For women the code typically calls for a floor length dress or gown.
Black tie optional wedding women s attire.
If they end up going tuxedo less though they should wear a formal dark suit and tie instead.
Both men and women have multiple options for black tie optional outfits.
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.
As such it requires a sophisticated level of dressing.
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.
Women have a little more wiggle room when it comes to interpreting black tie optional wear for a wedding or other formal event.
Evaluating the dress code.
Floor length gowns are always permissible and the most formal outfit.
Women can go the long evening gown route but a dressy suit or shorter cocktail dress is fine too.
A black tie optional dress code calls for formal attire.
Black tie optional wedding attire for women most black tie optional weddings take place after 6 p m so anything you d wear for a daytime function probably wouldn t make the cut here.
For a black tie optional wedding men can wear a tuxedo but it s not a requirement.