What Is Formal Dress for Women?

Formal dress is defined as attire suitable for special occasions, such as weddings, religious confirmations, high-level business meetings, audiences with heads of state and similar occasions. Formal dress for women usually calls for floor-length gowns, although this can vary according to the occasion.

The only hard and fast rule for proper daytime wedding attire for women is that black is never appropriate. White should also be avoided, although cream is acceptable. For formal daytime weddings, a knee-length to ankle-length dress is usually acceptable. Suitable fabrics include velvet, silk, cashmere, taffeta, chiffon, and brocade, depending on the time of year. Dressy separates can be acceptable if they are suitably tailored, although a business suit is almost never dressy enough. Suitable dress shoes and jewelry should also be worn.

For nighttime formal weddings, the most common choice for women is a floor-length gown. Unlike with daytime weddings, black is appropriate for nighttime formal weddings, as long as the dress is clearly festive in style. Shorter dresses may also be worn, although not usually above knee length. Formal wraps may be worn during cooler weather. Dressy heels and jewelry should complete the ensemble, along with an elegantly styled hairdo. Necklines and hemlines should not be extreme for a formal nighttime wedding.

Black tie refers to a level of formality rather than the specific dress required. For women, black tie can mean an evening gown, a cocktail dress or even the ever-popular "little black dress." Black tie for women is similar to attire for a formal evening wedding, except that black tie attire for women may be more daring in hemlines and necklines, because there is no need to avoid upstaging a bride.

White tie is the ultimate level of formality. Women are required to wear floor-length gowns. There may even be a specification for ball gowns, as opposed to evening gowns. Ball gowns are usually worn with taffeta undergarments and are often worn with long opera (elbow-length) gloves. White tie calls for the very best jewelry and shoes the woman has in her possession.

Along with the traditional designations for formal attire, there are new classifications, such as "festive attire" or "creative black tie." For such occasions, the idea is to dress for a celebration or party, with a dressy element included. Semi-formal attire such as a cocktail dress or little black dress, or even a floor-length dress, is usually appropriate for such occasions.