Women Wedding Suits

What is appropriate for guys to wear to formal events?

I understand what is appropriate for me to wear as a girl to events, whether semi-formal or formal with different dresses. But I am going to a semi-formal dinner event at my dorm with my boyfriend, and he asked me how formal it was and what he should wear! What do guys wear to different formal events. What's the difference between suits and tuxedos opposed to just a nice shirt with jeans?

Public Comments

1. A nice shirt and jeans isn't appropriate for anything but a casual event. A suit is appropriate for a formal event. A tuxedo is appropriate for a black tie event.
2. If I am not mistaken, semi-formal means the guy wears a nice suit and tie. Usually the invitation will tell you whether an affair is formal or not. If it says formal that usually mean a tux should be worn. Tuxedos should be worn at all formal events, like proms, sometimes to the opera(even though some people go casual) and high-end dinners. I am sure there are other affairs I just can't think of them all at this moment. I went to the opera once and some men had on suits, some had on a tux and a few had on jeans. A nice shirt and jeans is when an affair is casual but not for shorts and a t-shirt. Like maybe a guy wants to impress his girl on a first date and they are going to a restaurant or a movie so he would wear a nice shirt and jeans. Out here in Southern California it seems everybody dresses casual no matter what, except the people who have money. I guess it all depends on the person.
3. Semi-formal has to mean at least a really nice suit, if not a tux. I think semi-formal might be okay with a really nice suit, but no way does it mean just a nice shirt, and definitely no jeans! Jeans are for casual affairs, only! A good rule of thumb is to ask someone who's hosting the event, so maybe one of the RA's or whatever you call them where you are.
4. He should probably if it is a semi-formal dinner, wear a suit at least. That means nice pants (slacks), dress socks, dress shoes, a nice shirt, a tie, and a suit jacket. You should probably match him in terms of color and style. The option rests with you guys whether or not to wear flowers (boutonniere and corsage). Overall, get dressed up and have a good time!!
5. To be really correct semi formal for a gentleman would be a white dinner jacket worn with tux shirt cummerbund optional. But in today's collegiate scene I think a dark suit either black or charcoal grey is fine. BTW for women semi formal means a dressy cocktail dress, not floor length is fine. NEVER nice shirt and jeans or dockers. A tuxedo is for any formal dinner, dance etc. When it says "Black Tie" on invitation that means a tux should be worn, when "Black tie optional" is stated that means you really should wear a tux but is is Ok to wear a dark suit. I know all this may sound silly but people really do still follow this especially if you want to get ahead in the business world. Also buying a tux is a good investment for a guy as he can wear the same one at every event unlike us ladies that have to wear different dress to each event.