9 Dress Codes and Exactly What to Wear for Each

Check this guide before your next semi-formal wedding.

Whether your fridge is plastered with wedding invitations or you’re starting a new office job after years of working from your couch in sweats, you’re probably asking yourself the age-old question: "What do I wear?" After all, some dress codes can be confusing. What is business casual? How are you supposed to dress for a cocktail party? Is black-tie actually optional?

These are valid concerns, and it's understandable to feel some stress about your fashion choices from time to time when it comes to big events. Anyone would want to put their best foot forward and represent themselves well with whatever they wear, no matter if that foot is stepping into a corporate office or sliding on the dance floor at a wedding reception.

If a wedding or birthday party is on the horizon, it's time to get serious about the dress code. We tapped professional stylist and content creator Kenzie Welch to break down each one and share the best ways to style them according your taste.

Casual

Of all the options you may come across, a casual dress code is probably the most universally-recognized. While it doesn’t necessarily imply that you should just throw on yesterday’s sweatshirt, Welch explains that when you dress for a casual event, comfort is key. “Casual really means comfortable, low key, and effortless,” Welch says. “When I hear the word ‘casual,’ I always think that means effortless and comfortable.” You can refer to your favorite street style accounts on Instagram or follow the standard uniform of a classic T-shirt and jeans. Whatever you choose, dressing casually is more about how you feel than how you look.

Smart Casual

So, now you understand how to dress for a casual event. But how does it differ from “smart casual"? According to Welch, it doesn’t take as much mental effort as the name may suggest; just a bit more attention to detail. “Smart casual might be business on top, party on the bottom,” Welch says. “Let's say you're wearing a basic T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Try a white sneaker and throw on a blazer, or maybe accessorize with some glasses or a tote bag.” She shares that you can even take something more formal, like a full suit, and dress it down with sneakers or a graphic tee. Think of it as an elevated casual style.

Business Casual

Business casual has been a relatively controversial concept in recent years. If you search the term on TikTok, you’ll see plenty of Gen Z creators struggling to figure out what qualifies as business casual as they enter the corporate world. Welch shares that this dress code can vary from office to office, and that it’s more about showing up as your best self rather than fitting a certain mold.

“I think we're redefining what it means to dress up in the workplace,” she says, adding that the term just boils down to clothes that are work appropriate. “For me, it’s showing up as your most confident self that can still be taken seriously. People can really lean into their authentic style, but elevate it in a more sophisticated way.” While she explains that elements like closed-toe shoes and more modest coverage are typically a good rule to follow, you can still play up your business casual ensemble with colors, patterns, and accessories that speak to who you are.

Cocktail Attire

When wedding season is upon us, it’s time to break out the Sunday best. Many of these celebrations can be confusing when the invite lists “garden party attire” or “dress to impress” as the only guidelines, so it’s wise to err on the side of caution and stick to a simple formula. “Cocktail attire usually requires a dress that's either right at the knee or below the knee. Anything longer can feel a little too formal. You can do a long dress, but you want to avoid any trains,” Welch says, noting that a maxi dress would be cocktail-appropriate, but any form of gown is not. “Wearing a heel is usually a part of that as well. It could be a kitten heel, a block heel, something that's still comfortable, but you definitely don’t want to wear sneakers.”

Semi-formal

When you hear “semi-formal,” your mind may flash back to the days when you and your gaggle of friends shared a dinner table at the local Olive Garden before heading to a school dance. Although you probably won't be headed to the same types of events as an adult, you can actually take a page from that memory book and think of semi-formal attire in a similar way. “Semi-formal means you can wear a long dress, but you don’t have to. It gives you options. You can wear a midi dress or a gown, but just make sure it's not too over the top,” Welch says. In other words, something like your bedazzled junior year prom dress wouldn’t quite fit the bill, but a chic satin midi dress might.

Business Formal

If you’re starting your first grown-up office job or attending an important networking event, you’ll want to put your best foot forward. Unless you’re told that the work setting is more casual, it’s not a bad idea to assume business formal is appropriate. To Welch, this involves a buttoned-up and extra polished look. “Business formal means a suit. It's very professional,” she says. “You definitely want to wear a closed-toe shoe and you don't want to go over the top with accessories." While you can still represent your style in some ways, whether it's the color of your suit or a fun blouse underneath, the idea of business formal is to avoid wearing something distracting and keep the focus on your professionalism rather than your fashion choices.

Black-Tie

Receiving a wedding invite or being summoned for a charity event that calls for a black-tie dress code can give anyone panic sweats. The name doesn’t exactly define much, so it’s understandable if you aren’t sure what to reach for in your closet. “Black-tie is most significant for men because they’re supposed to wear a tuxedo or a white dinner jacket. For women, it’s long, formal gowns,” Welch explains. She also notes that it’s important for women to avoid going for a juvenile look when choosing what to wear for a black-tie event. “Try something really elegant, I would even say ‘chic’ would be the word,” Welch explains.

Black-Tie Optional

What exactly makes it optional, and how can you ensure you’re not under- or overdressed? Welch shares that a few small changes will help you fit the mold. “Black-tie optional is exactly how it sounds. "You can dress in a formal gown, you can wear a tuxedo, but it's not required,” she says. Men should wear a suit, for example, and women can opt for either a gown or a floor-length dress, according to Welch. You can save your absolute fanciest ensemble for another day, but black-tie optional still requires a level of elegance.

White-Tie

Fans of shows like Bridgerton or Downton Abbey will love the idea of a white-tie affair. If you run into an opportunity to meet this dress code, Welch explains that you can aim for a royal or presidential look. “White-tie is the top-tier dress code, so you don't want to do anything less than absolutely formal,” she says. “Make sure that the dress is a beautiful gown, and you could also do some sort of glove with the gown to really elevate it.”

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