9 Polite Ways to Ask Someone to Dress Up Nicely

Are you trying to sound polite when asking someone to dress up nicely? It’s hard to know the best things to say at first.

Luckily, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered the best phrases to remind people to dress appropriately for an event.

• Dress to impress
• Dress up to the nines
• Please dress up for my event
• Wear your finest attire
• There is a theme
• I would appreciate some formal wear
• Please try to come in your nicest clothes
• I would appreciate some effort on your part
• Can you dress appropriately?

Keep reading to find out the best ways to ask someone to dress up nicely. There are plenty of different contexts where you might need them, and we’ve touched on all of them.

1. Dress to Impress

“Dress to impress” is a very common synonym people use when they want someone to dress up. It is clever dress code wording, suggesting that you should impress people with your attire.

While “dress to impress” isn’t a specific dress code (like a black-tie or fancy-dress event), it’s still a great option. It allows you to dictate the effort people put into wearing their outfits.

“Dress to impress” is a great alternative whether you need it for formal or informal situations.

These examples will help you understand more about it:

• Please don’t come in a casual dress! Dress to impress, as it’s quite an important party.
• Dress to impress, guys! You’re welcome to wear whatever you want, as long as it’s fancy.

2. Dress Up to the Nines

“Dress up to the nines” is a great idiom used to mention a dress code on an invitation. You should use it when you want people to put effort into the things they wear.

“To the nines” means “to the best you can do.” It’s a good way to entice people to try harder on their outfits.

It’s especially effective when hosting a formal event. It ensures that people wear suits and dresses when they show up.

Here are some examples to help you:

• I would love it if you could dress up to the nines. Then, I will see that you’re willing to make an effort.
• Please, dress up to the nines. I want to see everyone making an effort with this.

3. Please Dress Up for My Event

“Please dress up for my event” is a simple phrase that lets someone know what you want without needing further information. It is not an idiom or saying. Instead, it is clear and concise, allowing no room for confusion.

It’s great to include something like this in an invitation. It lets you sound polite and calm when instructing people to dress nicely.

Here are some great examples to show you how to use it:

• Please dress up for my event on the weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing what you wear.
• Could you please dress up for my event? I don’t host things often, so I want everything to be perfect.

4. Wear Your Finest Attire

“Wear your finest attire” is a great alternative. It’s phrased as a command, so it might not be the most polite option. However, you can use it in formal invitations to ensure that people put effort into their outfits.

You’ll have the most luck with this phrase if you are a boss. It’s quite a commanding and powerful statement. So, you need to have power over others to use it appropriately.

You can refer to these examples to see how to use it:

• Don’t forget to wear your finest attire! This is a really big wedding, and I want everything to go well.
• Please, wear your finest party attire. I’m sure you’ll all look lovely when you come.

5. There Is a Theme

“There is a theme” is a good way to be specific. As a synonym, it allows you to ensure that people wear an outfit to your event.

Generally, a theme has a purpose. For instance, you might request an 80s theme or a black-tie theme. The idea is that everyone follows along and chooses an appropriate outfit to wear.

You can refer to the following to see how it works:

• Please don’t forget there is a theme. I would appreciate it if you come wearing your favorite party attire.
• There is a theme, so please try to meet it. I’d love to see what you wear on the day.

6. I Would Appreciate Some Formal Wear

“I would appreciate some formal wear” is a great alternative when hosting an event. It shows that you would like people to dress up and you want them to look nice.

It’s a fairly polite phrase. However, you should only use it in formal circumstances. It’s not very conversational, so it won’t work well when speaking with friends.

Why not refer to these examples to see how to use it:

• I would appreciate some formal wear if you’re coming to my party, though. Can you handle that?
• This is certainly an important day for me. So, I would appreciate some formal wear.

7. Please Try to Come In Your Nicest Clothes

“Please try to come in your nicest clothes” is a great request. You can use it when you want someone to try to dress up nicely. It’s very polite, but it is not demanding (like some of the other synonyms).

If someone does not dress nicely for an event, this phrase lets them know it’s okay. It implies you will not be offended if they cannot meet the appropriate dress code.

Here are some examples to help you:

• Please try to come in your nicest clothes. I’d still like to see everyone making an effort for the party.
• It’s going to be a big wedding with so many important people. So, please try to come in your nicest clothes.

8. I Would Appreciate Some Effort on Your Part

“I would appreciate some effort on your part” is a decent phrase. It shows that you want someone to try to look nice. It’s fairly polite, but you should only use it when speaking with close friends who don’t mind somewhat sarcastic language.

Take a look through these examples to see how to use it:

• I would appreciate some effort on your part in regard to dress today, though. I hope that’s not too much to ask!
• This is my biggest event of the year. So, I would appreciate some effort on your part.

9. Can You Dress Appropriately?

“Can you dress appropriately” is a great question alternative. You can use it when you know someone might need extra guidance before choosing the right outfit.

It’s a simple and respectful question. You should use it to ensure that someone dresses as they have been asked to.

Why not see how to use it with the following examples:

• It’s a very big meeting and event. So, we need to get it right. Can you dress appropriately, please?
• Can you dress appropriately this time? I’d like everything to go well, and I need you to dress up.