Black-Tie Optional Offers Additional Options for Gentlemen Who Wont Be Wearing Conventional Black Tie Effectively, the Optional in Black-Tie Optional means that men who do not wish to or are not able to wear conventional Black Tie have the option to wear something else
Black Dress & Neutral Accessories You can never go wrong with a black dress and classic neutrals
Instead, opt for refined attire that strikes a balance between formal and stylish, such as a well-tailored suit or a tasteful cocktail dress
Accessories As with conventional Black Tie, the area where you have the most significant amount of latitude in a Black-Tie Optional dress code is with your accessories
Its not casual or semi-casual: Sundresses dont qualify Casual midi dresses in cotton or jersey miss the mark Anything youd wear to brunch or shopping feels too relaxed Its not the same as cocktail attire: Black tie optional is slightly more formal Fabrics and overall polish matter more The formality ceiling is higher (full gowns work) Its not a suggestion to underdress: The optional part means you can skip the floor-length gown It doesnt mean you can significantly dress down Maintain elegant, special-occasion styling Building Versatile Options Smart shopping for black tie optional events considers future wear
In a black tie optional dress code, it is best thought of in terms of the other tag we mentioned aboveblack tie preferred