Semi-formal for men: what to wear
A suit, or a blazer with tailored trousers + a dress shirt; tie depending on the event.
Day and early-evening weddings, celebratory dinners, award events, the theatre.
- When
- Day or evening
- Tie
- Depends
- Jeans
- No
- Sneakers
- No
Three outfit ideas
Suit
A navy suit, white shirt, no tie and brown loafers.
Separates
A grey wool blazer, navy trousers, a light blue shirt and derbies.
With a tie
A charcoal suit, white shirt, a knitted tie and black oxfords.
What to wear
- A suit – dark for evening, lighter by day
- A blazer with wool trousers
Shoes
Oxfords, derbies, loafers.
Accessories
A pocket square, a watch.
What to avoid
- Sneakers and T-shirts
Colours
Anything; darker in the evening.
In summer
In summer: light suits, linen and silk dresses.
In winter
In winter: dark wool suits, knit dresses, velvet.
Details that make the difference
- Jacket sleeves should show 1–1.5 cm of shirt cuff.
- Trousers without turn-ups and with a minimal break; for formal codes held up by braces, not a belt.
- Socks: black, fine and over the calf – no skin should show when you sit.
- Never fasten the bottom button of a jacket; a one-button dinner jacket is fastened when standing.
About semi-formal
Between cocktail and business: a suit for men (tie optional), an elegant dress or trouser suit for women. Semi-formal is a mid-20th-century compromise between black tie and the day suit. Today it's often confused with cocktail; in practice it's the more flexible version that also works by day.
Business formal for men
A dark suit + white or light-blue shirt + silk tie + black oxfords.
Business casual for men
Chinos or wool trousers + a collared shirt + (blazer or knit) + leather shoes or loafers. No tie needed.
Other codes for men
Frequently asked
01Semi-formal: is a tie required?
Optional, but safer with one – it's easier to take off than to put on.
02Semi-formal: are jeans OK?
No – jeans are too casual for this code; choose tailored trousers.
03Semi-formal: are sneakers OK?
No – choose leather shoes.
04How is semi-formal different from cocktail?
They're very close; cocktail is a little dressier and more evening, semi-formal is more flexible and works by day.