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The Knot
theknot.com › ideas & advice › fashion › guest attire
What Is Semi-Formal Wedding Attire? A Guide For Wedding Guests
1 month ago - You can mix and match suit separates, work a sweater into the outfit (a great option for fall or winter weddings), or leave your tie at home. For those wearing dresses, something shorter or midi-length is perfect, though it's also appropriate to wear jumpsuits and separates. Kostis notes that the season and time of day may also play a part in how you piece together your semi-formal wedding outfits.
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Joy
withjoy.com › inspiration › fashion › your 2025-2026 guide to semi-formal wedding attire
Your 2025-2026 Guide to Semi-Formal Wedding Attire | Joy
January 10, 2025 - Semi-formal wedding attire allows guests to find a balance between formal and casual clothes. A cocktail dress, suit and tie, or tailored separates work well.
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Target
target.com › s › semi+formal
Semi Formal Dresses & Attire for Women
Shop Target for semi formal you will love at great low prices. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup plus free shipping on orders $35+.
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Macys
macys.com › macy's › women's fashion, shoes & accessories › women's clothing › dresses › cocktail & party dresses
Women's Semi-Formal Cocktail & Party Dresses - Macy's
October 23, 2025 - Discover stunning semi formal dresses at Macy's. Elevate your style with our chic collection of Women's Cocktail & Party Dresses for every occasion. Shop now.
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Generation Tux
generationtux.com › blog › style-guides › semi-formal-vs-formal
The Difference Between Formal and Semi-Formal Attire | Generation Tux
November 3, 2023 - When winter comes, you’ll likely need a warmer outfit to stay comfortable and enjoy the occasion. Formal wedding attire for a winter event may include tuxedos and dark suits in heavier fabrics for men, or with an additional layer like a vest. For ladies, they can accessorize to stay warm with items like shawls. Women could wear a warmer jumpsuit for a less formal occasion, while men could layer up or pick out a warm wool suit. Even with clear explanations of formal attire vs. semi-formal, it’s still easy to make mistakes with dress codes and outfits.
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Blu's
blus.com › home › guides & secrets › semi formal attire: the ultimate guide for 2025
Semi Formal Attire: The Ultimate Guide for 2025 – BLU'S
March 25, 2025 - When it comes to semi-formal wedding attire for women, there's a world of options beyond traditional dresses. If you're looking to make a statement while maintaining comfort, consider tailored outfits like suits, jumpsuits, and two-piece ensembles.
Find elsewhere
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › explore › women's fashion
Semi Formal I Argent SS25
When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures · DRESS CODES: Often considered the most ambiguous dress code, semi-formal attire has now been made easier to navigate.
Published   June 11, 2025
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Busbee Style
busbeestyle.com › home › blog › demystifying semi-formal attire for women – 10 elegant outfits & style tips
Demystifying Semi-Formal Attire for Women – 10 Elegant Outfits & Style Tips
May 10, 2024 - Semi-formal outfits for women can include almost any length of dress (mini, knee length, midi, maxi), except floor length. If you are looking for formal attire for women or black-tie attire, a floor-length gown is the way to go.
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The Dress Outlet
thedressoutlet.com › dresses › semi formal dresses
Semi Formal Dresses - Semi-Formal Cocktail Dress & Party Gown
Go for a bright, eye-catching semi-formal dress. Prefer timeless neutrals? We’ve got plenty of those, too. From cute details like ruffles and lace to sleek, minimal designs, these are semi-formal outfits for ladies who want to show up feeling like themselves, only more polished.
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › shopping › 2022-semi-formal-dress-trends › 922968525740
2022 Semi Formal Dress Trends - Shop on Pinterest
Special Occasion Short and sassy, the Josie satin mini dress will step up your formal looks! This saying dress dares to be flirty and bold with a strappy lace-up back and a ruffled side trim that brings some drama. This dress brings the fun and the fashion. If you love a bold, playful look, explore our stylish short prom dresses or make an entrance in our stunning short wedding guest dresses in short and mini lengths.
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Brides
brides.com › semi-formal-wedding-attire-4800687
What Is Semi-Formal Wedding Attire?
August 20, 2025 - Additionally, Vinnitsky adds that you should consider the time of day when selecting an outfit. "Daytime, and especially daytime outdoors, will definitely lend itself more to the casual options, while nighttime and indoors will lean more towards dressy options," she says. "In general, semi-formal is about striking the perfect balance between casual and dressy.
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MasterClass
masterclass.com › articles › semi-formal-attire-guide
Semi-Formal Attire Guide: How to Choose a Semi-Formal Outfit - 2025 - MasterClass
September 28, 2021 - Semi-formal attire is a category ... slightly less formal than cocktail attire. Outfit options include button-down shirts, dress pants, and dress shoes, and jumpsuits, tea dresses, and knee-length dresses....
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Southernhoney
southernhoney.com › blogs › news › semi-formal-style-guide-for-women-2022
Semi-Formal Style Guide for Women (2022)
May 30, 2022 - You can never go wrong with a stylish midi dress in a solid color for a comfortable and chic option. The flattering figure-hugging silhouette will highlight your features & adds an exciting appeal to the dress. Add gold jewelry to elevate your outfit in a flash!! Our 'The Everyday Dress' is a refined semi-formal dress that's easy on the eyes.
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Over 50 Feeling 40
over50feeling40.com › home › fashion › semi-formal today for women over 50
Semi-formal today for women over 50 | Over 50 Feeling 40
May 2, 2022 - Palazzo pants are definitely semi-formal/cocktail attire. & the silkiness/sheen of the fabrics makes them more formal than the regular cotton of the other tops/dresses you tried. This is a wowza! outfit. Did you twirl in it? I think I’d twirl in it. It’s so nice that dress up clothes can also be comfortable.
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Two Cumberland
twocumberland.com › home › semi-formal
Women's Semi-Formal Attire | Two Cumberland
Two Cumberland has stunning outfits for special occasions. Shop semi-formal apparel for your next date, anniversary, business meeting, or other events here!
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/femalefashionadvice › dressing for a semi-formal / smart office job
r/femalefashionadvice on Reddit: Dressing for a semi-formal / smart office job
March 27, 2022 -

I recently started a new job (government / public sector), with a dress code than can be described as somewhat formal / smart - mostly dark, muted tones and neutrals, collared shirts, smart blouses and sweaters, smart shoes etc. I moved from an office with a casual dress code (I used to turn up in just t-shirts / shirts and jeans), so I've had to do a major wardrobe rejig and buy lots of new smart clothes.

The thing is, I love dressing up and for the most part I just find traditional office wear a bit...dull? I've found myself really missing being able to wear jeans and my usual smart-casual stuff. With a semi-formal dress code I feel quite limited and don't really find it very "fun". I'm curious if anyone else in this sub has struggled with a similar dress code switch before, and if you're currently working an office job with a smart dress code, how do you inject a bit of "fun" into your office outfits, whilst still looking professional?

Top answer
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I basically do the business items, but COLOURFUL. I'm always on the hunt for funky colours and textures. I keep a black blazer around if I have to be a bit more sober (like if my team is giving a presentation, but I'm just there as support/not the main presenter), but otherwise, I just sear everyone's eyes off with colour. I find that if you keep the cut and fit very conservative, you can get away with a lot in the public sector, because they really can't say you're not dressing up. If anything, you're more dressy than they are. Bubble gum pink blazer? don't mind if I do. Green blouse, slacks and shoes? yeah, I did that too. I don't do patterns much, but this is where going to down with cool patterns on trousers or sheath dresses with a more formal/sober blazer over top can slide through really well. Being funky in the public sector is more a factor of how ballsy you are than actual dress code rules.
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Muted and formal things can still be fun, you just have to have a very critical eye toward what can fly in your office, and try to remember that formality has to be a part of every outfit. An example of this could be a fun pair of black palazzo pants worn with a blazer or a sweater. You can also wear cool accessories to sort of give a bit of personality to something drab. One other tip I would give is that there are great examples of traditional collared dress shirts or blouses with a fashionable flair or silhouette that should work in that environment. I would suggest keeping the colors muted but allowing yourself leeway with silhouette and shoes/accessories.