It happened again. I was invited to an event and I don’t have a clue what to wear. Oh, I’ve been to events where I was overdressed, underdressed, or just plain out of place in my clothing choice. And I’ve been to events where I was spot on in my fav party outfit. But what I typically find is that there are usually a gang of folks who are dressed fancier than I, and another group entirely who is dressed far more casually than I. But in the end, it all works out and neither hostess nor guests really minds what anyone else is wearing. Since I am usually the only one that minds what I’m wearing, here are my tips for always being dressed for the occasion when you don’t know what to wear.
Ask. Ask the hostess. Ask other invitees. Ask your best friend. Usually, any formal invitation will state plain as day if the event is an evening, cocktail affair. But since that’s not always the case, it doesn’t hurt to ask the hostess or someone else familiar with the occasion. Keep an eye out for photos of past events to get an idea of what you should wear.
Dress neatly. When in doubt, dress neatly. A tailored outfit will cover more territory than, say, a pair of skinny jeans and stilettos. If you do happen to show up at a soiree and feel grossly underdressed, just neaten yourself up as much as you can. Tuck in your shirt, pull back your hair. Button your sweater or wear your leather coat like a suit jacket. Stand tall and put on a pair of heels if you can. And don’t forget the lipstick.
Overdress. When it doubt, dress fancier than the occasion calls for. It rarely hurts to be overdressed, but being underdressed, especially for a work party, can cause you a lot of angst. If someone questions your choice of outfits, make up a funny story about breaking in a new pair of shoes for your sister’s mother’s cousin’s retirement party, and of course you had to wear the dress to match. They’ll be laughing so hard they’ll forget your frock.
Wear black. A simple black V neck top and black velvet pants will cover a wide variety of occasions. Dress it up with stiletto heels, or dress it down with a pair of fuzzy boots. Head to toe black will help you blend in, so your clothing choices won’t be too obvious.
Wear makeup. Make your face the focus with beautiful makeup. Don’t just swipe on lip balm and call it a night. Take the time to really do up your face. All eyes will be on yours, rather than on your clothes, if they are stunning. Try a gold shimmer shadow with bronze eyeliner or deep purple with black liner to stay right on trend. Finish with two coats of mascara. Don’t forget foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, and of course, lip color. For a more classic look, go for gorgeous red lips and neutral eyes.
Accessorize. A little bling can take your look from so -so to so awesome. A sparkly bracelet, shiny drop earrings, or a pearl brooch will add some zip. It’s ok to mix metals if there is a feature or style that pulls them all together. In the spirit of the holidays, add some sparkle but stay away from jingle bells, reindeer, and Christmas sweaters.
Pull out your LBD. When in doubt, pull out your fav LBD (little black dress). A sheath dress is the most flattering and most versatile. Dress it up with stilettos, a shawl, and sparkly jewels. Dress it down with ballet flats and a cardigan. Find a happy medium with a great pair of boots, tights, and turtleneck underneath.
No matter what you wear to this season’s shindigs, wear it with confidence and a smile. Let people see the real you and they won’t be worried about the clothes you’re wearing. Even if you’re under or over dressed, you can still be the life of the party and have fun. And who knows? Next time, everyone else might just follow your suit.
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