Black tie, cocktail attire and wedding guest dress codes for men

02

Black tie optional

The hosts will wear tuxedos and will welcome them, but a dark, well-fitted suit is fine. Choose black, charcoal or navy, a white shirt and a dark tie.

03

Cocktail attire

Cocktail attire means a suit. A tie is optional. You can wear more colour here: grey, a green or burgundy suit, or a patterned tie. See suit colours.

04

Wedding guest

Follow the dress code on the invitation. If there is none, wear a suit. Navy, grey or charcoal suits a day wedding. Avoid white and avoid looking more formal than the groom.

05

Business formal and business casual

• Business formal: a dark suit, a dress shirt and a tie.
• Business casual: a blazer or sport coat with dress trousers, a tie optional.
• Smart casual: a blazer with dark jeans or chinos and an open collar.

07

Church and religious ceremonies

Wear a suit or a blazer with dress trousers, a dress shirt and a tie. Keep colours quiet. For a christening, a first communion or a religious wedding, follow what the family asks for, and when in doubt wear navy.

08

Funerals

Wear charcoal or black, a white shirt, a dark tie and black shoes. Keep everything plain.

09

Job interviews

Wear navy or charcoal, a white or light blue shirt and a quiet tie. The suit should fit well and look pressed. If the company dresses casually, a navy blazer and grey trousers are a safe step down.

10

When the invitation says nothing

Wear a suit. It is easier to take off a tie than to add one. If you need help reading an invitation, bring it to Blite at 37742 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, or call or text (586) 983-9143, and a stylist will tell you what to wear.

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Black tie optional: how to decide

If you own a tuxedo, wear it. If not, wear a dark suit: black, charcoal or navy, a white shirt and a dark tie. If the event is in the evening and most guests are the hosts' close family, lean toward the tuxedo.

13

Semi-formal

Semi-formal means a suit, often lighter in colour for a day event. A blazer with dress trousers and a tie can also work. Ties are expected unless the invitation says otherwise.

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Day or evening

The same dress code looks different by time of day. Before 5 pm, lighter colours and brown shoes are fine. After 5 pm, darker suits and black shoes are expected. An evening event in a Sterling Heights hall or a Detroit hotel reads more formal than an afternoon garden party with the same invitation.

15

Graduations and award dinners

For a graduation, a suit or a blazer with dress trousers. For an award dinner, follow the invitation; if it says business attire, a dark suit and tie.

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Reading the invitation

The dress code is usually on the bottom of the invitation or on the couple's or host's website. Look at the time of day, the venue and the wording together. An evening event in a hotel ballroom or a country club is formal even when the card only says "evening". A backyard party in July is relaxed even when it says "dress to impress".

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Dressing for cultural and religious weddings

Many weddings in Sterling Heights and across Metro Detroit follow family and religious traditions, with a ceremony and a reception that can run long into the night. Ask the couple what guests wear. A dark suit with a tie is right for most church ceremonies and receptions. Some families welcome colour; others expect black or navy. When the event runs from afternoon to late evening, choose a suit that works in both lights, such as navy or charcoal.

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Building one wardrobe for every dress code

Four pieces cover almost every invitation: a navy suit, a charcoal suit, a navy or sand blazer, and a black tuxedo. Add white and light blue shirts, a few ties, a black bow tie, black oxfords and brown loafers. With those on the rail, a stylist can dress you for business, cocktail, black tie optional and black tie.

20

Dress codes for work events

Office parties, client dinners and conferences in Sterling Heights, Troy and across Metro Detroit have their own codes. A holiday party in the evening usually means a suit, with a tie optional. A client dinner means a dark suit and a tie unless the host says otherwise. A conference day means business casual: a blazer, dress trousers and a shirt, with a suit for the day you present. An awards evening or a company gala often says black tie or black tie optional.

• Holiday party: a suit, tie optional.
• Client dinner: a dark suit and a tie.
• Conference: a blazer and dress trousers; a suit when presenting.
• Company gala: follow the card, usually black tie optional.