What is the dress code for official receptions? A stylist commented on the outfits of Belarusians at the reception of the President of Poland
The Christmas reception at the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, in Warsaw's Belvedere Palace was in the spotlight this year. But what are the dress code rules for such official events? We looked into them and asked stylist Hanna Pryshyvalka to comment on the guests' looks.
There are several types of dress codes, which, incidentally, differ in their level of formality.
- White Tie — the strictest dress code, which requires a tailcoat, white bow tie, and patent leather shoes for men, and long evening dresses, gloves, and jewelry for women.
- Black Tie — usually relevant for solemn events, receptions, and premieres. Tuxedos, black bow ties, and evening or cocktail dresses are welcome here.
- Business Formal — required for official negotiations and meetings. This involves classic suits in neutral colors and a minimum of accessories.
- Business Casual — a less strict, office style, where a jacket can be worn without a tie. A shirt, trousers, or a skirt are sufficient in this case.
At the meeting with the President of Poland, there was no specific dress code as such, but the invitation specified that national costumes or their elements were welcome. That is why people could be seen at the event in both evening dresses and jeans with sweaters. However, representatives of the Belarusian political circle traditionally wore strict suits.
As national details, some guests had scarves with ornaments and vyshyvankas (embroidered shirts).
"Politicians, deputies, presidents, first ladies, diplomats — for these people, understanding dress codes is part of their profession. They must know the rules a priori," comments Hanna Pryshyvalka. "But for representatives of the cultural sphere, journalists, bloggers, and others, it is acceptable not to delve into the intricacies; an understanding of the 'appropriateness' of clothing for the venue is enough. Among those invited to the Belvedere Presidential Palace, there were quite a few such guests, which is why we saw such a variety of looks. Although, of course, if the invitation had specified rules and requirements for appearance, it could have been different. 'Could have been,' because political prisoners were also among the guests, and I think that quickly acquiring evening dresses and expensive suits after prison is definitely not their priority."
The stylist notes that although the modern world has changed, and in some respects, appearance requirements have become more democratic (for example, it has become acceptable for women to wear thinner tights than in the past), the dress code is still a relevant topic.
"With the help of a dress code, people further emphasize the level, importance, and theme of a particular event. And, of course, if Belarusians had visited the President of Poland with overly bright and intricate makeup, deep décolletage, and mini-skirts, it would have shown their disrespect and lack of culture. In such cases, it's important to simply feel the 'appropriateness' of the outfit for the event — that can be enough; it's not necessary to understand all the subtleties of the dress code," the stylist adds.
Separately, the interlocutor drew attention to two contrasting looks — that of national leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and ABBA representative Maryna Hiryn.
"Maryna Hiryn is an example for me of good taste, a sense of style and appropriateness, and an understanding of what suits her personally. She managed to strike a balance between business restraint and elegance. Various colors are subtly, with great taste, and most importantly, very progressively combined. In this case, her image fully corresponded to the level and theme of the event, the season, and Maryna's own status."
As for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the stylist noted that she could have afforded more daring decisions.
"You can never fault the representatives of our political opposition for violations of the official, business dress code. One can only say that sometimes their choice is too restrained and conservative (especially in contrast to other Western politicians). I can assume that this is done intentionally. We all remember how much uproar there was when Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appeared in a video with an expensive cup. Her conscious choice is modesty, so that malicious tongues wouldn't want to discuss how much something cost, pulling out a calculator."
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