It really is the height of bad manners to ignore the dress code on an invitation. I remember hearing a story from one poor bride who specified ‘formal attire’ on her invitation and ended up with people (of the male persuasion) turning up to the wedding in trainers and t-shirts … aaargh! Suffice to say her pictures were a little spoiled — personally I would have had them evicted from the ceremony.

Australia is a very casual country and indeed it is one of the things I most love about the place, but it is also my greatest frustration. Canberra especially suffers from a terror of ‘dressing up’ to such an extent that when you do make an effort with attire you are left feeling overdressed and sticking out like a sore thumb. I did put up with this state of affairs for a number of years until my love of beautiful clothes reasserted itself, and instead of just playing dress up at home I started to let my beloved wardrobe run wild and free.

So, what do you do when you receive an invitation with a dress code? Simple, if you are not sure what the dress code means just Google it! It is the work of moments to confirm the correct attire for any situation. If you are still in doubt feel free to ring your host or hostess to confirm that your choice of attire is suitable —they won’t mind, honestly. In the meantime please see my cheat’s guide to the dress code below.

Cocktails anyone?

Love, Darla

Darla cracks the dress code ... photo by ShutterBug Baby.

LOUNGE SUIT

Another way of describing a business suit or a day suit. It's usually the dress code for a function early in the evening for people to attend straight from work. But don't wear a suit that you've had on all day if it's a glamorous function. Usually a dark suit is required and the jacket must be worn, but a tie is optional. Girls can wear business attire or a smart dress and heels — not jeans.

SEMI-FORMAL

This is similar to ‘lounge suit’ and ‘cocktail’. Men can wear trousers, a shirt and a tie, rather than a tuxedo, and women can opt for a cocktail dress or a pants suit.

COCKTAIL

This is champagne and nibbles — dressy but not dinner and dancing. For women, it traditionally means a short to knee-length dress. Usually it's a shoe-string strap dress with a bit of bling either on the dress or accessories. Definitely no flat shoes, unless it’s ‘cocktails by the sea or pool’. Men should wear a dark suit and tie with a dressy shirt — usually one with a French cuff — and worn with the top button undone.

BLACK TIE/FORMAL

This is where men have to wear a dinner suit, a stiff fabric, French cuffed shirt and cufflinks, and a bow tie (black please!)

For women, a full length evening dress. If the invitation says ‘black tie optional’, it gives men the option of wearing a tuxedo or a suit and women a cocktail dress or evening dress.

WHITE TIE

This is for a really glittering, special occasion and is sometimes referred to as ‘ultra-formal’. Women must wear a long evening gown.

Men must wear a traditional black coat (or white if you're game) with tails, a white winged, collared shirt, a vest is optional, a white bow tie and, preferably, black patent shoes.

This type of gala dressing also applies to the ‘red carpet’ dress code.

MORNING SUIT

This is usually restricted to weddings or race-wear on Melbourne Cup Day.

Men have to wear tails, their jacket should be single-breasted, the front fastened with one button. If the jacket is black, trousers are usually striped. It is worn with a waistcoat, usually grey, formal trousers, a stiff-collared white shirt, black shoes and sometimes a top-hat.

For women, hats with large brims (if daytime and only if they suit you!), gloves and a feminine dress will do the trick. If it is a wedding please take note of cultural etiquette e.g. black, white and red are often considered inappropriate colours.

CASUAL

This doesn't mean ‘anything goes’. It means wearing something relaxed, such as a sundress or jeans with flat shoes for women and shorts and a t-shirt for men.

It doesn't necessarily mean you can wear thongs (unless it's at the beach or in a back yard). Check with the host to be sure.

SMART CASUAL

Still relaxed, but make an effort beyond what you would throw on for casual wear. Definitely no thongs! Men should wear dressier shorts — not board shorts — with a collared shirt such as a polo.