When it comes to decoding all of the different dress codes there are, it can get a little confusing – especially when it comes to semi-formal attire. In fact, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably already asked yourself what “semi-formal” actually means, including just how formal it is, how casual it is (if at all), and what you can get away with wearing to events and occasions that call for semi-formal attire. 

While there are many factors to take into consideration, including the location of the event, the time of the event, the season, and more, we’ve laid out a general guideline that’ll help you put together the perfect look for whichever semi-formal event you’ve got on your calendar. 

What Is Semi-Formal Attire?

Simply put, semi-formal attire falls in the middle of black tie attire and business professional attire; it’s not as dressy or traditional as black tie, but it’s a little more formal than what you would wear to a traditional office setting (i.e. not a creative office, which typically has a more lenient dress code). Semi-formal attire for men usually consists of a well-tailored two-piece suit and a tie, however, depending on the event or occasion, you may not need a tie at all.

Additionally, if the event is at night, you’ll typically want to wear a suit in a dark color, however, if your event happens to be a daytime one, you can usually get away with wearing a lighter color suit – again, it all depends on the occasion, the setting, and more. 

What Not To Wear to a Semi-Formal Event

Pay close attention here, folks – there are actually a lot of things you should never wear to events that require semi-formal attire. First, you should never sport a tuxedo to a semi-formal event, as tuxedos are way too formal and you’ll look wildly out of place, even though you’re dressed to the nines. Remember that scene in Step Brothers where Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly wear tuxedos to their job interview? Yeah, you want to avoid looking like that.