According to George Bernard Shaw, there is only one thing worse than being underdressed, and that is being overdressed. If you have been invited to a major function or party, then choosing the right outfit is essential, and will make a big difference to your enjoyment of the event. While at some events, such as black and white tie dinners, the dress code will be specific, at other parties, it can be difficult to know precisely what to wear, and this often leads to people making a mistake about the right clothes, and then spending the rest of the evening feeling very uncomfortable.

Choosing the right outfit for a party is most certainly not an art form, and in most cases, simply turning up in relatively smart clothes is perfectly adequate, however on other occasions relying on your own taste can leave you feeling rather embarrassed. Despite the fact that few people still follow convention in terms of social wear by sticking to the tried and tested dress codes for particular events, you can avoid the social embarrassment that is the inevitable result of wearing the wrong outfit.

For genuinely formal affairs there are two options, and for such events, the dress code will always be communicated in the invitation. White tie means just that, a tailed tuxedo, white shirt, cummerbund, and white bow tie are all essential. There is no room for personal elaboration in a white tie dinner – unless you are the host, in which case you may wish to wear a slightly different tie to the other guests.

At a black tie function, there is some degree of flexibility. Evening wear should still be worn, albeit with a short coat rather than tails. The actual color of the tie, cummerbund and handkerchief are optional, although they should match. Many people choose to wear a waist coat, and if you do, the color should ideally match the dress worn by your partner.

A dark or pinstripe suit is generally considered to be work wear, and should normally be avoided at a function of any kind. It is much smarter to wear a sports coat and slacks rather or a light colored lounge suit, and there are a wide variety of different styles available. Either a cravat or a standard tie can be worn with the shirt. These kinds of outfit are ideal for much more relaxed functions such as most weddings and dinner parties.

Although in the last few years there has been a rather ghastly move towards people wearing bright colors at funerals in order to celebrate a life rather than mourn, unless you have been specially requested to wear a particular color at a funeral, a black suit really is the only option, and this should be worn with a black neck tie and a white shirt. A black shirt will make you look like a fascist.

The only time a gentleman should wear shorts to a party is if it is outdoors and being held around a pool, while jeans and a t-shirt are only acceptable to a barbeque, and even then only if it is specified in the invitation.

Tags: events outfit, formal outfit, party clothes, Tuxedo