Know your dress codes

By Nadine Hantke Oct 7, 2010, 12:21 GMT

Stuttgart - Whether an event is business-related, an official dinner with the boss, a cocktail party or an opera premiere, many occasions require specific attire. A certain dress code is also usually in effect in an office. To avoid a fashion faux pas, it's important to know the various dress codes and their definition.

There are several ways to describe how to dress for a particular occasion. Smart casual is one such description, morning dress another and then there's black tie, reserved for formal evening affairs.

These dress codes tell people what kind of clothes they should wear to a particular occasion. Fashion conscious people should be able to decode them and heed the important rules contained within them.

'Generally, the higher the position one has, the darker the suit,' said Carolin Luedemann, a business coach in Stuttgart. Colour plays a big role in clothing selection, she says.

Fashion-conscious people are not always well advised when they choose black because it 'has a distancing effect,' according to Luedemann, a member of an organization in Germany dedicated to etiquette.

Dark blue, dark gray, charcoal or pinstripes are suitable colours for a men's suit for business occasions. A light-coloured shirt should be worn with the suit. The tie colours that have achieved classic status are light blue and dark red.

There's a simple formula for working out the overall colour of the entire outfit: Don't combine more than two colours and three patterns.

'A tie alone can disrupt a colour scheme,' says Luedemann.

Dress codes for men are limited, while there are a lot more alternatives for women, says business expert Gabriele Schlegel. Women should decide what to wear based on what the men are wearing. A chic pants-suit or a business suit is usually correct.

'Often the location of the event provides a clue as to what a person should wear,' says Christina Tabernig, who works for an image consultancy. Another rule of thumb is that top managers of a company or organization are expected to have a certain look at a major event.

Here are the dress codes most often used and their definition:

Casual: Men can wear jeans and a polo shirt, possibly also a sport coat. Elegant clothing worn in one's free time is appropriate. This dress code means 'the tie can confidently remain in the closet,' according to Luedemann. Women are free to combine a skirt or jeans with a casual shirt or sweater.

Smart casual: A combination of a sport coat, chinos or other casual trousers and a polo shirt is appropriate for a man. Some companies allow dark-coloured jeans if they are new or show very little wear. Women can combine elegant jeans or a shirt with a twinset.

Business casual: 'No jeans, no tie is the motto,' said Schlegel. Jeans are frowned upon from this dress code level on. A tie isn't a must. However, casual but elegant clothing is expected.

A shirt with a fine knit sweater, for example, or suit trousers combined with a sport coat. This dress code is typically required when going out to eat with the boss, when sightseeing while on a business trip and at meetings that take place outside the office.

Day informal: A dark suit with a shirt and tie are required under this dress code, which typically applies on business trips. Women can wear a classic pants-suit or business suit with a light-coloured blouse or top. Classic makeup and hairstyle also fit this dress code category.

Semi-formal: This dress code is more leisurely than it sounds. For men it means a dark suit, shirt and tie are required. Women should select elegant attire. If the event is in the evening, a long dress is good, however, a little black dress is also appropriate.

Cocktail: This code is the same as semi-formal for men, but for women a short colourful dress is allowed.

Business: Men in middle management should wear a two- or three-piece dark suit with a shirt and tie. 'A three-piece suit always creates a more formal effect,' says Luedemann.

Colourful ties and shirts in pastel tones are appropriate. Women should wear a pants-suit or a classic business suit combined with a colourful blouse. Men in upper management should wear a three-piece suit and a shirt with cufflinks.

Cut/morning dress: The cut is a dress coat with tails. It is usually worn at weddings and horse races, but never before 5 pm. It consists of a jacket, dark grey vest and a striped or checked pants in muted colours.

Smoking/black tie/cravate noire: A smoking jacket is appropriate attire for men attending balls, wedding receptions or the opera. It is a black or navy-blue jacket and is classically worn with a black bow-tie and a white shirt. A cummerbund is essential.

Women should wear a floor-length or plain evening dress with a stole or short jacket.