and parties are, for the most part, super fun! Wouldn't you agree?! Deciphering the often-confusing beforehand? Not so much. Yes, a dress code helps complete the whole of the soirée, but they can be vague—and can also become the catalyst of a huge group text thread with your friends all sending photos of potential outfits and hoping for some sort of confirmation that it'll work. We've all been there.
One dress code stands out from the rest as particularly head-scratching: Dressy casual. What a contradiction! You hear the word “dressy” and think, Then you hear “casual” right after and you’re like..
. Hard same. Apparently, dressy casual lives on to confound us all.
Don't fret though. We talked to , lifestyle and etiquette expert and founder of , to help break it all down so you can nail your next wedding guest look with confidence. Ready? What does dressy casual mean? It’s a way to describe an overall aesthetic that is basically not-all-the-way-formal-but-please-don’t-wear-jean-shorts.
It's about dressing up what you'd wear casually. Swann explains that dressy casual is typically requested for daytime weddings—and the earlier the event, the less formal the attire. If the event is at night, Swann says it’s best to err on the more formal side of the spectrum.
Dressy casual vs semi formal—what is that even? Okay, now that you know what dressy casual is...
let's talk about what it is not! To clear things up, dressy casual is not the same as a semi formal dres.
