Every now and then, an occasion will come up in which formal dress is required for guests to wear. A person may asked, just what is formal dress? For a man, formal dress means a suit, dress shirt, a tie and nice dress shoes. Men can more easily prepare for such an event, as the outfit needed is much easier to construct than women’s formal dress. As long as a man can coordinate his suit, ideally one which already has been purchased as a suit and not separate items, he must only then be sure the smaller items match. A man should keep the suit to a serious color, such as navy, or black. The shirt should ideally be white. The shoes, in turn should match the suit and black is most commonly acceptable. The man’s tie should not be a distraction. It is best to keep it conservative and choose a color with a small pattern, as not to overpower the suit. A neat haircut and a shave and the man is ready.

For women’s formal dress, it is a bit more complicated. The ideal goal is to choose an outfit that is certainly worthy of the occasion, fits well to ensure comfort and is one that is not to over-the-top. The goal is to look beautiful and classy, to shine and be noticed; but not to be stared at as one wonders why a woman would choose such a dress.

It is best for a woman to first think about what she feels most comfortable in. Keep in mind of course, that when it comes to women’s formal dress, pants are never acceptable. Even if a woman lives her whole life in jeans, she must give in and wear a dress for occasions that calls for it. Dresses can be comfortable as jeans if the right dress is chosen. A woman must decide if she would feel most comfortable in a tighter fitting dress that shows off a few curves or a full and fancy dress.

If choosing a tight fitting formal dress, it is imperative to keep a few things in mind. First, when trying on the dress, do not just stand in it. The event to which a woman wears the dress will most inevitably call for a time to sit. A dress that seems fantastic when a woman is standing may be a whole different story when sitting down. It is best to walk around in and sit down in the dress you are interested in wearing. If sitting or walking is not comfortable, do not consider wearing the dress.

Once a woman knows the style of formal dress she wants, the next aspect is color. It is not wise to experiment at this time. If a woman knows she looks wonderful in red, keep it red. If a woman knows grey is not her color, she should not even bother to look at grey dresses. Shopping should be a fun event and if a woman spends hours looking at formal dress styles that she knows she will not really wear, it can quickly turn stressful.

It is best to keep it simple. Dresses that are made of patterns are too distracting. The shoes should most undoubtedly match. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum. A good rule to follow is that there should be one eye-catching piece; not an entire jewelry box on a woman. One good piece of jewelry is great for conversation starters and gives the look of classiness. When it comes to formal dress, the makeup should be formal as well. Too much makeup will make a woman look like she is walking down the red carpet. A good rule to follow regarding this is to choose one feature to play up. For example, if a woman wishes to wear a bright lipstick, she should keep eye shadow to a minimum and of a basic color.

The next aspect is the hair. Again, simple is best. Whether a woman decides to wear her hair up or down, it is important to not add sparkles, excessive hair clips or crazy curls. Sleek and polished hair should be the goal. The final aspect is to have fun. If women's formal dress shows off the best characteristic of a woman and she feels comfortable, all she must do is have a good time and enjoy the compliments she receives.