Men’s formalwear has a tendency to get lumped in as one big bag of clothing when in reality, there are several different moving parts and garments within the realm of men’s formalwear that make this dapper category what it is. In many cases, dinner jackets have become synonymous with formal wear, when it is actually much more complex than that. While a dinner jacket is a part of formalwear for men, it does not encompass all of the kinds of formal jackets that are available to men. 

For example, there is a difference between a dinner jacket and a tuxedo jacket. Though the two jackets are very similar, there are some key differences between the two of them that are necessary to know in order to look your best while killing the game at a formal event. In order to help you get all of your formalwear ducks in a row, here is our guide to everything you need to know about the key differences between a dinner jacket and a tuxedo jacket. 

See more about – Tuxedo Shirt vs. Dress Shirt: Everything You Need To Know

Dinner Jackets

A dinner jacket is often described as a formal jacket that is designed specifically for special events. In general, dinner jackets can be worn to virtually any formal occasion. However, wearing a dinner jacket to any casual occasion is a bit taboo and is not often encouraged. From black-tie dinners to weddings, graduations, or ballroom events, dinner jackets have plenty of appropriate time slots.

Dinner jackets also come in an abundance of different fabric options, ranging from wool to linen. It is important to take the material of your dinner jacket into account, especially when it comes to weather. For example, if you are attending a formal event in the winter, a wool jacket might be better suited in order to keep you warm. However, if you are attending an outdoor summer wedding, you will 100% want to avoid material such as wool and opt for something much lighter such as linen.