Demystifying the Holiday Dress Code

The holiday season during the current pandemic may not include the formal celebrations of the past, but there will be a time and place for wearing a beautiful outfit and it never hurts to know the rules to dress code etiquette. Just as we benefit from carefully choosing the clothing we wear to work, dressing appropriately for any celebration can make all the difference in your confidence level and the image you put forward. Keep reading for my holiday dress code tips. 

Demystifying the Holiday Dress Code

According to Quincy Barnes, President at Rex Formal Wear, a San Antonio tradition since 1946 (Quincy is much younger!), a woman’s tuxedo is very fashionable and can be stylish, as well as functional for all occasions. Dating back to Marlene Dietrich, a woman’s tuxedo has always been in fashion. Today, Quincy has put together a true woman’s fit, worn to a holiday party or black tie event instead of a formal evening dress.

White Tie 

At the upper echelon of formality, be sure to plan in advance for this one, since you may have to purchase or rent the clothing. For men, this means a black tailcoat that’s shorter in the front and split to form tails in the back; black slacks with a satin stripe down the side; a white wing-collared shirt; white vest and bow tie, black patent leather shoes and matching black dress socks. For women, a formal, floor-length evening gown complete with long gloves, dressy heels and an elegant wrap for chilly weather. 

Black Tie 

Men wear a black tuxedo, a black bow-tie and cummerbund; a white shirt with cufflinks; black dress socks and black patent leather shoes. A floor-length gown, heels and a black or metallic clutch is the ticket for the ladies. Include earrings and a tasteful necklace.

Black Tie Optional 

Men can choose either to wear a tux or a dark suit with a white dress shirt and a conservative tie. Women have the choice of a long or knee-length cocktail dress. 

Creative Black Tie 

This dress code allows room for unique personalization of a formal dress or tuxedo—accent the look with colorful or seasonal accessories such as bow-ties, cummerbunds and festive conversation starters.

Cocktail

For men, a dark-colored suit and tie are standard, with a white or light-colored shirt. Cocktail dresses usually fall just above or just below the knee. 

Festive

This means “dress to impress.” While a suit is still in order, this is where men can have a little fun with color and fabric. Ladies have even more room to let their personal style shine through. Sequins and beads always add a special touch.

Business or Dressy Casual

This means a sport coat, dress slacks, open-collar shirt and leather shoes for men; women can choose from dresses, pant- or skirt-suits. Dressy Casual may open the door for a pair of nice jeans paired with a colorful sweater or blazer.

Casual

At this level of informality, the choices are fairly wide open. Avoid t-shirts or athletic wear. Your look should still say, “I put some effort into this.”

Certain Fashion Rules Apply to Every Occasion

Make sure all your clothing is in good repair and shoes are polished to perfection. Go easy on the jewelry and stick to fabrics that are suitable for the season (hello worsted wool; see you next summer, linen). Ladies, choose flattering outfits that accentuate your body type but avoid anything too low-cut, high-cut, clingy or otherwise overly revealing.

If the expected dress isn’t clear, sometimes you can glean clues from the invitation itself.

For example, a ballroom venue will likely have a less formal dress code than an event at a restaurant, and evening gatherings are generally more formal than daytime ones. When in doubt, reach out to the host to ask what’s appropriate for the party. If you are still not sure, it’s always better to be overdressed rather than being underdressed. Don’t hesitate to call your host for clarification.

Especially during the holidays, treat the occasion as worthy of special wardrobe consideration.

You may also like How to Handle Holiday Mishaps. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest,  Instagram and Twitter.