Formal Men's Wear Etiquette

Formal wear

To look great for a special event, it's important to know proper formal wear etiquette. Men have the option to choose a more traditional or contemporary style of dress. The formality of the event and whether the event will take place during daytime (before 6 pm) or the evening (after 6 pm) also may affect dress code etiquette.

Daytime Jacket

Tuxedos

For a formal event, a gray cutaway jacket is the traditional choice. A tuxedo or a cutaway jacket of any color is the contemporary choice. For a semi-formal event, the traditional jacket is a black or charcoal colored tuxedo, while a tuxedo or cutaway in any color is the contemporary style.

Evening Jacket

Tailcoat

In the traditional style, a black tailcoat is worn to a formal event while the contemporary choice is a tailcoat of any color. For a semi-formal event, the traditional style for winter is the black classic tuxedo while the traditional style for summer is a white dinner jacket. The contemporary choice for a semi-formal event does not consider the season and is a tuxedo or tailcoat in any color.

Pants

Matching pants and jacket

The traditional formal and semi-formal style suggest gray stripe pants to match the jacket. The contemporary formal and semi-formal pants can be in any color as long as they match the jacket.

Black pants are the traditional choice for both formal and semi-formal wear. Contemporary outfits require that the pants match the color of the jacket for both formal and semi-formal events.

Shirt

White formal shirt

Contemporary style shirts should be white and formal, no matter what time of day or event formality. White laydown collars are often worn for traditional daytime events. For evening events, the traditional formal style is a white, piqué, wing-collar shirt, while the semi-formal is a white, pleated front or piqué shirt.

Accessories

Vest

For a daytime event, traditional formal style suggests a gray waistcoat or vest and ascot. An alternative is a gray-and-black striped four-in-hand tie with laydown collar shirt. The traditional semi-formal style accessories are a gray waistcoat and a striped four-in-hand tie. Contemporary formal and semi formal style suggests a vest or cummerbund with a bow tie that matches the jacket and pants.

For an evening event, the formal traditional style accessories suggest a white piqué vest or waistcoat and white bow tie. A black vest or cummerbund with a bow tie are the semi-formal traditional choices. Contemporary formal and semi-formal wear is a vest or cummerbund with a bow tie that matches the jacket and pants.

Shoes

Formal shoes

For daytime events, kid style black shoes with a smooth toe should be worn traditionally to a formal or semi-formal event. Contemporary style allows any type of formal shoe as long as they match the outfit.

For evening events, black patent shoes with a smooth toe are traditionally worn to both formal and semi-formal events. Contemporary style allows any type of formal shoe as long as they match the outfit.

Other Accessories

Tophat

For daytime formal events, traditional style suggests other accessories such as gray gloves, a top hat or spats. For a semi-formal event, the traditional style includes a pair of gray gloves. A pair of white gloves should be worn to traditional formal events in the evening.

References

• Formal Wear Etiquette