Difference between semi-formal vs. formal?

[999roses]

What is the difference in attire for ladies and guys for the two?

Both involve wearing fancy clothes? =P

[xJadedx]

Formal you go all out, like gowns for ladies and suits for men, if it's for a dance kind of event. If it's for a meeting, then suits for women as well.
Semi-formal is a step down, so you should still wear something nice, but it doesn't have to be that formal.

[999roses]

So do guys wear suits to semi-formals? Or *gasps* tuxedos?

I'm trying to decide on a dress for a semi-formal, but I dun wanna look over/under dressed gah.

So I'm guessing "prom" attire = formal and "semi-formal" = dinner party style?

[xJadedx]

I think that would be good.
You can pick out outfits and send the pictures to friends and ask. That's what I did.

[KeongJai]

Formal is tuxedo and ball gowns.
Normal suits are semi formal.

[warlock110]

it really depends on who give you the "invitation", the definition of formal and semi formal changes with certain class/group.

Semi formal ranges from suit to things like shirt + slacks.

In vietnam some will wear a polo shirt to weddings, it's real nice.

[999roses]

I guess for students? =P

[warlock110]

I guess for students? =P

you're a girl right? dress up, it's semi ok for guys to be under dress, for girls it's a no no, I've been to some semi formals, the girls have some sort of dresses on (long dress). Make up, some do their hair too, so that's what you'll want to go for.

Rule of thumb: over dress is better than under dress (apply to both sexes).

Plus who wouldn't appreciate a well dressed girl , go for it.

IMO if you're looking for something to wear to an event and don't really know what's going on, go to a pro shop that do this stuff, they'll have all the basic info you need. But like I said, it's pretty hard to determine how "fancy" you want to be, for a girl just be as fancy as possible without going over the top (don't wear a tiara or like super bright green dress ect...). But as I said, it's much better to be over dress. You rather have people saying "oh that looks nice on you" than "oh wtf is she thinking wearing that stuff".

If you're asking this for your BF/guy friend, tell him wear a suit pants + shirt, put the tie + jacket in the car, walk in and see what everyone is wearing, if they have suit on then walk back to the car n put it on, if not then just walk his *** in as is.

PS: some black suit can pass as tux with the right acessories + shirt... so if he wanted to go the super fancy route without getting a tux, that's possible. Most people can't tell the difference between a tux and a suit anyways. Some tux rental places actually have suits listed as tux.

[Ren Wo Xing]

For guys:

Formal: Tux/suit
Semi-formal: Dress shirt, maybe suit

Dress/suit pants in both cases, and proper shoes as well.

[expression]

Nobody would complain about a girl dressing up pretty, that is, except other girls.

That said, a tea dress is pretty safe, even with girls.

[sniffles]

I'd say that semi-formal for guys is a suit and tie, but not a tux. A tux is formal. In my opinion, omitting a jacket and tie moves it out of the semi-formal range and into "business casual".

For females, semi-formal is a tea-length dress (at or below the knee, not a tiny miniskirt). Not a blouse and skirt combo, or a skirt suit. Womens' formal wear is a full-length gown.

But the suggestion that you ask the person or persons who invited you to the event is a good one. Everyone's definition of "semi-formal" may not be the same.

[999roses]

Cool sutff, thanks guys.

I guess I should go shopping and buy more dresses. I used to avoid semi-formals like the plague (not my scene) but I guess I can't avoid them forever.

I just think those things are better to go with when you have a date. Otherwise, I would totally rather hang out with my friends somewhere else when I'm wearing more comfortable clothes and eating better food.

[HuangYushi]

I'd say that semi-formal for guys is a suit and tie, but not a tux. A tux is formal. In my opinion, omitting a jacket and tie moves it out of the semi-formal range and into "business casual".

My parents once received a dinner invitation with a "formal" dress-code. My dad didn't have a tux, so he wore a very dark suit. When my parents arrived at the dinner, they found no one in formal clothes, except the host/hostess.

[kay &!*]

So do guys wear suits to semi-formals? Or *gasps* tuxedos?

I'm trying to decide on a dress for a semi-formal, but I dun wanna look over/under dressed gah.

So I'm guessing "prom" attire = formal and "semi-formal" = dinner party style?

semi-formal = business casual and formal = er, formal business wear?

but since you're talking about a dance here and not corporate business
i've always thought it's more "appropiate" to wear a dress above the knees to a semi and a full gown to the prom.

[ChanceEncounter]

For guys:

Formal: Tux/suit
Semi-formal: Dress shirt, maybe suit

Dress/suit pants in both cases, and proper shoes as well.

Semi-formal implies black tie. Formal implies white tie. Both of them require suits at the minimum.

However you should always make sure. Some people mistake 'semi-formal' for business casual or the like, when in reality, according to the dress codes, semi-formal is pretty much just one step down from a white-tie event.

[999roses]

No no, this is nothing to do with business =P I've seen people wear dresses of all lengths to proms even haha, but I don't like really long dresses anyway, so I'll try to find a knee-length one. I have a backless one, but I don't feel comfortable wearing it unless I have a shawl or something.

[sunnydayz3]

I think anything cocktail-length is fine for a semi-formal. I imagine the real difference between the two is for the guys (formal is more black tie, whereas semi-formal is like black-tie optional?).

[anynamewilldo]

Oh my goodness, I have spent days obsessing about this very question. After doing my research, semi-formal = black tie = tuxedo. 80% of the population is incorrect. Semi-formal does not mean suit and tie. And the only people that seem to know this are the ones that handle the invites. Or really old people. Or people like me that freak out. I think they should retire the name semi-formal and just go with black tie. Apparently, semi-formal is considered "semi" because it's a step down from white tie. I don't know who has white tie events, but they exist. So yes, wearing a suit and tie would be terribly underdressed. And women, you know what coordinated with tuxedos...any kind of evening gown/prom gown. But you should try to stick with a more formal dress. If you really worry about fitting in, any ankle length dress will fit in. If you are daring, you could go higher. Anything 3 inches above the knee would be inappropriate.