The Official Dos and Don'ts of Black-Tie Attire for Women

Obviously not at this exact moment in time, but hopefully one day in the near future we will be headed to a more formal event, and chances are there's going to

be a strict dress code set in place. Cocktail attire, semi-formal, white tie—ring any bells? While all the aforementioned attires read "fancy," what's really the difference between them all? Are there strict rules? If so, what are they? Well, today, we're here to take a deep dive into one dress code, in particular, and that would be black-tie attire for women.

To get a second opinion on the matter, we reached out to celebrity stylist Sarah Alexandra for her expert opinion. Because let's be honest: If there's anyone who knows a thing or two about formal dressing, it's her. "Some people dread black-tie events, but they are my favorite because it gives me an excuse to go all-out. I love the opportunity to get glammed up, but there are some dos and don'ts when it comes to black-tie events," says Sarah, and we're curious to discover what they are. Below read on as she walks us through her official dos and don'ts on appropriate black-tie attire for women. Take notes, people—we promise this will come in handy one day as will all the pretty dresses that didn't get much use this year.