Black Tie

Black tie is a semi-formal Western dress code for evening occasions, requiring a dinner jacket (typically black or midnight blue), matching dress trousers with a silk stripe, a white evening shirt, and a black bow tie. It is the most widely observed formal evening dress code in contemporary culture.

Black tie done well is not stiff. It is the dress code with the most room for personal expression within clearly defined parameters — the cut of the lapel, the choice of fabric, the tie rather than the bow — all are decisions that distinguish one dinner jacket from another.