Tenue is a set of clothing, ensemble or outfit, and de ville is French for of the city. When combined, tenue de ville means dressy and usually business attire—those clothes you’d wear in a business setting. As translated by native speakers of French, the term can refer to any type of semi-dressy but not formal clothing. A sweater vest or slacks with a sports coat might make up part of tenue de ville, or a skirt and blouse worn by a woman.

In some cases, dress code for businesses is defined as tenue de ville, and generally means business clothing. This tends to refer to suits for men, or at the very least, slacks, coordinating jackets, a formal shirt and shoes. For women tenue de ville is a bit more loosely constructed. It can mean dresses suitable for business, skirts and tops, or women’s business suits. If you are unsure about what business clothing is appropriate in a new job, it’s a good idea to take a look at what people are wearing for a few days before you shop. While you’re observing the dress code in others, keep to more conservative clothing like suits, until you see how relaxed or formal the standard is at your workplace.

It is very clear in translation that tenue de ville does not refer to formal clothing, i.e. tuxedos, full-length ball gowns or morning coats. Instead it is the normal clothing you would wear to the office or to a semi-dressy gathering, perhaps to a friend’s home for dinner or out to a mid-priced restaurant. Those who define tenue de ville as formal, do so incorrectly.

You’re likely to see the term used in Europe, parts of Canada, and very occasionally in the larger cities in the US. It might be added to an invitation for an event when describing dress code, or places you visit may inform you of dress code. For instance, a nightclub or a restaurant could specify that dress is tenue de ville. Some historical sites or churches make similar recommendations, though it may not always be called tenue de ville. For instance, if you visit a Russian Orthodox Church, you should dress formally, and women are asked to wear skirts, and nylons or tights. Some places are very particular when it comes to women’s dress, and request skirts, tights and modest blouses. Both men and women may be asked not to wear shorts.

As much as this designation does not imply overdressing, it also means not under-dressing. A short list of things you would not wear if business wear is specified include the following:

• Jogging suits
• Sweats
• Shorts
• Flip-flop shoes
• Bare legs
• Revealing tops
• Mini skirts
• Swimwear
• Tee shirts
• Highly stylized clothing like extreme low-waist pants or tops that don’t cover the midriff