Definition

Noun: 1. Formal attire for evening events: A style of clothing, typically elegant and sophisticated, designed to be worn at formal social occasions that take place in the evening, such as galas, dinners, or balls. This term can refer to attire for both men and women, though it is often associated with women's formal gowns. 2. A specific garment: A dress, suit, or ensemble that meets the formal standards for evening wear.

Usage and Examples

• General Reference to Formal Wear:

  • The invitation specified "evening dress," so she chose a long gown.
  • He looked very handsome in his classic black tie evening dress.

• Referring to a Specific Garment:

  • She bought a beautiful silk evening dress for the opera.
  • His evening dress included a tailcoat and trousers.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• "Evening dress" as a dress code: The phrase often appears on invitations to indicate the expected level of formality. It is synonymous with terms like "black tie" for men and formal gowns for women.
• Contextual Formality: The specific style can vary; "evening dress" for a very formal ball is different from that for a semi-formal dinner party, though both occur in the evening.

Variants and Related Words

• Evening gown (n): A woman's formal dress, typically long, worn for evening occasions.
  • She wore a stunning red evening gown.
• Black tie (n): A specific, formal code of evening dress for men, involving a dinner jacket (tuxedo).
  • The event is black tie, so a tuxedo is required.
• Formalwear (n): Clothing designed for formal events, which includes evening dress.
• Tuxedo (n): A man's suit for formal evening events; part of "black tie" evening dress.

Synonyms

• Formal attire
• Nightwear (in the context of formal events, not sleepwear)
• Dinner dress
• Black tie attire

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• In evening dress: Describing someone wearing formal evening attire.
  • The guests arrived in evening dress.
• The rules of evening dress: Refers to the conventions and etiquette governing formal evening wear.
  • He is an expert on the rules of evening dress.

Noun

1. attire to wear on formal occasions in the evening