The white tie is the most formal dress code for big occasions, requiring a tail coat, black pants, white shirt with a dick, white bow tie, and patent leather shoes. Women should wear long dresses with gloves. Exceptions include military dress, state costumes, and clerical attire.
The white tie is the most formal type of dress for big occasions. Some invitations may specify this style of dress, and since these occasions are quite formal, it’s important to know exactly what to wear. It is considered insulting or lacking in manners to not conform to this dress code when required, but it is also considered overdressing to wear a white tie when the only requirement is a black tie, the next lowest rank in the dress code.
For men, a white tie means wearing a tail coat. This coat or jacket is short or waist-length in the front, but has two tails in the back that should reach the knees. It can also be called a swallow coat because of the “wings” on the back of the jacket.
The pants included in this outfit are black and may have a satin fringe down the outside of the leg. Pants must be of the highest quality materials such as wool or wool/silk blends. A white shirt is worn with a dick, also called a tuxedo front. This is a fake shirt that is stiff, can be attached to a tuxedo or shirt collar and tucked into a cummerbund. A white wing collar is also attached to the white shirt.
The white tie really calls for a white tie for men. This should normally be a bow tie, usually made of good quality cotton. For socks and shoes, men should wear a good quality silk sock, although they can usually get away with something less fancy. Shoes are usually made of patent leather. If a coat is worn, it must be an opera coat, and the only appropriate hat option is the top hat.
There are exceptions to the white tie dress code for men. People in full military dress may be exempt from the rule. Also, those who wear state costumes, for example kilts, can wear them instead of the standard accessories. Ministers can attend white tie events in simple clerical attire.
For women, this style calls for the most formal dresses. This means long dresses accompanied by elbow-length silk or cotton gloves. Shorter dresses or tea length dresses are not considered acceptable, unless worn by younger girls.
Occasions that call for a white tie may include state dinners, debutante balls, some weddings, and opera premieres. This style of dress used to be required at award shows like the Academy Awards, but now the dress requirements are less formal and often scoffed at. For formal weddings, the bridal party will occasionally dress in a white tie, but will only require their guests to wear a formal or black tie. It all depends on the importance of people getting married and their ability to command their guests to dress a certain way.
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