The more I think about it, the more this "(optional)" thing seems like a total cop-out...it can't be in consideration of any people who might be asked to attend who don't have formal wear readily available because I know that the crowd being invited to this shindig certainly do. I can only guess that it's a "safety" to excuse any of them who don't feel like going to the trouble but who the organizers want to attend for various reasons.

Thank all of you for your discussion here...it has been enlightening.

I just think that it might be better if hosts specified one or the other and got off the fence and didn't try to cover all of the bases by being so deferential.

Interestingly enough, the second event that I'm attending has an association with a big Catholic University and I now envy the RC priests that can just show up as they usually do in the black suit and dog collar and not worry about ironing a tuxedo shirt!

Best

AA