Semi-formal is not considered casual. It falls somewhere in between casual and formal attire. While casual attire is typically more relaxed and informal, semi-formal attire still maintains a certain level of dressiness and sophistication.
In a semi-formal dress code, you would generally avoid casual items such as jeans, t-shirts, or sneakers. Instead, you would opt for more polished and elegant clothing choices. This might include a dress, suit, or tailored separates for women, and a suit or dress pants with a dress shirt and tie for men.
Semi-formal attire allows for some flexibility and personal style, but it is still important to adhere to certain guidelines. For women, this could mean wearing a knee-length or tea-length dress, a dressy blouse paired with a skirt or tailored pants, or even a dressy jumpsuit. Men, on the other hand, would typically wear a suit with a dress shirt and tie, or they could opt for dress pants, a dress shirt, and a blazer.
The key is to choose clothing that is more polished and sophisticated than what you would wear on a regular day, but not as formal as what you would wear to a black-tie event. It’s about finding the right balance between looking put-together and stylish, without being overly formal or too casual.
In my personal experience, I have attended several semi-formal events such as weddings, cocktail parties, and business dinners. Each time, I made sure to dress appropriately by selecting clothing that was more elevated than my everyday attire but still comfortable and stylish. I found that adhering to the semi-formal dress code helped me feel confident and appropriate for the occasion.
To summarize, semi-formal attire is not considered casual. It is a dress code that requires a level of elegance and sophistication, falling between casual and formal attire. It is important to choose clothing that is more polished and stylish than everyday wear, but not as formal as what you would wear to a black-tie event.