Formal, Semi-formal, and Informal Codes
The table below summarises the main codified dress codes:
| Formality (descending) | Daywear | Eveningwear |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremonial dress and Court dress | country dependent | |
| Formal (or full formal, full dress, formal attire) | Morning dress | White tie (incl. evening gown for women) |
| Semi-formal (le smoking in French, distinct from a smoking jacket) | Stroller | Black tie (incl. cocktail dress for women) |
| Informal (or cocktail, business attire) | incl. lounge suit for men | |
Note that the definitions listed above are the strict, traditional definitions, which may not be followed in common use. For example, formal is often used to mean any of the first three, and informal to indicate what is classified here as casual.
Read more about this topic: Dress Code (Western)
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