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Courtney Murray

Engagement parties, holiday work soirees, weddings…these 

are times of celebration and some of the few events adults 

have the chance to get fancy for after Prom days are over. The 

invitations come fl ooding in through all avenues; Facebook, text, 

email, and even “snail mail”. Opening each one brings you joy 

and excitement, but deciphering the dress code can feel more 

daunting than taking the SATs! Invitation details are straight 

forward; date, time, location, purpose of the event….but when it 

comes to what to wear, why does it seem like you need to hire a 

FBI decoder? Black tie, black tie optional, and creative black 

tie, OH MY! The meaning of resort formal to one person 

might translate differently to another. So let’s take the 

guessing game out of getting dressed for your next big 

event and Break It Down.

Breaking Down Dress Codes

This is probably the most “straight forward” and universal dress 

code titles…at least for men. This means a tuxedo for men, but 

for women it can be a little harder. If the party starts at 6pm with 

a cocktail hour, you can usually get away with wearing a formal 

cocktail dress. If the event begins after 8pm, a long dress is 

preferred.

Black Tie

While this title seems to be 

contradictory, it simply means 

it’s a fancy affair, but with a 

little fl air! Women should be 

put together and dressed up, 

but also feel free to experiment 

with trends a little more. 

Men can step away from the 

traditional “penguin suit” and 

branch out a little with color 

and style of shirt and ties. 

Creative Black Tie

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1/26/19   3:38 PM