has cufflinks, they should be visible.

Accessories

Surprisingly, men wearing a black tie dress code have more accessories than women.

The more difficult it is to choose the right ones and not make the wrong choice.

The bow tie

The butterfly is a must for the Invited exit, the most severe type of black tie. For the rest, you can choose a simple tie. But if a butterfly is chosen, then it must be tied!

A categorical "no" to such accessories with a fastener (clip).

It is advisable that the color and material of the bow tie is the same as that of the tuxedo. However, for Optional or Creative, it is possible to choose a butterfly in a contrasting bright color. A tie of a classic cut is allowed.

Cufflinks

For cufflinks, you need a special shirt with cuffs instead of buttons. Their color is the same as that of other accessories, for example, if a man wears a rose gold wedding ring, then the cufflinks should be of the same material.

In extreme cases, in simple metal, but in the same shade, with a rose gold finish. If, besides cufflinks, there are no other decorations, then any color is acceptable. Ideally, the materials of this accessory are gold, platinum, silver. But non-precious materials are also allowed. The main thing is that the view is presentable.

By style, cufflinks can be divided into several types:

• classic - strict and laconic in style and color. Suitable for Invited Black Tie;
• thematic - "tell" about the hobby or activity of the wearer (for example, cufflinks in the form of a soccer ball or stethoscope);
• extravagant - of an unusual shape or with the addition of colored enamel inserts. For example, cufflinks imitating a mechanism with letters representing the animal world.

Pocket handkerchief

The pocket square is optional. But it makes the image more interesting, elegant and diversifies the look. For decoration, the scarf can be beautifully folded and added to the breast pocket of the jacket.

Its color should be the same as the bow tie. There are a lot of folding options. You can simply fold the scarf several times and tuck it into the pocket so that a rectangular small part of the scarf is visible or stick out the corner.

Those with a good imagination can come up with their own interesting way of adding. It is important that the scarf is 2-3 cm visible and does not hang out of the pocket.

Clock

The watch can also be classified as an accessory. Of course, you should leave your sports models and fitness bracelets at home. Classic mechanical dials with gold or silver dials are preferred.

If a man did not wear a watch at all, then it is not worth putting it on at once on an exit.

Out of habit, such an accessory will interfere and distract. Of course, no fakes for expensive brands. Better to let "nameless" or watches of inexpensive brands. They have very decent specimens. There may be experts who will be able to distinguish a fake from the original. The attitude towards the carrier will immediately be negative.

Boutonniere

A boutonniere is a flower or a small bunch that is attached to the left lapel of a jacket. The main attribute of the groom. In other situations, it looks inappropriate.

It can be made of artificial materials, but recently boutonnieres made of fresh flowers have been very popular.

When choosing this option, several important points must be considered:

• The size. Too voluminous boutonniere looks funny, clown-like, and distracting. It's good if there is one small or several very small inflorescences, arranged in a bunch.
• Durability. Choose plants that can survive for several hours without water. Several spare boutonnieres can be ordered, which should be replaced as they wilt. But this is a troublesome and costly option.

Such an accessory is usually attached using a safety pin, which is hidden behind the boutonniere decorations.

Scarf

A rare and unusual addition to the image - a scarf... It is used in cool weather when part of the evening needs to be spent outside.

Of course, this should not be a warm woolen scarf.

Silk white only! Thrown over the shoulders and not tied. Suitable for strict and pretentious events. In other cases, it may look too pretentious.

Shoes and even socks

Evening dress is traditionally complemented by shoes with small heels. Invited dictates black classic leather boots. For the other 2 types, oxfords (boots with closed lacing) or derbies are possible (in them, the side parts of the boot are sewn on top of the central one, the lacing is open).

Colors are also possible options, for example, brown boots are good for a dark blue suit... Of course, these are innovations, initially there were no such liberties.

But over time, the rules of black tie have changed.

The fashionable style of Black Thai extends to such an invisible accessory in the image as socks.There is no choice: black with a high content of artificial threads, so that they keep their shape well and do not gather in folds at the ankle. Hopefully, the above rules will help you create your perfect Black Tie style.

Black Thai - useful videos

What you need to know about dress codes, how to dress in Black Thai style:

Black Thai - the right dresses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFjfYg6GFZ4