white-tie
Tails and decorations
White-tie describes the most formal dress code for evening events, requiring men to wear a black tailcoat, white waistcoat, white bow tie, and formal trousers.
Women typically wear floor-length gowns.
White-tie events—state dinners, royal functions, formal balls—are rare outside diplomatic and high-society circles: The invitation specified white-tie attire.
Cutaway evening jacket
- formalwearElegant occasion attire
- gownLong formal garment
- studsStructural wall timbers
- cufflinksDecorative sleeve fasteners
cummerbund · boutonniere · dress-code · tails
Refined, graceful quality
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- refinementElegance of manner
- grandeurImpressive splendor and scale
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
formality · pageantry · splendor · prestige · decorum · protocol · etiquette · ceremony
Festive formal occasion
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
- socialiteProminent figure in fashionable circles
- eliteSuperior select group
gentry · upper-class · blue-blooded · patrician · heiress · philanthropist · benefactor · patron
tailcoat
Cutaway evening jacket
- formalwearElegant occasion attire
- gownLong formal garment
- studsStructural wall timbers
cufflinks · cummerbund · boutonniere · dress-code · tails
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- refinementElegance of manner
- grandeurImpressive splendor and scale
opulence · formality · pageantry · splendor · prestige · decorum · protocol · etiquette · ceremony · pomp
gala
Festive formal occasion
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
- socialiteProminent figure in fashionable circles
elite · gentry · upper-class · blue-blooded · patrician · heiress · philanthropist · benefactor · patron · dynasty
- elegantchic, stylish, refined, tasteful, elegant
- formal eventsstate visit, ball, diplomatic visit, wedding, black dress
- etiquettemanners, politeness, etiquette, table manners, courtesy
white-tiecasual
Relaxed and informal
informal · business casual · smart casual · streetwear · athleisure
white-tiedown-home
Unpretentiously simple and welcoming
blue-collar · working-class · potluck · backyard barbecue · kegger
tie, white, tied, tier, ties, untied, whiten, whites, whitened