With social gatherings slowly coming back, you might start receiving invitations to dinner parties again. Finally!
And while hanging out with people is exciting, many people get stressed out about what to wear!
Don’t worry; all you need to know is the party’s dress code, and we have the rest covered. If the dress code is not indicated in the invite, don’t be shy and check with the host to make sure you get our outfit right. The usual dress code options are casual, smart casual, suit and “black tie”.
Casual dress codeÂ
If you’re going to a casual dinner party at your friend’s house, you don’t need to overthink things! You want to be relaxed and comfortable. However, this doesn’t mean you should show up in a pair of sweats!
Your best choices are nice, comfortable jeans (preferably dark blue, black or grey). Also, buy premium t-shirts online from FreshCleanTees and pair it with a cardigan for a perfect fit.
Another option can be chinos or cotton trousers paired with a denim or plaid shirt or a cashmere or merino wool jumper. Jackets and blazers look good, but they’re not the most comfortable.
Don’t forget to wear clean, new socks and, if the gathering is outside, leather shoes, sneakers, loafers or boat shoes.
Smart Casual dress code
So your host has informed you that the dress code is smart casual? Easy! Pair a nice pair of chinos in navy, grey or olive with a crisp white or light blue shirt and a blazer.
If it’s chillier, you can also opt for wool trousers and a shirt or smart jeans and a suit jacket. The idea here is to combine smart and casual clothes (e.g., smart bottoms and a more casual top and vice versa).
Try to keep the colour palette neutral and avoid primary colours and eclectic patterns to keep it simple and tight.
Don’t forget nice leather shoes (Oxfords) or loafers.
Suit dress codeÂ
It’s pretty easy to dress for this dress code as it clearly states what to wear. It doesn’t mean that you should look boring, though!
Today you can get some incredible suits in more colors than just black or grey, and we say – go for it. Wearing a tie is often optional in this case, so it’s up to you or how about a bow tie?
We also recommend adding some accessories to keep the look sharp and unique. The best and safe options are a classic watch, cufflinks, nice minimalistic bracelets and rings. Just don’t overdo it.
If you feel like there’s some leeway for interpretation here, swapping a formal shirt to a nice tight tee is also a great option.
Black tie or black tie optional dress codeÂ
If the invitation says “black tie”, it means you’ve got to put some effort here and that probably there will be some fancy hor’s dourves there! In this case, you need to wear a tuxedo, white evening shirt, a bow tie, black socks and polished black shoes without any scuff marks.
If the black tie is optional, you’re given space to decide between a tux and a sharp business suit (dark navy or best–black).
Here, a crisp white shirt is your go-to, but you can always opt for navy or salmon if you want to experiment.
Don’t compromise on shoes and choose polished leather ones in black or dark brown if you’re wearing a navy suit.
Lastly, add some pizzaz with a pocket square, cufflinks and a nice watch. Oh, and don’t forget to get a haircut too!
