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Formal wear (more often in the United States) or formal dress (in the United Kingdom) is a general fashion term used to describe clothing suitable for formal events, including weddings, debutante cotillions, balls, etc. Western formal wear has had a pervasive influence on styles in many countries. It is almost always the standard used in countries where there is no formal version of the national costume. Foreign dignitaries and honoured guests in Western countries often adopt Western evening dress on formal and state occasions, although it is not uncommon for distinguished persons to wear the formal versions of their national dress if such exists; the sari and the dashiki are easily-recognizable examples. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into formal wear. ... The term fashion applies to a prevailing mode of expression. ... Men and women wearing suits, an example of one of the many modern forms of clothing (from the 1937 Chicago Woolen Mills catalog) Clothing is defined, in its broadest sense, as coverings for the torso and limbs as well as coverings for the hands (gloves), feet (socks, shoes, sandals, boots... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... It has been suggested that Debutante ball be merged into this article or section. ... A cotillion or debutante ball is a formal presentation of young ladies, debutantes, to polite society. ... A ball is a formal dance. ... Faroese folk dance club with some members in national costumes National costume (also known as national dress, regional costume or folk dress) expresses an identity through costume which usually relates to a geographic area, but can also indicate social, marital and/or religious status. ... Illustration of a sari-clad woman, c. ... The Dashiki is a colorful mens garment widely worn in West Africa. ...

Unlike most of the fashion world, the styles of formal attire take their names from men's wear rather than female attire. Traditional 'rules' govern men's formal dress; these are strictly observed at socially conservative events such as royal weddings, and serve as starting points for the creative formal wear seen at high school proms, formal dances and entertainment industry awards shows. High school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... In the United States, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance held at the end of the of the high school academic year. ... The entertainment industry consists of a large number of sub-industries devoted to entertainment. ... An award is something given to a person or group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field. ...

Civilian formal wear can be categorized by dress codes. For the first half of the twentieth century, the codes in North America were universally accepted as:

• Formal evening wear a.k.a. Full Dress a.k.a. white tie
• Semiformal evening wear a.k.a. black tie
• Formal day wear
• Semiformal day wear

However, the continual relaxing of formal standards since World War II have led to a blurring of what constitutes “formal” and “semi formal”. While pedigreed etiquette and menswear experts tend to still use the traditional terms - particularly when describing dress codes for weddings - many other consultants use more contemporary labels and definitions. It is now common to see white tie described as “very formal” or even “ultra formal” and black tie labeled as “formal”. Additionally, modern advisors allow for black tie at the most formal of events and for black tie alternatives at any other type of formal occasion. Subsequently it has become common to use the terms “white tie” and “black tie” to differentiate these specific dress codes from the more ambiguous and contextual “formal” or “semiformal” labels. Queen Elizabeth II with Commonwealth Prime Ministers, in the 1950s. ... Black tie is a dress code for formal evening events that are not formal enough to require white tie. ...

In the UK, the two evening categories are known as “evening dress” and the day categories are known as “morning dress” because “day wear” is considered informal clothing.

Styles of Formal Wear

The degrees of formal wear and its component elements are described in the individual fashion article below:

Men's Styles

Evening styles:

• Court dress - for wear at Royal court
• White tie (Tailcoat)
• Black tie (dinner jacket in British English, tuxedo in American English))

Day Styles: To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it more accessible to a general audience, this article may require cleanup. ... Queen Elizabeth II with Commonwealth Prime Ministers, in the 1950s. ... Black tie is a dress code for formal evening events that are not formal enough to require white tie. ...

• Frock coat
• Morning dress
• Lounge suit

Grey tie (Combination of the Tail coat and the Black tie style, only worn by servants and waiters) Corporal in a nine-button frock coat, 1862 A frock coat is a mens coat introduced in the early nineteenth century characterized by knee-length skirts all around, in contrast to tail coats and cutaways. ... Morning dress is a particular category of mens formal dress. ... Suits from the 1937 Chicago Woolen Mills catalog A suit, also known as a business suit or lounge suit or three-piece suit, comprises a collection of matching clothing consisting of: a coat (commonly known as a jacket) a waistcoat (optional) (USA vest) — without this it is know as a...

Women's Styles

• ballgown
• evening gown - describes elements of women's formal dress
• cocktail dress

A Ball gown is the female attire for social occasions where white tie or evening dress is specified on the invitation. ... An evening gown or gown is the general name given to a ladys dress worn to a formal affair. ... A cocktail dress or cocktail gown is a shorter-length ladys gown worn at cocktail parties and other semi-formal and formal occasions. ...

Unisex Attire

• Court dress - worn in a court of law
• Academic regalia - the costume of academics and graduates
• Dress uniform - the most formal military uniform.
• Mess dress - formal wear for military personnel.

Court dress comprises two forms of dress: dress prescribed for Royal courts; and dress prescribed for courts of law. ... Academic dress or academical dress (also known in the United States as academic regalia) is traditional clothing worn specifically in academic settings. ... Dress uniform is the most formal military uniform, typically worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; with full size medals. ... Three Canadian officers in shawl or rolled collar jacket and waistcoat style mess dress or mess kit. ...

Components of Formal Dress

• necktie/tie
• dress shoe

A dress shoe is a shoe used as a component of formal wear. ...

External Links

• Proper table manners