A wedding invitation<\/a> just arrived in the mail. Towards the bottom? A dress code you\u2019ve never seen before: white tie attire.<\/em><\/p>\n For some select, elevated occasions, a white tie dress code is still used to indicate the highest level of formality. According to Emily Post<\/a>, \u201cThe white tie dress code indicates that guests are high-caliber, royal, or have high social standing.\u201d<\/p>\n The rare dress code comes with certain and very specific stipulations, making it feel more daunting than the others. Here, we break down the white tie dress code.<\/p>\n For women\u2014or those wanting a more traditionally feminine look\u2014white tie requires a full-length gown<\/a> in an evening fabric like silk, chiffon, or velvet. Evening gloves are also welcome, but not required.<\/p>\n For men\u2014or anyone who wants to embrace masculine style\u2014white tie is straightforward, albeit specific. According to the 2010 G.Q. Style<\/em> Guide, the look comprises a black tailcoat and trousers, worn with a white wing-collared shirt, vest (generally of piqu\u00e9 cotton), and white bow tie. Importantly, white tie requires an evening tailcoat, not<\/em> a morning coat. \u201cWaist-length in front and knee-length in back, it falls away more sharply than a morning coat, is double-breasted, and is worn at night with white tie,\u201d GQ<\/em> advises. Emily Post<\/a> also mentions matching trousers that are adorned with \u201ca single stripe of satin or braid in the U.S.\u201d The outfit, according to the American etiquette authority, should also be accented by white gloves. In an 1885 article<\/a> in The New York<\/em> Times,<\/em> it was noted that men\u2019s watches must conceal their wristwatches: \u201cThose who cannot manage a perfect seclusion for it must leave it at home.\u201d<\/p>\n Victoria and David Beckham attending a 2024 state banquet at Buckingham Palace, adhering to white tie dress code.<\/p>\n <\/span>Photo: Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Black tie leaves far more room for interpretation for all parties. For men, black tie permits a suit or a tuxedo, while white tie demands the black tailcoat and white bowtie brief as explained above.<\/p>\n For women, it\u2019s a bit simpler. Oftentimes, a long dress in evening fabrics suits both dress codes. While, in some instances, a dressed-up cocktail dress<\/a> can work for black tie, white tie always requires a full-length gown.<\/p>\n For more guidance on the black tie dress code, see our guide here<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhat is white tie?<\/h2>\n
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What is the difference between white tie and black tie?<\/h2>\n
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