Help with white tie

[davedove]

White Tie
It is very rare to be invited to a White Tie event, unless it is a diplomatic event. For a White Tie event, men should wear a white bow tie, white waistcoat and black jacket with tails. Women should wear an elegant floor-length evening gown, gloves and jewelry. Historically “Formal” meant White Tie, but nowadays Formal generally refers to Black Tie.

Black Tie
For women, this historically would have required a long dress, but today a short dress or evening suit may do. For men, this requires a tuxedo. A tuxedo should be worn with a tuxedo shirt with matching studs and cufflinks, a bowtie (preferably hand-tied), patent leather shoes, and either a cummerbund or a waistcoat (never both). If you wear a cummerbund, it should be worn with the pleats facing up.

Black Tie Optional
For Black Tie Optional, you’ll have a little more selection in what you wear. You may simply dress the same as you would for a Black Tie event, or women may also wear dressy separates and men may wear a dark suit and tie.

Creative Black Tie
Creative Black Tie allows you to interpret Black Tie with a modern flair. Women may still wear a cocktail dress or gown, or evening suit, and men may wear a tux but with a bolo tie, black shirt without a tie, or something more daring but in keeping with the theme.

I have never been to a white tie event and probably never will be. In fact, I can say that I have never been to an event that was strictly black tie.

Probably the events that I have attended would probably be classified as Creative Black Tie Optional, things like formal nights on cruises and such. Tuxedos are fine to wear to the event, but certainly not required, and you don't have to follow the strict dress code.