Event Dress Codes

Fundamentally smart and applicable to a number of ‘business’ and day events such as: livery lunches; church services

• Smart dark suit
• Any shirt
• Must wear a tie
• Ties can be coloured and patterned. Many wear a company tie.

• Smart business daywear – dress, jacket, skirt, trousers, and jacket/top
• Simple cocktail dress for an evening function
• Evening trousers for an evening function

• A Cocktail dress is a fitted dress, around knee length. The fabric should be suited to evening such as silk, crepe or chiffon.

Dress code of formal wear for evening events and social functions, traditionally worn only for events after 6 p.m.

• Black Dinner Jacket (never cream in the City!)
• Matching black trousers
• Black bow tie (unless for the Court & Livery Dinner in April)
• White dress shirt
• Do not wear a coloured cummerbund or coloured tie.

• Long evening dress
• Long skirt and jacket
• Mid-calf length dress
• Cocktail dress – short
• Evening trousers might be acceptable but not tight fitting.

• There is wider scope in women’s dress for a ‘black tie’ event. There’s lots of opportunity for personal touches and dressing up a bit.
• Some sources suggest it should always be ‘long’ for a black tie. This is the default position for dinners.
• Some ‘black tie’ events are not formal dinners, and this is where you check or use your judgement about what to wear.

(White Tie)

The most formal of all dress codes associated with prestigious livery dinners, royal affairs, state dinners and formal balls.

• White bow tie
• Winged collar
• Stiff white shirt
• Low cut white linen waistcoat
• Black tailcoat
• Matching black trousers
• Patent or polished shoes
• For serving members of the military, Mess Kit is an alternative to White Tie.

• Formal Long evening

Dress

• Long skirt and jacket
• Shoulders covered i.e. dress has a bodice
• Long gloves can be worn but take them off before eating.
• Tiaras can be worn. For serving members of the military, Mess Kit is an alternative

• Always wear ‘long’ at a

Mansion House dinner and cover the shoulders i.e. the dress should have a bodice which extends to at least the beginning of the upper arm.

• The tops of the arms are generally covered so take a bolero/ shrug, scarf or stole to be on the safe side, if your dress does not have any sleeves.
• Trousers must not be worn.

Usually worn at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party or a Ward Club lunch at which the Lord Mayor is guest of honour

• Matching black waistcoat (Not grey in the City)
• Formal striped trousers
• Tie rather than cravat
• Grey or black top hat normally carried except at races is optional

• Smart formal daywear – suit, dress and jacket around knee length or below the knee.
• Trousers not acceptable
• Hat is usual

• Daytime jewellery; pearls are often a good choice, and flattering
• Hats are usually worn