Navigating dress codes is no easy feat. We’ve all been there: an invite lands in our inbox and we’re greeted with the intimidating description of a black-tie event, or the ever ambiguous ‘smart casual’ before frantically turning to Google to find out exactly what we’re supposed to wear. In a post-pandemic world, dress codes have become even more complicated with the ever increasing popularity of loungewear and ever-changing definitions of what formal and casual dress codes are.
With that in mind, we’ve enlisted the help of our menswear stylist Toby Standing, who’s broken down exactly what each dress code means today, as well as put together a full H&M outfit so you can get a visual of what will hit the mark.
Formal
A formal event is something you’re likely going to come up against in your personal or professional life, and despite the daunting idea of it, rest assured, it’s actually one of the easiest ones to get right. Simply put, this is the time to pull out your sharpest suit and tie, put on a pair of smart shoes, and let classic, timeless tailoring do the heavy lifting.
We’d suggest staying away from ultra-bright tones, and keeping your look more on the timeless end of the colour spectrum. But classic doesn’t have to mean boring – a healthy dose of pattern and some more interesting colour tones like clay browns and pastel blues are a great way to feel a little less stuffy. The same goes when it comes to fit; don’t feel like you always have to go super slim with the suit, if your style leans more relaxed, opt for a lightly tailored suit.
Semi-formal
Now this is where things become a little more complicated. Toby says that sticking with the classic suit for this kind of occasion but being less restricted in terms of what you layer underneath is the key to contemporary semi-formal. This kind of dress code often comes up for work parties, where you want to feel dressed up but not overdressed. A great example of nailing this dress code would be swapping out your shirt and tie for something like a knitted roll neck or polo shirt, then choosing a less formal shoe like a Chelsea boot or loafer. See, still formal, just less stuffy.
