The Journal — Formalwear

Black tie gives women enormous latitude — and that latitude is where most of the confusion lives. Unlike men, who are working with a clearly defined uniform, women face a category that includes floor-length gowns, tailored pantsuits, jumpsuits, and a dozen interpretations between. The question isn't what's technically allowed. It's what the occasion demands, what the venue suggests, and what will look right in photographs that exist for the rest of your life.

A black tie wedding is one of the few occasions where the dress code is both genuinely strict and genuinely worth following. The stricter the code, the more clearly dressed the room — and the more the well-dressed stand out from the people who guessed.

A tuxedo is the most specific garment in men's fashion. The variables are narrower than in a business suit, the traditions are more clearly defined, and the consequence of getting it wrong is more visible — because everyone else in the room is wearing the same thing. This guide covers the meaningful decisions: lapel style, button configuration, fabric, and what each choice says about the man wearing it.

Black tie is the most misunderstood dress code in men's and women's fashion. It appears on invitations to galas, charity events, film premieres, and weddings, yet most people arrive either underdressed, overdressed, or wearing something they'll regret in the photographs.