Dress Code Decoding for Women: The Dos and Don’ts

For the majority of formal and informal occasions, the most common men’s attires is usually a black tuxedo, long trousers, a white shirt, and a necktie. It is easy for the men to obey this dress code and they can buy this attire from almost anywhere to wear it to different events. But for the women, they should pay more attention to the dress code of the event they are going to attend since the dress code for White Tie, Black Tie, Creative Black Tie, Black Tie Optional, Cocktail, Festive, Business Formal, Business Informal and Casual Events is usually different for women. And in this article, we are going to help you decode the dress code for women and explain the Do’s and Don’ts and what items you should wear for each event. 

White Tie

White Tie is one dress code item that is reserved for the most formal events, and it is more popular for receptions, royal visits or a Viennese ball. Incorporating a White Tie in their outfit is very straightforward for men, but women should make sure to follow these Do’s and Don’ts while following a White Tie dress code:

Do’s

Do wear a gown with long length;

Do wear a decent amount of jewelry;

Do go with a really small purse and classic shoes;

Do put on long white gloves that reach over the elbow (optional);

Don’ts

Don’t go with loose hair to an event with white tie dress code;

Don’t reveal shoulder (you can use a fur to cover up your shoulders if you must wear a strapless dress);

Unlike many other dress codes, it is best to stay with the traditional designs and steer clear of trendy looks. 

Foolproof Outfit to wear to a White Tie event:A long gown that is fully lined. 

Black Tie

Black Tie event starts after 6 PM and there are a few requirements with this dress code for women. We will attend at least one event that requires us to follow the black-tie dress code every year. This dress code is reserved for formal social events but can be worn to other occasions as well if needed. For a woman, your attire should be appropriated and sophisticated to go with the Black Tie dress code. So to obey this dress code properly be mindful about following Dos and Don’ts: 

Do’s

Do wear a long preferably floor-length evening gown;

Do choose the black color or other bold and elegant color for your attire;

Do use the heavier, more elegant, layered fabric with shiny threads;

Don’ts

Don’t stick to the conservative style as you would with white tie attire since the dress code for black tie events is more lenient;

Don’t choose a bold style dress that would not be inappropriate for the occasion;

Don’t wear anything too bizarre or unconventional;

Don’t wear a dress with trains or fishtail hems;

Foolproof Outfit to wear with Black Tie dress code:A floor-length gown with shiny threads.

Creative Black Tie 

Creative Black Tie dress code will still require you to wear a formal floor-length gown same as the black-tie code. But the gowns could be more contemporary and fashionable with a Creative Black Tie dress code because the name suggests you can be creative with this dress code. Here are some creative black tie attire suggestions for a woman:

Do’s

Do wear a floor-length gown, a long cocktail dress, or a set of dressy separates;

Do go with a dress that has interesting shapes or drape;

Do add brighter and larger jewelry items;

Don’ts

Don’t wear anything white or bridal;

If there’s a theme, add an element like a conversational hat or other theme-related accessories for the event. 

Foolproof Outfit for Creative Black Tie dress code:A floor-length dress with ruffles on the skirt. 

Black Tie Optional

For a Black Tie Optional event, the dress is either formal or more fashionable. Since the word “optional” here means you can wear black tie attire—but you don’t have to if you don’t want to or don’t have any black dresses available. The dress code for a woman in this kind of event calls for the following things:

Do’s

Do wear a gown or dress to match the black-tie dress code;

Do choose dark, deep or bold colors for your attire;

Do go with stilettos, open-toes, high heeled pumps, or wedge shoes;

Don’ts

Don’t wear a cocktail dress with a very short hemline or a revealing dress;

A short dress will look less formal, so if you wear one, make sure it’s fancy and doesn’t look too casual.

Foolproof Outfit for Black Tie Optional dress code:A tea-length ball gown with deep color.

Cocktail

Cocktail event is also regarded as a semiformal event. The dress code for women is still dressy but more casual than the “black or white tie” events. When you are going to a cocktail event, you should wear a dress both appropriately and fun at the same time. The most common style is at or above-the-knee length dress, go with high heels, you will look decent and refined. When going to a cocktail event, as a woman, you could choose your attire according to the following instructions:

Do’s

Do choose bold, beautiful silhouettes and vibrant colors;

Do dress in a non-strict style, length around the knee; 

Do consider the little black dress or two-piece outfit;

Don’ts

Don’t forget the heels and bold lip;

Don’t wear a dress too revealing;

Foolproof Outfit for Black Tie Optional dress code:A little black dress with knee-length. 

Festive

Festive dress code encourages us to express the holiday cheer using our outfit.

For this kind of event, the dress code calls for the women to be careful about the following points:

Do’s

Do choose a cocktail dress that has the necessary bang for a night filled with fun and dancing;

Do add sequins, jewels, tartan and wear a dress that has festive colors, like red and green;

Don’ts

Don’t choose a festive dress with elk pattern;

It is sometimes called a casual dress code, but that does not mean we can visit the event in jeans, T-shirts or non-matching clothes we have to maintain a certain level of fanciness in our attire.

Foolproof Outfit for Festive dress code: A floral cocktail dress. 

Business

Business events include professional casual and formal events. This dress code is often used for events that take place in the daytime. 

• Business Casual dress code 

The business casual dress code means you need to wear office-appropriate clothes, women are suggested to:

Do’s

Do wear black trousers, a pencil skirt, blouse, heels or flats.

Do go with light jewelry nothing too bright and prominent;

Foolproof Outfit for Casual Business dress code:Fun blouse and black trousers. 

• Business formal dress code

In the business formal event, women are suggested to:

Do’s

Do wear the business-style dress or pantsuit with high heels;

Don’ts

Don’t wear a dress or skirt that is shorter than knee length;

Foolproof Outfit for Business Formal dress code:  A dark pantsuit. 

Casual

Apart from special occasions, most of us prefer to wear casual attires during our free time. As the casual attire dress code means you can wear anything you feel comfortable in. You can follow the following advice:

Do’s

Do wear jeans, casual blouse, flats, sundress, and sandals which you feel comfortable in;

Do add some jewelry to dress up your outfit;

Don’ts

Don’t show up in sweatpants no matter how casual the dress code is;

Foolproof Outfit for Casual dress code:T-shirt and jeans.

Keep these dress codes for each event in mind. When you received an invitation that has a special dress code, you will know the rules you need to follow after reading this article. Trust me, you will end up feeling beautiful, confident and having a good time!