Both men and women have multiple options for black tie optional outfits.
Black tie optional wedding women s attire.
It s actually simpler than it sounds.
While cocktail dresses can be an appropriate option for black tie long dresses tend to be a more elevated choice.
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.
A black tie optional dress code calls for formal attire.
If they end up going tuxedo less though they should wear a formal dark suit and tie instead.
Evaluating the dress code.
For a black tie optional wedding men can wear a tuxedo but it s not a requirement.
As far as women are concerned there s not much of a difference between black tie attire and black tie optional attire although mae says it s more acceptable to wear a dress that shows the ankles.
For women the code typically calls for a floor length dress or gown.
Floor length gowns are always permissible and the most formal outfit.
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.
As such it requires a sophisticated level of dressing.