Katsucon 18 Formal Ball
Join us Friday night for Katsucon’s Annual Formal Ball!
Ladies, wear your finest! Gentlemen, dress sharp! We are having a grand ball where you can dance and mingle with all of Katsucon’s fine attendees. From classic waltzes to contemporary dances, everyone will be able to enjoy a night of fun and excitement!
Dance lessons to be held prior to the ball, please refer to the program schedule.
Before reading the rules for the dress code please familiarize yourself with the Katsucon Attendee Policies.
NOTE: In your selection of dress, please keep in mind you need to be comfortable. We highly recommend that you do not wear anything that will constrict, restrict, and possibly need the jaws of life to get you out of, in the case of an emergency. Also keep in mind that your shoes should be comfortable and good for dancing. Stumbling about in too-tall heels is a hazard to yourself and others. Clothes must also be worn appropriately, meaning keep those shirts tucked in!
Katsucon 18 Formal Ball Dress Code
Absolutely NO:
T-shirts or casual shirts, jeans, shorts of any kind, sneakers, sandals, bare feet, flip-flops, large props, weapons (real or fake), large wings, mascot costumes, spiked belts, masks or headgear that obstruct your vision, costumes/outfits made from vinyl, fishnets, other sheer material, pvc, armor, chainmail, duct tape, flannel, plaid, and denim. No extremely tight fitting clothing. No rave gear or fake hair dreads. No revealing clothing whether it is the chest, belly, back or legs. No wet liquids on your person such as body paint or fake blood. No long trains on dresses/skirts. No wigs or head pieces that are a hindrance to your vision or to others around you.
Allowed under certain Circumstances:
- Skirts – Must be at least knee length (or just above the knee – just keep it tasteful) and formal looking. No business casual or mini-skirts. Must be paired with formal looking tops.
- Shirts/dresses – Must not be extremely low cut in the front or back and dresses must be at least knee length as well. Must be ‘formal’ looking. No casual shirts.
- Kilts – They must be FORMAL and be worn with FORMAL Scottish attire.
- Steampunk – Must still follow the FORMAL guidelines. No large props or weapons will be allowed into the ballroom.
- Flats (shoes) – are allowed but they must be ‘dressy’ flats, nothing casual
- Boots – are allowed, but they must be formal with no tread. No spikes, high platforms, high stilettos, straps, metal, or casual lacing may be on the boots. Appropriate boots must be worn with matching attire. Example – Do not wear formal military boots with a formal dress. The only boots with lacing allowed will be period boots worn with a period costume.
- Zori or Geta – Are allowed with traditional, formal, Asian clothing.
- Heels – Must be lower than 4 inches, no big platforms or heels.
- Hats – No baseball hats, beanies, bandanas or any casual headwear.
- Masks – Must not cover your entire face at ANY time. Masks must not be worn until you are inside of the ballroom (meaning the door security has to be able to see your face for you to be let inside), and if you are asked to remove your mask at any time by any staff member during the dance for ANY reason, you must do so.
What is Allowed:
- Black tie formal wear
- Mens suits
- Mens button down dress shirt with tie and dress slacks, belt highly recommended (Shirts must be tucked in), a jacket is also recommended. A waistcoat or vest can be worn in place, or with a tie, however if you’re wearing a dress shirt you must have some form of tie, a vest or waistcoat, or a jacket (a button up shirt may not be worn by itself).
- Formal Military attire
- Ballgowns
- Kimono’s and traditional Asian clothing as long as it is formal
- Prom/wedding style dresses/cocktail dresses
- FORMAL period clothing (no casual period clothing)
- Dressy Separates
- Mens dress shoes
- Womens pumps/heels/dress shoes
- Period shoes paired with formal period clothing
Cosplay/Crossplay is allowed so long as the costume meets the above requirements. While the door crew is very familiar with many animes/genres they haven’t seen everything, so while you might think something is formal we may not think so and it may not be allowed. If you have ANYTHING you’re not sure about and want to know if it will be allowed, just send us a picture and we will get back to you with whether or not it will be okay to wear to the formal dance. We realize that some things might not be accepted where you think they ought to be, but the entire dress code was carefully thought out and the rules are there for a reason. Please do not argue with the door crew.
**At this time attendees are permitted to carry SMALL, formal, purses into the Formal Ball. No large or casual bags will be allowed. If you have a bag that is not permitted you will be asked to take it back to your room or to the bag/coat check available in the Gaylord. Likewise any outerwear such as a coat or jacket (not part of your formal attire) should be taken to the coat check prior to entering the ball.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is illegal to wear a mask in National Harbor. Therefore if a mask is part of your costume, whether it is for the ball or otherwise, please remember that you are only permitted to wear it inside of the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center.
Acknowledgement: Large portions of this dress code have been reprinted, with permission and our deepest thanks, from AnimeUSA‘s Formal Dance dress code.
