What does "Evening attire (not black tie)" mean for women?
November 2, 2004 1:44 PM Subscribe
Ladies of AskMe: When the wedding invitation says "Evening attire (not black tie)" what do you wear?
Does it make a difference if the wedding will take place in the UK?
Does it make a difference if the wedding will take place in the UK?
I don't know if it makes a difference in the UK, but what that would mean to me here in Indiana, USA would be men wearing suits and ties (but not tuxes,) and women wearing tailored suits or knee-length or tea-length gowns (nothing floor length or mini.)
posted by headspace at 1:50 PM on November 2, 2004
posted by headspace at 1:50 PM on November 2, 2004
because it says "not black tie", i'd go with a cocktail dress, but nothing floor length. heavily beaded dresses are "black tie" formal; sequin accents are not. likewise, ballgowns with the big cinderella skirt are "black tie" formal, but a shorter skirt with a crinoline probably isn't.
an pantsuit would probably be appropriate, but dress pants and a nice blouse or sweater would be too casual.
(despite the fact that over 98% of my clothes are black, i don't wear black to weddings. )
and a hat. doesn't everyone wear hats to weddings in the UK?
posted by crush-onastick at 1:52 PM on November 2, 2004
an pantsuit would probably be appropriate, but dress pants and a nice blouse or sweater would be too casual.
(despite the fact that over 98% of my clothes are black, i don't wear black to weddings. )
and a hat. doesn't everyone wear hats to weddings in the UK?
posted by crush-onastick at 1:52 PM on November 2, 2004
I'm a guy, so I'm a little off topic, but what's "neat casual"?
I don't have anything between jeans-and-a-t-shirt and the suits I wear to work. I have nicer suits than the ones I wear to work and I have a full-length leather jacket that absolutely rocks. But I've never worked out "neat casual" -- I'm always under or over dressed. (And I'm never the only one, so it can be hard to workout what I should be wearing based on the other guys.)
posted by krisjohn at 2:39 PM on November 2, 2004
I don't have anything between jeans-and-a-t-shirt and the suits I wear to work. I have nicer suits than the ones I wear to work and I have a full-length leather jacket that absolutely rocks. But I've never worked out "neat casual" -- I'm always under or over dressed. (And I'm never the only one, so it can be hard to workout what I should be wearing based on the other guys.)
posted by krisjohn at 2:39 PM on November 2, 2004
Best answer: fyi, an evening wedding is black tie unless noted.
An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:47 PM on November 2, 2004
An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:47 PM on November 2, 2004
krisjohn, I'd take that to be decent pants, a nice belt, and a polo shirt or a comfortable dress shirt. Dress like this guy.
Not that I bother caring about that stuff myself, anyways. :-D
posted by shepd at 3:17 PM on November 2, 2004
Not that I bother caring about that stuff myself, anyways. :-D
posted by shepd at 3:17 PM on November 2, 2004
krisjohn neat casual means no tie, but no dockers either. a suit wouldn't be completely out of place, but it's not necessary. jeans are out of the question, and i would say so are dockers. sorry shep, a golf shirt is not neat casual; it's casual. a collarless sweater can be neat casual, depending upon the fabric. a button-down is, as are the poncy sort of turtlenecks you see at armani exchange or kenneth cole or guess.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2004
posted by crush-onastick at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2004
Every woman wears a hat to weddings in the UK. Here's a UK website. I think you can't go wrong with silk satin and a little hat.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:09 PM on November 2, 2004
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:09 PM on November 2, 2004
If you are taking a male date, he'll be wearing a suit. Wear something that you think is the female equivalent to that - no more dressed up and no less.
posted by orange swan at 7:49 PM on November 2, 2004
posted by orange swan at 7:49 PM on November 2, 2004
crush-onastick, you don't wanna see what I consider "casual". :-D
This year, someone managed to get me to wear actual shoes instead of $10 runners to work. I'm actually starting to like them... they're definately lasting longer than runners do.
posted by shepd at 8:34 PM on November 2, 2004
This year, someone managed to get me to wear actual shoes instead of $10 runners to work. I'm actually starting to like them... they're definately lasting longer than runners do.
posted by shepd at 8:34 PM on November 2, 2004
Best answer: shep: probably not! but i wouldn't hold it against you. :)
madman: a cocktail dress is, basically, a short formal dress, which, by virtue of being short, makes it less formal, but no less elegant. it's worn for late afternoon and evening social functions and dressier than an afternoon dress. theortically, it's showier and less formal than something you'd wear to a dinner party, but let's face it, that's a dated social convention.
cocktail length varies, but it should never be more than two inches above or two inches below the knee. anything above is too casual, anything below too matronly. at some point, black became synonomous with cocktail dress, but really it just needs to be a "fancier" fabric: satin, silk, crepe. some, but not most wools; basic cotton is not generally going to cut it. most velvets and chiffons get too fancy. &c
posted by crush-onastick at 7:16 AM on November 3, 2004
madman: a cocktail dress is, basically, a short formal dress, which, by virtue of being short, makes it less formal, but no less elegant. it's worn for late afternoon and evening social functions and dressier than an afternoon dress. theortically, it's showier and less formal than something you'd wear to a dinner party, but let's face it, that's a dated social convention.
cocktail length varies, but it should never be more than two inches above or two inches below the knee. anything above is too casual, anything below too matronly. at some point, black became synonomous with cocktail dress, but really it just needs to be a "fancier" fabric: satin, silk, crepe. some, but not most wools; basic cotton is not generally going to cut it. most velvets and chiffons get too fancy. &c
posted by crush-onastick at 7:16 AM on November 3, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by widdershins at 1:50 PM on November 2, 2004