A Dress Code Guide For All Affairs

Dear Debonair,
I was recently invited to an event. The invitation says the dress code is "black tie optional." What exactly does this mean? And with my limited wardrobe (and budget), I'm at a loss as to what I should wear, help!
-Alex, Upper West Side


Debonair: Alex, I feel your pain. Event wardrobes aren't always as easy as black and white tie. "Black tie optional" means tuxedo dress is not required. You're probably reading this with a sigh of relief. No penguin suit for you, right?

Well, hang on. With a tricky dress code such as this, you should always read between the lines. While tuxedos aren't mandatory, depending on the type of event, they're most likely recommended. Recall everything you know about the event, including the look of the invitation, as clues to its formality. Has this event been featured in society pages? Do the companies or other guests belong to a high political or social stature? Who invited you?

With that said, if you insist on going sans tuxedo, you can still look polished to perfection. Your best bet is to wear a black suit, a fresh white dress shirt, a black tie, black dress socks and high-shine black dress shoes. And stay away from gaudy neck jewelry. A beautiful pair of French cuffs and an elegant watch should do the trick.

		Kionna  Coleman e. style@debonairmag.com Kionna Coleman is the Senior Editor for MR Magazine, a trade publication for the men’s retail and apparel manufacturing community. She has nearly a decade of experience working in a creative capacity with such companies as Condé Nast, VIBE, MTV and Timberland.