Dress code
White tie: what to wear
The most formal dress code there is: a black tailcoat with a white waistcoat and bow tie, or a full-length evening gown.
When you'll see it: State dinners, royal and diplomatic events, some balls and opera galas. It's rare, and the invitation will say so.
Decoded
What to wear, and what not to
Wear
- ✓A floor-length evening gown
- ✓Long evening gloves are traditional
- ✓Formal jewellery and a small evening bag
- ✓Hair up or formally styled
Avoid
- ✕Any skirt above the ankle
- ✕Cocktail dresses
- ✕Casual fabrics like cotton or jersey
Wear
- ✓Black tailcoat and matching trousers with a satin stripe
- ✓White piqué shirt with a wing collar and studs
- ✓White piqué bow tie and white waistcoat
- ✓Black patent leather shoes and black silk socks
Avoid
- ✕A black tie tuxedo instead of tails
- ✕Any coloured tie or waistcoat
- ✕A wristwatch (traditionally a pocket watch or none)
White tie needs pieces our catalogue doesn't carry (a tailcoat or dinner jacket, a floor-length gown), so we don't show generated outfits here rather than show wrong ones.
Questions
Quick answers
What is the difference between white tie and black tie?
White tie means a tailcoat, white waistcoat and white bow tie; black tie means a dinner jacket (tuxedo) with a black bow tie. For women, white tie is always floor length; black tie usually is.
Can I rent white tie?
Yes, formalwear rental shops carry tailcoats. Make sure the waistcoat doesn't show below the front of the coat.
Is a long dress required for white tie?
Yes. White tie means a full-length gown.
Keep going
Other dress codes
Verdicts and outfits come from published colour and dress-code rules, not paid placement; garment images are AI-generated illustrations of generic pieces. How we decide