What Should A Woman Wear To A Black Tie Event | Montique Musings | Style & Inspiration (2024)

FAQs

What Should A Woman Wear To A Black Tie Event | Montique Musings | Style & Inspiration? ›

Women are required to dress in a floor length gown or a gown with a full skirt, elegant jewellery and accessories and have their hair in an updo or soft waves. Block colours such as black or navy will suit best for a traditional black tie dress code but more contemporary shades can also be appropriate.

The black tie dress code for women epitomises elegance and sophistication, calling for a formal and polished look. Black tie can best be translated to 'long' evening gowns. Floor length evening gowns have always encapsulated a formal look with modern finesse, radiating elegance and grace.

Men are requested to wear a tuxedo, but can opt for a dark suit. Women can choose either a formal evening gown, a shorter co*cktail dress, or dressy separates.

Avoid overly short and revealing hemlines, black tie calls for a more chic hemline (stick with a full length or midi skirt). Leave the tennis shoes at home, black tie events require smarter shoes think kitten heels, strappy stilettos or block heeled sandals.

Generally speaking, “black tie” for women means “long.” A floor-length dress in an evening-appropriate fabric, such as velvet, chiffon, silk, or lace, is the best bet.

But to be clear, a black tie dress code does not require a woman to wear black. Every colour is acceptable and there are some fantastic, jewel tones out there just screaming the right level of opulence for a fancy occasion.

Shorter dresses in formal fabrics or with elevated details (and paired with ultra-glam accessories) are typically acceptable at a black-tie wedding. "A dressy co*cktail dress is appropriate—when you see sparkly or brocade fabric, that's still considered black tie," says Swann.

Creative black tie outfits include the use of different patterns and prints to create your own fun and personalized look. It enables you to think outside the box. You can get bolder with colors and textures instead of sticking to the classic and predictable black.

The black tie dress code is the most formal dress code for evening events. It's characterized by a black dinner jacket (also known as a tuxedo) with matching trousers, a white dress shirt, and a black bow tie. The jacket can be single or double-breasted, and it's usually made of wool or velvet.

Formal dinners generally only require men to wear smart suits and women to wear dresses or other smart attire. Black-tie events, meanwhile, are stricter, with expectations of tuxedos and floor-length gowns.

What should you never do at a black tie event? ›

You should't wear casual clothing such as jeans, T-shirts, shorts, jumpers and trainers. It's also best to avoid suits that aren't black (or dark blue) and patterned ties or shirts.

For a touch of color, stick to gem hues like emerald, amethyst, or garnet, which are also great for fall weddings. If the wedding is for a modern couple, you may also be able to wear brighter hues like red, pink, or yellow.

Wearing a floor-length gown, tea-length or co*cktail dress, or formal pant suit are all appropriate for this Black Tie event. Color is your friend, however, try to avoid anything too bright or floral patterned for an evening event.

Anything too casual – As stated above, black tie is a very formal dress code. You don't want to overdress with a white-tie outfit (a tailcoat, white waistcoat, and white bow tie), but you also don't want to appear undressed. Try to avoid anything that may appear too casual.

Emily Post Institute offers a similar definition: “A black-tie optional dress code gives guests a couple of formal options to choose from. Men are requested to wear a tuxedo, but can opt for a dark suit. Women can choose either a formal evening gown, a shorter co*cktail dress, or dressy separates.”

To be sure of what type of ensemble you should wear to the black tie event, it is imperative to know what kind of celebration will occur. The essential items for a black tie event are a dark suit, a shirt with cufflinks, a thin belt, dark shoes and the most important accessory, the dark bow tie or tie.

Typically, black tie optional wedding attire for women calls for either tea-length or floor-sweeping evening gowns. From there, the options are endless! Choose a floaty chiffon gown for a whimsical touch, or go the sultry and sophisticated route with a silky dress that hugs your curves.

Midi length is the preferred length for many women who want dresses to attend formal or semi-formal events. Maxi Length – Maxi dresses can be flattering if you are over 60 because it makes sure that everything is safely covered. It is elegant and suitable for fancier occasions.