Black Tie Event meaning: Men can wear tuxedos or dinner jackets with traditional satin peaked lapels, and a bowtie. Women tend to wear long dresses, usually below the knee or floor length, in an evening-appropriate fabric: think velvet, silk, satin, and lace. Despite the name, a black-tie dress doesn't necessarily have to be black…. In other words, men in suits and woman in evening dresses!