A black tie optional dress code calls for formal attire.
Black tie optional wedding women s attire.
For women the code typically calls for a floor length dress or gown.
Women can go the long evening gown route but a dressy suit or shorter cocktail dress is fine too.
It s actually simpler than it sounds.
Both men and women have multiple options for black tie optional outfits.
Evaluating the dress code.
Women have a little more wiggle room when it comes to interpreting black tie optional wear for a wedding or other formal event.
For a black tie optional wedding men can wear a tuxedo but it s not a requirement.
If you lack a full length gown a special occasion cocktail dress one adorned with sequins and worn with formal shoes for instance would work as well.
Floor length gowns are always permissible and the most formal outfit.
As such it requires a sophisticated level of dressing.
While attire may be slightly more casual than a black tie affair some overlap in appropriate dress exists when comparing black tie and black tie optional events.
Apart from white tie attire black tie is the most formal of all dress codes.
Black tie optional wedding attire for women most black tie optional weddings take place after 6 p m so anything you d wear for a daytime function probably wouldn t make the cut here.