when attire is "strictly formal"

When you attend a party and the invitation card indicates "strictly formal", this means gowns for women and suit or tuxedo for men.  Some women make the mistake of wearing cocktail clothes, you know, knee-length but still dressy, but this is not the right one to wear at a very formal occasion which requires one to wear an evening gown.  It is important to know what the dress code is when going to a party.  Most parties have themes or motif and you might want to be in synch with the party's theme. You don't want to show up at a party looking like you're so out of place. Party organizers or planners should also indicate in the invitation what the visitors are expected to wear.