Dress Code Guide
Semi-formal, without the guesswork
A notch below formal. A suit is the heart of the look, with a little room to relax the details. Build and rent yours here.

What semi-formal means
Semi-formal sits between formal and casual. A suit is the core of the outfit. In the evening, go darker with a tie. In the daytime, you can lighten up and even skip the tie. It should look intentional and neat, just not black tie.
When you will see it. You will see semi-formal on many weddings, dinners, and celebrations. Evening events call for darker suits; daytime events allow lighter colors.
What to wear, head to toe
Each piece links straight to the collection so you can rent or buy it.

A suit jacket in navy, gray, or blue. Darker for evening, lighter for day.
Shop jacket
A clean dress shirt, white or a soft color.
Shop shirt
A long tie for evening. In the daytime you can go without.
Shop tie
An optional vest to dress the look up a step.
Shop vest
Polished leather lace-ups or a clean dress shoe.
Shop shoes
An optional pocket square for a bit of personality.
Shop pocket squareDo
- Wear a well-fitted suit
- Go darker for evening events
- Add a tie to dress it up
- Keep shoes clean and leather
Skip
- Do not wear a tuxedo, it is dressier than needed
- Do not wear jeans or casual shoes
- Do not go too loud with color for evening
- Do not leave the shirt untucked
How renting works
Build your look online or with our fit team, and it ships to arrive about ten days before your event. Free shipping both ways, and size swaps are free. See how it works.
Semi-Formal questions, answered
Is a suit semi-formal?
Yes. A suit is the center of semi-formal dress. Add a tie to dress it up, or go tieless in the daytime to relax it slightly.
Do I need a tie for semi-formal?
For evening events a tie is expected. For daytime or more relaxed events you can skip it and still look right.
What colors work for semi-formal?
Navy, gray, and blue are all strong choices. Darker shades suit evening events; lighter shades work well during the day.
Explore other dress codes
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