Throughout your career, there will be many instances where you are invited to a special occasion where you are required to dress up. Don't dress as usual when meeting with clients, but dress in a way that truly allows you to look the part. In these cases, the occasion will require formal attire. The word formal is defined as "maintaining tradition" and is used as a way to maximize the tradition and formality of an occasion (Marshal). So what is the right way to wear a formal outfit? It all depends on the occasion. If you are attending an event that requires this level of dress, there will usually be a specified dress code. There are three levels of dress code that have been common in recent decades: variations of white tie, black tie, and black tie (white tie is the dressiest of all dress codes and strictly calls for men to wear an Evening Tail Coa, which is a double-breasted coat, in addition to the normal tuxedo The double-breasted coat is considered timeless, a historian named Nicholas Antongiavann explains it as "[A] garment [that] can transform one's appearance." The event will also require ladies in attendance to wear ball gowns. White tie events are usually reserved for ceremonial traditions and are a staple of European royal courts, whereas the White House does not. has held only two such events since 1989. (Marshal) Black tie is the most common formal attire when attending large events and requires men to wear a standard tuxedo, and women to wear evening gowns , this means a black tuxedo, matching pants and an optional formal vest or black cummerbund. a white formal shirt and finally a black bow tie or a long black tie. (Fox)For women, Black Tie is largely more...... middle of paper......to create an atmosphere of respect, and your attire plays a big role in maintaining the level of prestige and of the atmosphere. . (Huge) Finally, adhering to the formal dress code is an ode to the host. The time it takes to get dressed and respect the event is tiny compared to the hours and hours the host put into creating the event. Formal is about presenting yourself in a respectful and traditional manner. Overall Understanding Formal dress is important and can even be imperative to fit into the right occasion. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/a-womans-guide-to-businessformal-dress.html (FOX) http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_formal. htm (Heatherfield) http://www.jobbrander.com/blog/job-search/examples-of-business-formal-attire-for-women (huge) http://www.blacktieguide.com/Introduction/Intro_Instructions. htm (Marshal)