evening dress
noun /ˈiːvnɪŋ dres/
/ˈiːvnɪŋ dres/
- [uncountable] smart clothes worn for formal occasions in the evening
- Everyone was in evening dress.
Culture formal and informal dressformal and informal dressIn general, people in Britain and the US dress in a fairly informal way. Many wear casual clothes most of the time, not just when they are at home or on holiday. Men and women wear jeans or other casual trousers with a shirt or T-shirt and a sweater to go shopping, meet friends, go to a pub or bar, or take their children out. Older people are more likely to dress more smartly, with women wearing a dress or skirt and blouse, and men a shirt, jacket and trousers, when they go out. In summer people may wear shorts (= short trousers), but these are not usually considered appropriate for work in an office.Many people dress up (= put on smart clothes) to go to a formal party or an expensive restaurant. Young people are most interested in following fashion and regularly buy new clothes.Men wear suits, and women wear suits or dresses, for formal occasions like funerals or interviews for jobs. Some wear suits or smart clothes every day because their employer expects it or because they think it makes them look more professional. Most people prefer more casual, comfortable clothes for work but some companies do not like people wearing jeans. Employees in banks and shops often have uniforms.For very formal occasions during the day, such as a wedding, men may wear morning dress. This includes a jacket with long ‘tails’ at the back, dark grey trousers and a grey top hat. Women wear a smart dress and perhaps a hat. For very formal events in the evening, men may wear evening dress, also called white tie, which consists of a black tailcoat, black trousers, a white waistcoat, white shirt and white bow tie. Women usually wear a long evening dress or ball gown. Usually for formal evening events men wear black tie or a tuxedo, consisting of a black dinner jacket, black trousers and a black bow tie. - enlarge image(also evening gown)[countable] a woman’s long formal dress