58 | VIPPensacola.com
story by
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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