Dress codes are supposed to be helpful. They’re nominally intended to remove any ambiguity as to what to wear, but, more often than not, they can end up obfuscating rather than clarifying what’s expected.

Thankfully, FashionBeans is on hand to break down the most commonly used – and abused. And we don’t just mean ‘broken’. As with sartorial standards generally, there has been a degree of slippage over the years, compounded by the fact that your host might not know exactly what it is they’re saying on that invite either. Which means there’s no harm in checking in with them to understand exactly what they’ve got in mind, and what leeway they’ll allow.

That might sound stupidly obvious. But you know what else is stupid? Dressing inappropriately. And again, while it might be self-evident, the strictness of these strictures is directly proportional to the gravity of the event. If you’re Pharrell at the Oscars, by all means reach for the Lanvin tuxedo shorts. If you’re getting your knighthood? Not so much.

White Tie/Cravate Blanche

This shindig couldn’t get fancier if Drake and Iggy Azalea were co-hosting. White tie is a level up from even black tie in formality – and no, it does not mean ‘a white tie’. What it does mean is a black tailcoat (not to be confused with a morning coat – see Morning Dress) and matching black trousers, a white waistcoat, a wing collar shirt, a bow tie, and a pair of patent shoes. If you don’t have these in your rotation, get thee hence to the hire shop. This is not a dress code to be trifled with.

The good news is that invitations which stipulate this are extremely rare unless you are a Ferrero Rocher-munching diplomat or extremely rich and/or posh, in which case you’ve probably got all of the above in your rotation anyway. Also, a top hat is not considered strictly necessary nowadays, so you can let that one slide.