Everyone has their go-tos when it comes to dressing up for a big event: black tie, cocktail attire, and lavender maybe some of them. While every outfit has its own subtle nuance that makes it appropriate for different occasions and scenes, one thing remains true: there are set rules when it comes to picking the right color palette for attending an event. Here’s why:
- Colors like white or pastels can be worn at a variety of events (e.g. a wedding, a prom, or a christening).
- Colors like navy blue, black, and brown can be worn to work events.
- Colors like red and orange should be left out because they’re considered too flamboyant for formal occasions.
With these set rules in mind, you can easily make your choice about what to wear. That said, there are still some situations that require more attention and finesse when it comes to choosing an outfit. For example: if you’re invited to an event where the colors are not specified (like an elegant concert), or the dress code is a white tie (as seen below), then you need to pay extra attention to detail.
Table of Contents
1. Pink Color
What do you wear to a wedding that’s not a black tie or white tie? That’s right, you wear pink! Pink is the color of love, affection, and romance. For example, what better attire for reception than something that gives off an air of sweetness and maturity? Wear something like a pink satin gown paired with metallic accessories for an optimal effect.
For women: Wear a pink ball gown, which is a form-fitting layered dress made of satin and tulle. There isn’t a hue of pink out there that won’t make a wonderful dress for a wedding guest, from brilliant pink to gentle, dusty rose tints. Many brides nowadays opt for pink for their bridal gowns or bridesmaids’ dresses. If that’s the case, make sure you don’t match the wedding party’s pink. You can fit pink dress with some kind of shoes
For men: Wear a suit in pink with a matching tie, vest, and shoes.
2. Blue Pastel Color
As the saying goes, a man wears white after he marries and a woman wears black. What about when you’re not in a relationship? Then why not wear something that’s in between? Blue pastel is perfect for going to work or having your nails done with friends. The color blue compliments different skin hues, so it looks great on all races and shades. For example, men often wear pastels of this color for their summer cotton or shirts paired with dark denim jeans. Women often wear pastels like this for their off-white wedding day dresses and white bridal gowns.
For women: Wear a blue dress which is longer than knee-length and has cap sleeves. The skirt should be straight, not too short and the bodice should be of a simple design. Blue pastel is especially popular during the spring and summer months.
For men: Wear a blue suit with a matching tie and shoes. Silver shoes or cufflinks are a nice touch as well.
3. Green Color
Green is the color of spring, nature, and freshness. Technically, it is a spring color. It can be worn to a wedding during the summer months because it doesn’t clash with most outfits. For women who don’t want to wear white or black, green is a viable alternative for a formal event like this. Green is often associated with wealth and prosperity and as such is considered lucky in many cultures across the globe.
For women: Wear a sleeveless dress in any shade of green you want to be paired with silver accessories for an optimal effect
For men: Wear a suit in any shade of green you want to be paired with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories like a handkerchief.
Navy blue is a staple in most wardrobes. It is the go-to color for a man, whether it’s on a shirt or suit. If you are in a relationship, you can wear navy blue to any event because it is classic and doesn’t clash with any other colors. It’s also safe to say that navy blue is the best color to wear in black tie events like a wedding.
For women: Wear a navy blue dress paired with silver accessories for an optimal effect. The dress can be knee-length or shorter, but make sure that it fits your body type.
For men: Wear a navy blue suit with a matching tie, shoes, cufflinks, and color of choice for an optimal effect. Silver cufflinks or shoes are a nice touch as well.
5. Yellow Color
Yellow is a great color to wear to any event you want to be fashionable but at the same time modest. Yellow is not the best color for women because it can make you look sickly and old. If yellow makes you feel better then go ahead and wear it! But it isn’t too good for men either because they tend to think of it as an unprofessional color.
For women: Wear a yellow or orange dress paired with matching accessories. Make sure that the dress fits well with your body type and doesn’t clash with other colors.
For men: Wear a suit in yellow with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories. Silver accessories or cufflinks are a nice touch.
6. Orange Color
Orange is the color of autumn, so it’s nice to wear it in any season. If you’re in a relationship with someone who doesn’t know the meaning of black tie or white tie, then why not wear something that won’t clash with other colors and still look classy but casual?
For women: Wear an orange dress paired with gold accessories. Orange is a great color to wear to a casual event like a wedding. It’s also perfect for men and women who want to look stylish at an informal event like this.
For men: Wear a suit in orange paired with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories like a handkerchief. Silver accessories are a nice touch as well.
7. Brown Color
Brown is a subtle color that is on the list of wedding dress colors because it can be worn in both summer and winter. It’s perhaps the most versatile color in the world. Brown is a great color to wear to an elegant event like a wedding, at least for men. In many cultures, brown is a sign of wealth and prosperity, which makes it lucky for men to wear brown suits or dresses to weddings. It’s also considered lucky for women as well to wear something brown because it denotes balance and harmony in life.
For woman: Wear a brown dress paired with matching accessories like shoes, bag and earrings for an optimal effect.
For men: Wear a brown suit with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories like a handkerchief.
8. Grey Pastel Color
It is often a misconception that grey is a color to wear in winter because of how dark it looks. Grey is also a nice color to wear in spring and fall. It’s easy to match with any outfit, but you have to be careful not to pair it with bright colors like red or orange because they will just clash. A great way to pair grey pastel is with muted pastels like lavender or lilac and white.
For women: Wear a grey dress paired with matching accessories like shoes, bags, and earrings for an optimal effect. Be sure that the dress fits well with your body type and also doesn’t clash with your skin tone.
For men: Wear a suit in grey to a wedding (or any other event) paired with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories like a handkerchief. Silver accessories or cufflinks are a nice touch as well.
9. Lavender Color
Lavender is a sweet color to wear when you want to look pretty. It’s a popular color among girls who are planning their wedding or another special occasion like attending an important graduation party. Lavender is also great for guys because it is subtle and doesn’t clash with other colors in the same way that navy does.
For women: Wear a lavender dress paired with matching accessories like earrings, shoes, and bags for an optimal effect. The dress can be long or short but make sure that it fits your body type.
For men: Wear a suit in a light grey or blue-grey paired with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories like a handkerchief. Silver accessories or cufflinks are a nice touch as well.
10. Deep Red Color
Deep red is often a popular choice in wedding dress colors. It’s not just for the bride, but also for the bridesmaids to wear. The deep red color of a wedding dress is so stunning with its beautiful shape and how it flows as the bride walks down the aisle. Deep red can also be worn by guys if they are attending a formal event or if they are in a relationship with someone who doesn’t know about black tie rules of white tie.
For women: Wear a deep red dress paired with matching accessories like shoes, bag and earrings for an optimal effect. The dress can be long or short but make sure that it fits your body type.
For men: Wear a suit in deep red paired with a matching tie, shoes, and accessories like a handkerchief. Silver accessories or cufflinks are a nice touch as well.
Some Colors You Should Never Wear to a Wedding
It’s always good to stick to a white or black suit at a formal event because it is the official color that signifies authority. You don’t want people to think that you are trying to make an impression or trying hard. However, Black tie outfits can either be very simple and elegant or very flashy, depending on how you choose different accessories and what type of suit you wear. And when it comes down to weddings, there are certain colors that should not be worn in any kind of formal event. With this list, I will be giving you some tips of what not to wear on your wedding day and how different colors will affect the way you look on your special day.
1. Black in Any Clothing
Black is traditionally the color of mourning and sadness. It’s the right choice when you are attending a funeral or if you are about to see someone who has passed away or is in a funeral procession because black brings solace to the person wearing it and signifies that there is peace in his life.
2. Gold or Silver
Gold is known as the color of royalty and riches. It is a color that is often associated with luxury, so it sounds normal to wear this color to a wedding, but it’s not. If you are attending a wedding in gold, you’re always going to look like a fortune teller or someone who works as a psychic and you will be looking like you’re doing something inappropriate and completely out of character for a wedding dress color. The reason why gold doesn’t work for a wedding dress color is that it clashes with other colors in the same way that black does. This means that if you do wear gold to a wedding, people will notice you and think you are out of place.
3. White or Ivory
White is associated with purity and innocence, which are typical attributes of the bride that day. It won’t be appropriate for a wedding dress color because it will simply clash with other colors or for a suit or anything else for that matter. Never wear these colors unless you want to look like a kid at a kid’s birthday party dressed in their favorite superhero costume.
4. Maroon
Maroon is a rich, warm and deep color that is often associated with power. It’s a nice color to wear during the colder seasons of the year because it will keep you warm. But on the wedding day, the maroon will stick out in the crowd and everyone will be looking at you thinking that you just didn’t get the message.
In Conclusion
It’s always good to stick to a white or black suit at a formal event because it is the official color that signifies authority. You don’t want people to think that you are trying to make an impression or trying hard. However, Black tie outfits can either be very simple and elegant or very flashy, depending on how you choose different accessories and what type of suit you wear. And when it comes down to wedding, there are certain colors that should not be worn in any kind of formal event. With this list, I will be giving you some tips on what not to wear on your wedding day and how different colors will affect the way you look on your special day.