Oh No, There's a Dress Code!

You are invited to a party, wedding or function and you see or your partner sees on the invite "dress code". I know my wife will go into panic and the six hour shopping marathon will be scheduled in (I no longer attend these torturous events).

Don't fret. It really doesn't have to be that difficult. Below I have listed a few helpful tips for what a male should wear.

Formal dress

This means get out the tux/dinner suit. If yours is a little dated, and looks old and tattered, go shopping and get yourself a new one. You are invited to a formal occasion so you don't want to stick out like a sore thumb with an old outfit. Make sure you wear a dinner shirt (wing collar and pleats down the front), not just a plain white shirt. There are many clip-on bow ties out there. Just check with the host to see if it is black tie or will any colour do. If you are planning to go to a few formal events then definitely invest in a new dinner suit. If this is your one and only, you can cheat and buy a plain black suit which you can wear as a dinner suit and as a normal suit (after a few drinks no one will notice). Make sure your dinner suit has the satin trip on the lapel, pockets and down the seam of the trouser leg.

Black tie optional

This is a formal event and your host will most likely wear a dinner suit (tuxedo). You can get away with wearing a dark suit with a white shirt (double cuffs if you like), and a subtle tie. You don't want to stand out, but you want to look sharp. A Dinner Suit is preferable but you now have the option.

Casual / smart

This is a sort of free for all, but no jeans please. Dark trousers maybe combined with a nice smart two button sports jacket. Your choice of shirt could be something jazzy if it is a party and you will be showing your moves on the dance floor. If you are unsure about wearing a tie, give your host a call and they will set you straight.

Not specified

If your invite has nothing mentioned about dress code, then again give your host a call. They probably haven't even thought about it and it is casual event anyway.