Formal Dinner Attire: What to Wear to Your Next Formal Dinner

Wondering what to wear to your next formal dinner? Our guide details the attire choices to make a lasting impression.

Formal Dinner Attire: What to Wear to Your Next Formal Dinner

Formal dinners are fun, fancy, and thrilling events, and you might be very excited about your formal dinner invitation until you start thinking about what to wear. For many of us, formal dinners are not a common occasion, and we may not know what to wear when it comes to attending a formal dinner with a strict dress code. Fortunately, our guide below tells you exactly what to wear to your next formal dinner, so you can dress to impress.

What Is a Formal Dinner?

A formal dinner is a structured, sit-down meal that typically has a certain set of expectations when it comes to both etiquette and dress code. Guests at formal dinners are typically expected to wear either formal white tie or black tie attire, and guests typically receive seating assignments. All parts of a formal dinner are meticulously planned out, and these events are typically considered to be high in formality overall.

Venues that typically host formal dinners include ballrooms, country clubs, and upscale hotels. Staff at formal dinners are typically present and trained on specific etiquette standards, and guests are given an overview of the menu and other expectations ahead of time.

Will Formal Dinners Have Dress Codes?

Formal dinners are exactly that−formal. Guests invited to formal dinners must wear formal attire, either white tie or black tie, depending on the rules set forth by the specific formal dinner event. In some cases, a formal dinner might allow cocktail-style attire, but this is not typical, and you should not count on this being the case.

Is There a Difference Between Black Tie and White Tie Attire?

While these two types of formal dress codes sound similar, there is actually a specific set of standards you will need to adhere to depending on whether your formal dinner event is black tie or white tie.

White tie is the more formal of these two options, and men must wear a black tailcoat with matching pants, white shirt, white vest, and white bow tie. For female guests, a formal floor-length gown is a necessity, and many choose to wear formal gloves to enhance the formality of their outfit. Makeup, hair, and jewelry should also be rather upscale and classy to complement the look.

Black tie is more relaxed than white tie in terms of options for both men and women, but outfits should still be formal, upscale, and more on the modest side.

Formal Dinner Attire: What to Wear

Figuring out what to wear to your next formal dinner can be a confusing process, especially if you have never attended a formal dinner previously. In general, there is a strict set of standards when it comes to male and female attire, though some gender norms are slightly relaxed these days, as long as the formal dinner attire you wear is upscale and deliberately chosen.

For female guests, the following formal dinner attire is appropriate:

• Floor-length gowns, or a more modest cocktail-style dress for less strictly black-tie events
• Evening gloves, which typically match the formal gown and go up to the elbow
• High-heels
• A small purse or clutch
• Formal makeup and jewelry as desired to match the formal gown and style of the event

For men, the following formal dinner attire is appropriate:

• A tuxedo, for formal dinners
• A black tailcoat with matching pants and a white shirt, plus a white bow tie, for white tie events
• A formal suit, in a muted or darker color
• Dress shoes
• Cufflinks, a tie, or a bow tie as needed

For some women, wearing formal dresses is not necessarily their thing. In these cases, a woman may be able to wear a tailored suit in the style of a formal man’s attire, as long as the dress code does not expressly request that women wear formal, floor-length dresses.

It’s also important to note that no dress should be much above the knee in a formal dinner situation, even if the black tie is optional. Formal events typically lend themselves to more modest attire for both men and women, and revealing lots of skin or wearing ill-fitting clothing may be considered a faux pas.

Where Can I Purchase Formal Dinner Attire?

Formal dinner attire can be purchased in specialty shops, boutique shops, and your local mall. You can also browse the Sherri Hill Collection for both floor-length gowns and formal cocktail-style dresses to wear to your next formal dinner. Make sure when selecting a dress that it both meets dress code requirements and allows you to be comfortable and confident throughout the dinner.

Dressing to Impress at a Formal Dinner

Dressing to impress at your next formal dinner is essential, especially if you are attending your first formal dinner and want to be invited to more. Make sure you follow dress code rules and take the time to think about your chosen formal attire to ensure it both meets requirements and helps you feel like the most confident, glamorous version of yourself.