Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette.
In today's video, we're going to be defining what the semi-formal dress code is and if
you've ever been confused by this type of dress code, well don't worry, we would agree
with you, it's definitely confusing.
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So while the formality scale of dressing is typically very clear, there are definitely
some outliers.
There's certainly some overlaps and rules that are difficult to keep straight and the
semi-formal one certainly is one of these.
This dress code is also referred to as “Half Dress” because in Latin “Semi” means
half.
Semi-formal falls just below Black Tie Optional and above Cocktail Attire on the formality
scale.
And unlike other types of dress codes which are more easily defined by the garments that
go with them which you can learn more about in our guide here.
Semi-formal can actually be a little bit more difficult to define versus other more concrete
dress codes.
This is the same dress code that has the same dignity and formality as higher levels of
dress but with a little bit more of the laxity of lower levels of dress.
Basically, it's like business attire and cocktail attire with a more formal error and it's without
the strict rules of evening wear.
So what caused semi-formal to have this sort of amorphous lack style standards?
Let's examine its history in order to find out further.
When rules of classic style were being formulated in the early 19th century, the higher levels
of dress were very clearly fleshed out and the standards of formal attire were also very
strict.
On formal day occasions, one was expected to wear morning wear and an informal evening
occasions, White Tie.
During the close of that century, a new level of formality came out which was designed for
exclusivity and high end but also with a more casual nature of a private event.
But since it was still relatively formal it was called semi-formal attire.
This consisted of stroller or really well put together suits during the daytime and
Black Tie during the evening.
Yeah, it's kind of hard to imagine but at one point in time, tuxedos were seen as casual.
Men's style manuals from the 1890s made it very clear that when we look back in history,
that oftentimes a dinner jacket or odd formal jacket was too informal or casual for evening
events.
According to the 1896 handbook manners for men, the the dinner coat is the badge of informality.
It is in vogue during the summer at hotel hops, small informal parties, to the play,
at bowling parties, restaurant dinners, and in fact any occasion not formal.
And as men began to abandon White Tie as Raphael goes through in this video, we will see that
men will start to wear tuxedos for all of their evening events.
In the 1922 edition of Emily Post Etiquette guide, she notes that the tuxedo is worn every
evening and nearly everywhere whereas the tail coat is necessarily only a balls, formal
dinners, and in a box at the Opera.
So as Black Tie which was used to be considered semi-formal, moved its way up the formality
scale.
The semi-formal category was able to drop down the formality scale.
Now it sits in sort of a interesting space.
It's now in the space that occupies Business Formal and Black Tie Optional.
And there's a surprising degree of overlap between the two.
Although it can potentially be more formal than the former and less formal than the latter,
both the history and the practical function of this dress code is what makes it so confusing.
So as dress codes are becoming less strict and less defined and in many ways are actually
dying, it becomes more confusing as to what formal actually means.
While classic style devotees recognize formal as being Morning Wear, White Tie or Black
Tie, for the masses formal can mean just wearing a suit.
And this is because every other aspect of their wardrobe is so casual.
Therefore, if semi-formal is more attached to formal and everybody has their own definition
of formal, then results can vary wildly.
In the end, semi-formal can really take up any space between formal and casual wear.
Also, some people take the meaning of semi as more casual and that you can assume that
semi-formal means more formal casual attire.
This is comparable to smart casual.
Finally, you could think that semi-formal means half formal, half casual.
So tuxedo on top and and board shorts on the bottom?
[Humor] So, suffice it to say having undergone a massive sartorial shift after the elevation
of Black Tie from semi-formal to formal and its somewhat confusing language, it's no surprise
that the semi-formal dress code is so hard to nail down nowadays.
Despite all of this confusion, modern society has been able to somewhat define and nail
down what semi-formal attire means today.
Although this definition is a little rough around the edges and it can be also taken
with extreme subjectivity.
In its broadest sense, semi-formal can mean to dress up in a meaningful way.
This can mean with some type of suit without straying into the world of formal wear.
Now obviously, this covers a wide swath of territory.
This can cover a more formal end of business casual all the way up to a really nice business
suit and not wearing a tuxedo.
Now within the realm of classic style, this definition is a lot more precise.
This would consist of a dark suit, a white shirt, leather dress shoes, tasteful neckwear,
and elegant unobtrusive accessories.
But the fact of the matter is, this definition can often be too formal for a lot of today's
semi-formal gatherings.
A lot of today's semi-formal gatherings might have a more casual twist on a formal element.
This can mean light and bright colored suits, combinations with sport coats and trousers
and even more casual wear.
It can also include the absence of neckwear.
You are especially likely to encounter this relaxed part of semi-formal with events that
have a more casual and celebratory nature.
And it might also feature more bold and creative styling elements.
We might call this look Festive Semi-formal.
This is something that you might often see at weddings where guests are still expected
to dress up but also have a little bit of fun and have creativity with their accessories
and various pieces of their ensembles.
Now because the classic definition of semi-formal typically leans a little bit more traditional,
you really have to take note in what the host says in their invitation regarding the dress
code for their event.
If the event seems to be more casual then feel free to pick out pieces that would go
with a more casual wardrobe.
You should at the very least stay to the more formal end of business casual.
And in doing so, chances are you're going to be one of the best dressed and most dressed
up people in the room.
Even within classic style, the time of day will greatly impact the formality of semi-formal.
In general, daytime events tend to be more casual and fun festive occasions lend themselves
to brighter color palettes and more casual details.
This allows brighter palettes more fun and bold accessories and more panache overall.
To really cover all the basics when going to a wedding as a guest, check out this video
with Raphael in it here.
So, let's take a look at what makes up a semi-formal ensemble from a classic style standpoint.
Ideally, you should wear a single-breasted or double-breasted suit with dark gray, navy
or dark blue appropriate for the evening.
Brown, medium-gray and lighter shades of blue are perfect for daytime events.
As an alternative to solids, you can also mix in some appropriate patterns and Preston
has more on appropriate pattern mixing here in this video.
If you opt to wear a waistcoat, it should match your suit or maybe go with one in a
buff color.
For a daytime event, you could wear a darker odd jacket and trousers as long as the combination
remains on the more somber end of the spectrum.
But keep in mind that this will be on the less formal end of semi-formal.
You should always wear a leather lace-up dress shoe whether it's a derby or preferably an
Oxford.
The more formal footwear should be chosen for the evening with more casual options for
the daytime.
And if you're a little bit confused on the formality of these shoes, you can check out
our guides on them here.
But I'll say this now, black should be used in the evening, brown during the daytime.
Your dress shirt should be solid in color but you can add a little bit of visual interest
with a textured weave such as a two-tone or pinpoint oxford, twill, chambray, herringbone
or jacquard.
White shirts should be worn in the evening with blue being perfectly appropriate for
the daytime.
Keep in mind that you want to stay on the lighter side of blue shirts don't wear any
dark blue or royal blue or navy blue shirts.
You can also wear thinly striped shirts for daytime events but keep in mind that it will
make your outfit look more casual.
Now neckwear is not always necessary for modern interpretations of semi-formal but from a
classic style standpoint, it is an essential.
Fortunately, you will be able to choose from a wide array of different neckties.
Just make sure that it has a classic color palette and a classic pattern.
If you want to know more about some ties that you should own check out our video on that
here.
Bow ties can also be worn as part of a daytime semi-formal ensemble but bow ties are typically
too casual for evening events.
When it comes to your accessories the semi-formal dress code allows you a little bit of latitude
and these accessories are great for adding your own personality to your outfit.
When selecting a pocket square, anything that harmonizes with your necktie will look great.
And if you're you're wearing a French cuff shirt, you will obviously need cufflinks.
Raphael can help you find the perfect pair on our guide to cufflinks here.
On certain occasions, a boutonniere can really liven things up and if you want to learn more
about that check out this here.
Now, you can wear formal socks to an evening event we would also recommend that you choose
more colorful options for daytime.
Finally, if you want to wear a wristwatch, I would highly recommend that you pick one
on the more dressy end of the spectrum.
Now that you have an idea of roughly what semi-formal entails, let's go through some
things that semi-formal is not.
First up is any garment that is explicitly formal wear like a dinner jacket or morning
coat, white or black bow tie, formal waistcoat, cummerbund, formal evening shirt or formal
trousers with a gallon stripe.
These should all be avoided.
I mean after all this is semi-formal not formal attire.
But on the flip side, formal is still in the name.
So avoid any garments that are explicitly casual such as short sleeve or collardless
shirts like a polo shirt or Henley, non-dress pants, casual shoes like loafers or sneakers,
jeans, bright colored dress shirts, excessively bold or vibrant accessories and light colored
suits.
Although, it might be okay to wear a light colored suit if you're in a warm weather festive
activity.
So as you can probably tell from the constant repetition in this video, the most common
place where you will experience and be asked to wear semi-formal attire is at a wedding.
But there are times where it could also appear in other social events like anniversaries,
birthdays, retirement parties and receptions.
But it can also appear in professional events like networking events and after hours social
gatherings.
Semi-formal can also appear at public events like charity raffles, commemorations or grand
openings of a new store.
And White Tie at the Opera might have been the thing back in the day but things have
certainly changed since then.
Okay, now that we've learned about all the different components of semi-formal attire,
let's show you some examples.
So in the first outfit, Kyle keeps things grounded with a double-breasted suit, dark
shoes and a white shirt.
However, he does have a pinstripe on his double-breasted suit which provides a little bit of visual
interest.
And the peach tie adds a fun pop of color.
This would be great for a daytime semi-formal event.
Next up, Preston follows Kyle using neckwear to add a splash of color.
Although he's going for a much deeper and richer color of red.
He's also wearing a charming boutonniere and has his pocket square folded in a fancyful
matter.
This is a nice outfit because it could work not only in the daytime on the more formal
end or on the more casual end for an evening event.
Finally, Raphael as he often does, shows us off the most formal evening semi-formal look.
He pairs a dark suit with a white shirt, a pair of black shoes and a white pocket square.
His tie is also dark in color and if you'll note that his pocket square also has a very
simple fold.
This look is perfect for more formal evening semi-formal events but it might be a little
bit too somber for a daytime occasion.
So with these examples highlight is that when you're dressing in this type of dress code,
accessories really matter.
Just changing up a few accessories can rapidly transition it from a daytime semi-formal to
a nighttime semi-formal look.
Okay, let's close out with a few more suggestions to get the most out of your semi-formal outfits.
When in doubt, go more formal without being too formal.
So unless you know that your host is expecting the more casual end of semi-formal, it's always
best to go a little bit overdressed.
Just make sure that you don't go too formal and drift into formal wear.
You really want to emphasize quality materials and patterns over flashy colors.
Many online guides say that semi formal attire is the place to throw out your latest bold
look but we disagree especially at weddings.
But this over the top flashiness is not something that we would recommend as a part of classic
style and it really doesn't jive with the overall formal look of semi-formal attire.
Instead, go with luxurious materials and elegant patterns to really make your outfit look great.
This way, you can craft ensembles that are easily memorable and we mean memorable in
a good way.
[Music] Also, make sure to wear a necktie especially during daytime and nighttime events.
You might hear that neckties are optional but in the realm of classic style, you should
wear a necktie.
Ties, boutonnieres and pocket squares are a great way to add personality without compromising
on formality.
And if you want to take a look at some of our Fort Belvedere lookbooks for some combinations
that would be great for a variety of semi-formal events.
And if you're a guest at a wedding, this isn't the time to overshadow the happy couple wearing
a tuxedo when everyone else is in suits.
Avoid anything that's overly formal, overly casual, and way too loud because this will
make you the center of attention at someone else's special day.
And that really isn't gentlemanly.
[Music] As we try to illustrate in this video, semi-formal can be really ambiguous and tough
to nail down but with the knowledge that we've given you today, I'm confident that you're
able to nail any semi-formal event.
That being said, if you're hosting events in the near future, maybe decide to choose
a more concrete dress code to make it easier for everyone.
Or don't and send people to this video.
In today's video, I am wearing what would not be considered a semi-formal combination.
This would be on the more business casual side of the spectrum.
I'm wearing a bright blue micro houndstooth sports jacket, this was made to measure by
Beckett and Rob.
My shirt is a long sleeve jersey polo shirt, made to measure by Proper Cloth.
I'm wearing a pair of tan LL Bean chinos with my well-worn and well-loved brown belt from
Allen Edmonds.
My shoes are a pair of brown travel loafers from Yanko and Skolics.
On my wrist is an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra with a brown calf strap that's a prototype
for Fort Belvedere.
My scent today is the Azzuro by Roberto Ugolini.
This is a light and fresh summertime scent which is why I'm wearing it in the warm weather
months.
My pocket square is this orange with green and purple large paisley pocket square from
Fort Belvedere.
If you want to pick up a summertime pocket square or any other accessories, maybe some
silk socks for an upcoming wedding, check out the Fort Belvedere shop here.
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