Parties are back. But what should you wear? Holiday guide

NEW YORK (AP) — The season’s triple-virus threat notwithstanding, parties are back, They have brought with them the potential of some dress code chaos.

Black tie, white tie, creative/festive black tie: This pre-pandemic guideline may require some extra energy in an exhausted world that is more used to wearing sneakers and sweats.

Sometimes invitations don’t specify what attire to wear. This is because it’s up to the RSVP phase. Or guests can guess based on their experience or the description of the event. It was probably easier in the pre-pandemic era, but many are now ready to step up and wear more.

“The stories I’m hearing from people is that they’re happy for an opportunity to get out of the sweatpants,” said Lizzie Post, Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter and co-author of a rejuvenated new edition of “Emily Post’s Etiquette” to mark the book’s centennial.

The Posts will help you to find the best formal and casual attire.

WHITE TIE

This traditional formal attire is a white bowtie, black jacket with tails, matching pants, and white vests. You can also wear a morning jacket during the day.

Think of royal events, super-formal weddings, or ultra-galas.

“I think the thing that people are most unsure about is formal attire because most of us have few occasions to ever wear it,” Post said. “That’s one most people get stressed about, but it’s a category that’s pretty well-defined.”

She means trousers with a satin stripe or braid stripe, plain-front, French cuff shirts, French wing-collar shirts, stiff white pique vests, stiff white cuff shirts, stiff white pique vests, stiff white cuff shirts, stiff white cuff studs, cuff links, or studs, black or white braces, black socks, and black patent-leather pumps, or lace-up Oxfords. You have two options: covered buttons or studs for the buttons.

The Chesterfield coat, which is formal, dark-colored, and knee-length with velvet necks, can be used as an outerwear in cold weather.

Gowns can be floor-length or a formal two-piece outfit with optional gloves. It is very rare to find a dress-and-pant combination.

BLACK TIE

This is the next formal attire and can be worn with tuxedos in midnight blue or black. Collars are available in wing and regular styles. Bow ties are usually black. Braces and suspenders are also available in black. Vests can be worn, but the cummerbund is not required.

It is not enough to have a cummerbund. It should match bow tie and lapel fabric. The same applies to footwear as a white tie. In warmer climates, white dinner jackets will be acceptable.

Floor-length gowns can also be found here. However, they are more casual than white tie in material and structure. If the hemline falls below the knee, a formal cocktail dress may be appropriate.

Post noted that black tie is much more common than white tie.

BLACK TIE/CREATIVE/FESTIVE

You can wear the same black tie attire, but add some color or embellishment to make it more glamorous.

Post explained that dresses and two piece outfits offer some flexibility in color, texture, or accessories.

“It’s where you get the groomsman of a wedding wearing flip-flops instead of shoes because the wedding is at the beach and everything’s going to be on the sand,” she said.

“It’s sometimes worn to celebrate a particular holiday or something like that. If I was invited to a festive, black-tie Christmas event, I’m searching for a bow tie and cummerbund that have Santa Claus or reindeer or something on them,” Post added.

She advised that you be sensitive to the holidays and cultures of other people.

SEMIFORMAL

You can expect suits, jackets, and ties with slacks or dress tops. Maxi-length hems are not too long, but they will still look good. This section can accommodate tea-length, knee length or two-piece ensembles.

Maxi dresses in casual jersey knits are great for a beach wedding. For a gallery opening, a jacket with corduroy trousers and suede shoes is a good choice.

It goes by other labels, too, such as “creative” semiformal when a “diamonds and denim” theme or a “dressy Western” vibe is noted, for instance.

Semiformal events can cover many topics, including office holiday parties and charity events, retirement parties, milestone birthdays and anniversaries.

“Given our day and age, people really like to be explicit on invitations for semiformal. Cocktail attire is a subset of this,” Post said.

BUSINESS ATTIRE

Dressing for work varies widely, However, business attire may be appropriate for an invitation.

You are best to wear suits and ties. You can wear dress slacks, trousers and a dressy top, as well as a conservative (but not too short or extravagant) dress and close-toed footwear, depending on the fashion-forward crowd.

“It’s still important to be you,” Post urged.

BUSINESS CASE

It can also be confusing.

Many people who are returning to work now live in this zone. But it all depends on their industry and company environment. It could refer to a suit or jacket that is seasonal, worn with no tie and pants, or jeans with button down or polo shirts.

You can wear slacks, trousers or a casual top with your pants. You can also wear a skirt-and top combo. However, it is best to keep the length appropriate for the occasion.

You may decide to accept an invitation that says business casual.

DRESSY CAUGHT

It’s a bit less difficult, but still dizzying.

It can also be used to refer to jeans and a sweater or a casual button shirt. It can also be worn with casual pants and a casual shirt, or casual pants and dress pants.

You can also wear comfortable dresses, or skirt-and top combinations. You can wear any shoe.

“You want to feel out any event to make sure,” Post said.

CASUAL

It’s possible to do just about anything. Almost.

Jeans, shorts and pullovers. Tank tops. Jeans. Shorts. T-shirts. Pullovers. Tank tops. Dresses or skirts with any top. Shoes.

But there are certain lines that can’t be crossed. Casual doesn’t mean unkempt. You can leave the stained T-shirt and the ripped jeans at home.

“I think we’re all out of practice with these delineations, for sure,” Post said. “There’s been a gray haze of attire for most of us.”

___

Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie

—-

Go to for more AP Lifestyles stories https://apnews.com/hub/lifestyle.