Tips dress code

Dress-code

You are going to attend a social gathering, presentation or a ball. On the invitation you find out a mysterious abbreviation, e.g. Black Tie or A5. For the person who is going to attend an official ceremony, you can’t avoid the knowledge of social etiquette.
It could be referred to a visit to a one-class night club with the strict face control, semiofficial dinner in a pompous restaurant, benefit evening or embassy reception. Such events are usually accompanied by a wish or even a request to dress in accordance with a certain dress-code, indicated on the invitation.

Codes

Court dress — a court dress, dictated by the relevant court

Formal (Full formal, Full dress, Formal attire) – woman’s evening gowns, men’s Morning dress – bright (except for funerals) dress-coat or suit with a light jacket or a tie, in the evening – White tie – a black dress-coat with a white bow-tie.

Semi-formal (Smoking, Le Smoking) — women’s cocktail dress (preferably during daytime) or evening dresses, men’s dress-coat with a dark bow-tie (during daytime Stroller may be required — a less formal kind of Morning dress).

Informal (Cocktail (old-style) or Business attire) — formal suits.

Smart casual (Business casual (old-style), Cocktail (new style), Executive Casual, Corporate Casual) — women’s slacks, jeans or skirt with blouse or polo shirt, also acceptable a fashionable belt, a jacket or a sweater depending on general style, boots or middle heeled shoes that are worn with panty-hose, stocking or socks. Such accessories like earrings are acceptable, but it should be in tune with the other suit. Men’s trousers (sometimes jeans) and a long-sleeved shirt (could be without a tie), shoes of moccasin type, could be worn with socks to wear them with suits, a belt is obligatory. It is possible to wear a blazer (not a windcheater)

Business casual (Dressy, Resort Casual, Country Club, Casual chic, Semi-casual, Neat casual) — women’s capri pants, long shorts or fabric trousers (usually not jeans or heavy cotton fabric trousers) with polo; men’s shirt or polo and cotton fabric trousers with a strap and shoes, that are worn with socks.

Additional Information

White tie, Ultra-formal (Cravate blanche – Fr.): "White Tie". The most formal man’s suits for ceremonies.

Possible events: evening President’s reception, Ambassador’s wedding, a ball, an awarding ceremony and so on.
Men’s clothing: dress-code with a white bow-tie, lacquer shoes and pocket watches. A waistcoat under no circumstances should be white or black; otherwise You could be put down for a waiter. White gloves are welcomed.
Women’s clothing: full evening dress: a floor-length evening gown, gloves, heeled shoes and very small evening bag. Not acceptable: unfastened hair, bare hands

Black Tie (Cravate noire – Fr.): "Black Tie".

Possible events: Black Tie Gala Evening, e.g. Christmas or Weddings, premiere etc.
Men’s clothing: a dinner-jacket
Women’s clothing: cocktail dress or long evening gown. Some bijouterie and absence of furskin are acceptable.

Formal: "formal evening event". Usually have the same meaning as Black Tie, but sometimes can mean more fashionable appearance, creativity.

Possible events: the same as Black Tie.
Men’s clothing: a dinner-jacket (preferably) or a dark evening suit with a tie
Women’s clothing: cocktail dress or long dress or evening clothing assembly of separate pieces of clothing

Black Tie Invited: "Black Tie is welcomed".

Possible events: supper-party in a pompous restaurant, corporation banquet, family celebration with many guests etc. If it is referred to cocktail, it usually means evening, but not festive occasion, typically with drink and fourchette
Men’s clothing: in this case it is better to wear a classical dinner-jacket.
Women’s clothing: a cocktail dress, a long dress, a smart costume

Black Tie Optional: "black tie is not obligatory".

Possible events: the same as Black Tie Invited.
Men’s clothing: a dinner-jacket can be replaced with a dark suit with a tie.
Women’s clothing: a cocktail dress, evening separates (separate pieces of clothing that are not a set), a smart costume

Creative Black Tie: "black tie, creativity".

Possible events: the same as Black Tie Invited.
Men’s clothing: Such dress-code means wider field for a formal suit interpretation, some fashionable novelties is acceptable. A dinner-jacket with non-traditional accessories or non-traditional colors. If you have any doubts you can wear a classical dress-coat with variegated, but not “clownish” waistcoat or an informal dress-coat with a dark shirt without tie
Women’s clothing: a long or a short dress or evening clothing assembly, e.g. a figured skirt or a skirt with spangles combined with a thin cashmere sweater.

Cocktail Attire: "Cocktail"

Possible events: the same as Black Tie Invited.
Men’s clothing: a dark suit
Women’s clothing: a cocktail dress

Semi-formal: "semiformal". It is the catchiest dress-code. As if it accepts freedom, but strictly in accordance with the event.

Possible events: the same as Black Tie Invited.
Men’s clothing: usually a dinner-jacket is not obligatory. For the events after 18-00 a preference is given to a dark suit
Women’s clothing: after 18-00 it is better to wear a cocktail dress (long is not recommended). Before this time a smart costume or a smart morning dress

A5 (After Five): "after five". Such denotation can be supplemented by others, e.g., A5 Semi formal. Otherwise A5 means "Cocktail".

Possible events: any evening event starting after 17-00
Men’s clothing: a suit, but not a business suit. A tie is not obligatory
Women’s clothing: a cocktail dress or smart separates, e.g., an opened top and a skirt. As an alternative – a smart costume with a skirt or trousers

A5c (After 5 casual ) or Dressy Casual: "informal evening dress style" (after 5 p.m.).

Possible events: the same as A5.
Men’s clothing: the word casual should not misinform you. It doesn’t refer to old jeans, but to fashionable and snipy designers or famous brands clothing regardless of a smart jacket or a silk polo shirt.
Women’s clothing: It is better to choose an elegant feminine costume or a smart morning dress.

Casual: - free form clothing style.

Possible events: Corporation parties, e.g. picnic and so on.
Clothing: It is better to take into account a character of the event. In some cases it is better to wear an elegant, than informal clothing
Informal: - means the same as "casual".

Btr (Business Traditional) or Undress: "traditional business suit" or "informal clothing".

Possible events: a business meeting
Clothing: a common business suit
Bb (Business Best): "the strictest and the most expensive business suit".
Possible events: an important business meeting, especially with foreign partners, a business reception.
Men’s clothing: the best business suit, usually dark blue, possibly with stripes, single or double-breasted, with a dazzling white shirt (better double cuff and cuff links) and red ties, with pocket squares. Shoes – only black Oxford and Derby type shoes.
Women’s clothing: a grey, blue or beige costume, a white blouse, a tie is acceptable, body-color transparent stockings, black or costume color low-heeled shoes (3-5 cm)

The most popular dress-codes are Smart Casual, Semi Formal, Informal, A5, Black Tie, less frequently could be White Tie. Informal dress-code is also popular, i.e. is not internationally accepted, but fabled by event’s organization men, e.g. Total Black (in black from top to toe) or Orange Party (You are invited in orange clothing). Business people can get an invitation to an afternoon or morning event marked with Br or Btr.

Social etiquette

Beside Dress-code designations, there can be other important arbitrary signs. Those could be:

S.t. (sine tempore - Lat.) - accurately, just in time, on time;
C.t. (cum tempore - Lat.) – no later than a quarter (academic delay);
R.S.V P (Reponse S'il Vous Plait - Fr.) - reply requested

Ignoring the latter is the biggest breach of the social etiquette. If your are invited to the presentation, a ball or reception, regardless of whether you are going to attend it or not, first of all, call or write the answer. Your answer must be delivered no later than on the eve of the event.
If it is not specified to "two persons" and not individually mentioned the desired presence of a husband or a wife, it is better to come alone. Business events also do not imply the presence of a husband or a wife, unless he (she) is not a business partner. Typically, the companion should be led to jaunt social events - balls, benefit evenings, concerts and dinners.