Dress code on the invitation: a company party organiser's guide (Tallinn edition)
It is October, the invitation draft is open and it needs to go out tomorrow. The venue is booked, the band is confirmed, the menu is signed off – and one line is still empty: dress code. You type “festive”, delete it, type “cocktail”, wonder whether anyone on a team of twelve nationalities reads that the same way, and leave the line blank. Three weeks later the same question lands in your inbox forty times, in three languages.
We, the Kostüümirent team, see this every autumn from the other side: the invitation arrives in our Tallinn showroom and the first question is “what did they mean by this?”. This guide is for the person organising the party – how to choose a dress code, how to write it on the invitation so nobody has to ask, and what your guests actually need from you.
Why one line on the invitation decides how the whole party looks
A dress code is not a rule, it is a promise. It tells guests in advance what kind of evening is coming: long gowns and suits, or shirtsleeves on the dance floor. Leave the line out and everyone decides alone – three people arrive in sequins, ten in jeans and the rest somewhere in between. In the photos it looks scattered. Put the line in, clearly, and guests feel confident before they reach the door – and your phone stays quiet.
A good dress code answers three questions: how formal, how themed and how much freedom. Everything else is wording.
Five dress codes that actually work at a company party in Estonia
There are a dozen international dress codes; an office party in Estonia needs five. Each row below says what a guest will wear when they read it – so you can choose the code by the party, not by the word. We unpacked them in detail in our dress code guide.
Dress code | Women | Men | Which party |
Black tie | Floor-length gown or a formal jumpsuit, small clutch | Tuxedo or dark suit, bow tie | Gala, company anniversary, dinner at a manor house or concert hall |
Cocktail | Knee- or midi-length dress; sequins and feathers welcome | Dark suit, tie optional | Restaurant dinner, party with dancing, Christmas party in town |
Festive (“pidulik” on Estonian invitations) | Dress or set with one festive element – shine, velvet, colour | Suit or blazer, coloured shirt or tie | Christmas party where you want freedom but no jeans |
Smart casual | Dress, skirt or trousers with a blazer, no sequins | Blazer and trousers, shirt without tie | Evening part of a seminar, summer days, team night |
Themed | One theme signal plus a party dress – a costume only if you say so | Suit with a nod to the theme | Gatsby, disco, white party, Halloween |
If you are torn between two codes, pick the more formal one. It is easier for a guest to take a jacket off than to conjure one up halfway through the evening.
How to write the dress code on the invitation
Three rules that work whether the invitation goes out by email, as a calendar invite or on paper.
Name the code and translate it in one sentence. “Black tie” alone sends half the team to Google. “Black tie – long gowns and tuxedos” does not.
Give one concrete example each for women and men. Not a list, a picture: “a sequin dress or a jumpsuit; a dark suit”.
Say what is welcome, not only what is banned. “No jeans” invites pushback; “festive but comfortable – we dance until three” sets the mood.
Wording templates you can copy straight in
Black tie: “Dress code: black tie. Floor-length gown or formal jumpsuit for women, tuxedo or dark suit with bow tie for men. There is a cloakroom, and a change of shoes is welcome.”
Cocktail: “Dress code: cocktail. Cocktail or midi dress – sequins and velvet very welcome; dark suit for men, tie optional. We will be dancing, so comfortable shoes pay off.”
Festive: “Dress code: festive. One sparkling or colourful element is just right – a dress, a set or a blazer. Jeans and trainers stay home this time.”
Smart casual: “Dress code: smart casual. A blazer, a nice dress or trousers with a blouse; no tie needed. The evening is relaxed, but there is a photographer.”
Themed: “Dress code: 1920s glamour. One theme signal is enough – pearls, fringe, a waistcoat or a bow tie – no costume required. If you want to go further, you are very welcome.”
That last line matters: say how much theme you expect. “A nod to the theme” and “full costume” are two different parties, and guests want to know which one they are coming to.
Noir Feather cocktail dress 
Blush Sequin cocktail dress 
Bordeaux Plume cocktail dress
Cocktail dress code examples from our collection (from left): Noir Feather cocktail dress, Blush Sequin cocktail dress, Bordeaux Plume cocktail dress.
What your guests will actually ask you
An invitation usually reaches our showroom together with three questions. Answer them on the invitation and you save yourself dozens of messages.
Does the dress have to be long? For black tie yes, or at least a formal midi; for cocktail no. Spell out the length if it matters – “floor-length gown” or “below the knee” is clearer than the name of the code.
How do I get there looking like this? In November and December Estonia has slush, snow and car parks that are a long way from the door – and many company parties happen at manor houses outside the city. Say on the invitation whether there is a cloakroom and whether a change of shoes is fine. A sequin dress and winter boots go together perfectly – as far as the cloakroom door, and that is enough.
What do men wear? Men have fewer options and therefore ask more. One clear sentence – “dark suit, tie optional” – solves most of it.
If the code is black tie or cocktail and a guest has nothing suitable in the wardrobe – common when you moved to Tallinn with two suitcases – renting is the simplest answer: a gown or a suit for one evening that takes up no closet space afterwards. A single sentence on the invitation helps: “If you have nothing to wear, party dresses and suits can be rented.” Our online shop runs from floor-length gowns to men's suits, the standard rental period is up to three days, and we take care of the cleaning.
Midnight Luxe dress 
Burgundy Disc dress 
Champagne Disc dress
Black tie dress code examples from our collection (from left): Midnight Luxe dress, Burgundy Disc dress, Champagne Disc dress.
When the party has a theme
A themed party is the most rewarding and the riskiest choice at once. Rewarding, because the photos look unified and the mood arrives faster. Risky, because if the theme is unclear on the invitation, half the room comes “normal” and the other half in costume – and both halves feel wrong.
Three themes that come back at company parties in Estonia every year: Gatsby and the 1920s, the white party and Halloween. For each, write the level on the invitation: a theme signal (one accessory) or a full look. For a white party, say whether white means only white or also cream and beige – that is the most common confusion.
Organiser's checklist before the invitation goes out
The dress code is named and explained in one sentence.
There is one concrete example for women and one for men.
It says whether there is a cloakroom and whether a change of shoes is fine.
For a themed party, the level is stated: a nod to the theme or a full look.
The invitation names a contact for outfit questions – and that person knows the answers.
The invitation goes out at least 4–6 weeks before the party, so guests have time to rent, try on or order.
The photographer knows the dress code and can plan light and backdrop.
If someone on your team wants to try things on before the party, we arrange a time at our Tallinn showroom via Instagram or email. How renting works step by step is in the FAQ and the rental terms; courier options are on the delivery page.
Navy Classic suit 
Charcoal Classic suit 
Monochrome Stripe suit
For men – suits that cover both cocktail and black tie (from left): Navy Classic suit, Charcoal Classic suit, Monochrome Stripe suit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to put a dress code on the invitation at all?
Yes – even when the party is relaxed. “Dress code: come as you are” is also a dress code, and it lifts the decision off the guest. A missing line creates more questions than any wording.
What is the difference between “festive” and “cocktail”?
Cocktail is specific: a knee- or midi-length dress and a dark suit. Festive is broader and allows more – one festive element is enough. If you want a unified picture, choose cocktail; if you want freedom, choose festive and add an example.
How do I write a dress code without sounding bossy?
Say what is welcome rather than what is banned, and give the reason: “we will be dancing”, “there is a photographer”, “it is a manor hall”. A reason turns a rule into care.
How much time do guests need for their outfit?
Send the invitation 4–6 weeks before the party. For rentals, a dress or suit can be tried on at our showroom in Tallinn (Krulli 2b, room 412) by prior arrangement, the standard rental period is up to three days and cancellation is possible up to 72 hours before the rental period starts.
Does a themed party require a costume?
Only if you say so on the invitation. Most company parties work better at the “theme signal” level: a party dress plus one accessory. Write the level on the invitation and add an example.
Invitation done? Now it is the guests' turn
Browse our collection, come and try things on at the showroom, or follow us on Instagram – that is where new looks appear every week, ready to be added to an invitation as an example.
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