When the dress code says “lounge” or “lounge suit,” don’t be fooled. Despite how it sounds, this is one of the more formal dress codes you can find on an invitation.
The term “lounge suit” is a holdover from earlier days of Western fashion, when dressing up was more elaborate and more common. A lounge suit was considered presentable for informal daytime functions, at a time when what passed for “casual” was far fancier than the casual clothes of today.
Nowadays, lounge suit is a dress code usually seen at fancy daytime events, or formal-ish evening functions. It’s a step below formal attire, but not by far.
Lounge: A Definition
When these Western dress code rules got started, clothing choices were divided into informal or formal, and daytime or nighttime.
For formal functions, a morning dress or suit applied during the day, while an evening dress or tailcoat was needed for the evening. At informal events, the lounge suit was the daytime option, while a dinner suit (or “black tie attire”) was worn for the evening.
Today, things have changed: most people consider black tie and lounge attire to be formal wear. Lounge attire for men is easy—always wear a suit. For women, there’s more flexibility: any formal dress, or alternatives like a classy jumpsuit, will work.
When to Dress in Lounge Attire
Lounge attire works best at functions like these:
- Business breakfasts
- Fancy brunches
- Daytime engagement parties
- Afternoon tea
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The lounge dress code implies a formal daytime event. Your look should be a little more demure than your evening wear, but still fancy.
