THE LEDGER · 14 ENTRIES
The Ledger
DressDex's dated, bylined editorial. Every entry names the dress codes and the band it touches, so a reader can move from the index into the ledger and back without losing the thread.
How the ledger reads
Newest first, dated and bylined the same way a dress code entry is. The codes column names what each entry actually touches, so it doubles as an index of its own.
| Date | Entry | By | Codes referenced |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Most Misunderstood Dress Codes and What They Actually Mean Black Tie Optional, Semi Formal, Smart Casual and other dress codes are easy to misread. Learn what the most confusing codes actually ask you to wear. | DressDex editors | Black Tie Optional, Lounge Suit, Semi Formal, Cocktail Attire, Smart Casual, Formal | |
| How Climate Changes a Dress Code. Australia, Singapore, Dubai, Britain and Canada Compared The same dress code can look very different in Melbourne, Singapore, Dubai, London and Canada. See how climate changes fabrics, layers and formalwear. | DressDex editors | Black Tie, Smart Casual, Cocktail Attire, Creative Black Tie, Formal, Garden Party | |
| Are Dress Codes Becoming More Casual? How Weddings, Workplaces and Events Are Changing Workplaces are dressing down while weddings are becoming more flexible. See how modern dress codes are changing and why formalwear still survives. | DressDex editors | Business Casual, Semi Formal, Cocktail Attire, Black Tie, Smart Casual, Black Tie Optional | |
| Cocktail vs Semi Formal. The Dress Code Difference That Confuses Everyone Cocktail Attire and Semi Formal are close, but they are not identical. Learn the differences in suits, dresses, ties, timing and Australian weddings. | DressDex editors | Semi Formal, Cocktail Attire, Lounge Suit, Black Tie, Smart Casual | |
| Tuxedo vs Dinner Suit. Why Americans and Britons Use Different Names Tuxedo, dinner jacket and dinner suit often describe the same Black Tie outfit. Learn where the names came from and why they differ across countries. | DressDex editors | Black Tie, White Tie, Lounge Suit | |
| Same Invitation, Different Country. How Dress Codes Change Around the World The same dress code can mean different things around the world. See how Smart Casual, Black Tie and other codes shift across eight countries. | DressDex editors | Smart Casual, Black Tie, Dressy Casual | |
| How Wedding Dress Codes Have Changed Over the Last 100 Years Wedding dress codes have changed dramatically over the last century. See how formal weddings gave way to Cocktail, Semi Formal and modern venue based codes. | DressDex editors | Black Tie, Semi Formal, Cocktail Attire, Garden Party, Beach Formal, Black Tie Optional | |
| How Casual Friday Created the Modern Business Casual Dress Code From Hawaii's Aloha Friday to Dockers and the 1990s office, discover how Casual Friday helped turn Business Casual into a modern workplace dress code. | DressDex editors | Business Casual, Business Professional, Corporate Attire, Corporate Casual, Smart Casual | |
| Smart Casual vs Business Casual vs Dressy Casual. What Is Actually the Difference? Smart Casual, Business Casual and Dressy Casual overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Learn what each dress code means and when to wear it. | DressDex editors | Smart Casual, Business Casual, Dressy Casual, Cocktail Attire | |
| Why Semi Formal Means Different Things in Australia, Britain and America Semi Formal changes meaning across Australia, Britain and America. Learn why the same dress code can produce different outfits in each country. | DressDex editors | Semi Formal, Lounge Suit, Black Tie, White Tie, Cocktail Attire, Smart Casual | |
| From White Tie to Black Tie. How Formal Evening Dress Became Less Formal Discover how White Tie gave way to Black Tie, where the tuxedo came from and why formal evening dress became less rigid through the twentieth century. | DressDex editors | Black Tie, White Tie, Morning Dress, Black Tie Optional, Creative Black Tie | |
| Where Did Dress Codes Come From? A History of How We Learned to Dress for the Occasion Dress codes have existed for centuries. Discover how laws, class, tailoring and changing social customs created the dress codes we still use today. | DressDex editors | White Tie, Black Tie, Cocktail Attire, Business Casual, Smart Casual, Morning Dress | |
| Why Cocktail Attire Is Fast Becoming Australians' Favourite Wedding Dress Code Cocktail attire is fast becoming the default dress code at Australian weddings. Here is why it suits the way we celebrate today. | DressDex editors | Cocktail Attire, Black Tie, Smart Casual, Semi Formal | |
| Summer Event Dressing That Stays Cool and Sharp How to dress for warm weather events without sacrificing style, from garden parties to summer cocktail evenings. | DressDex editors | Summer Formal, Summer Cocktail, Garden Party |
Read the index instead
Every dress code DressDex covers, most formal first, with a plain definition for each.
The DressDex letter
One note when a code changes or a new edition lands. No more than that.