Holiday Survival: Dress Code Guide

Parties are often preceded by fun questions, like what to give? Who to bring (if you have a plus one, that is)? When to arrive? And, crucially, what to wear? Most of us don’t just happen to have a floor-length silk gown or a tailcoat hanging around in our closet, waiting for the day our Met Gala invite finally arrives. But would that even be the right kind of thing to wear to such an event? We’ve got answers, and options, for every possible occasion on your social calendar.

If The Invitation Says...

Casual: Sneakers, jeans and T-shirts are all acceptable, and even encouraged.

Dressy casual: Dress up, but only a little. It’s often just a matter of wearing nicer shoes, a snazzier top or pants that aren’t your everyday blue jeans.

Business attire: There is plenty of variation within this category. It might mean a suit, a knee-length skirt, or a blazer and khaki bottoms. But it definitely means no jeans and no sneakers.

Cocktail: You should dress much nicer than you do every day. Try separates in satin, silk or velvet. Suits. When in doubt, wear black.

Black tie: A very elegant dress– say, a long gown or a cocktail dress that’s on the fancier side – or a tuxedo.

White tie: The fanciest occasion to dress for. Tailcoats, floor-length gowns and, potentially, white gloves are all on the table.