Formal Wear
Most
women love formal wear; it’s an opportunity to play dress up for real. You can wear more makeup, more
jewelry, and clothes and shoes that sparkle. It’s special occasion dressing where you want to look your
best, show off a bit and be glamorous.
Because formal occasions don’t happen everyday,
when they do occur, it’s an opportunity to pull out all the stops and put your most fashionable foot
forward. For most formal events, there is ample advance notice so you have time to find the right dress,
jewelry, shoes, bag and hairstyle.
Selecting a dress
Before
starting your search for a dress, consider the occasion, your best features and even your role for the
event. Is it a law firm’s Christmas party or a computer gaming company’s product launch party? Are you
an administrative assistant, managing partner or the wife of an aspiring partner? Are you on the hosting
committee or simply attending as a guest. All of these questions can impact your choice of dress.
Restrained
Elegance
Corporate events tend to be more conservative, particularly in the banking,
insurance and legal fields. It may not be appropriate to wear a strapless dress or a very short one.
Keep in mind whether other guests are fellow employees or is the event open to a broader audience or
to the public. A smaller, more intimate group means you’ll be much more noticeable. In a group of a few
hundred people, the woman wearing the too-short dress won’t be as obvious. At the law firm’s partner
dinner, with less than a hundred attendees, everyone will notice. An elegant Mon Cheri Social Occasions
dress provides the right balance of style and refinement.
Be remembered for having
worn a beautiful dress in a bold color at a work-related event; keep it tasteful, particularly if you’re
a junior person and even if you’re not. This is not the time to wear anything too tight, too short or
cut too low. Show your good taste and demonstrate your acumen for dressing beautifully and appropriately.
If you’re a senior professional, lead by example, and if asked, mention the Jovani you plan to wear.
Bold
and Beautiful
Creative industries, i.e. advertising, software development, entertainment,
tend be to less conservative so you’re able to dress in a more eye-catching fashion. Still, since many
formal events hosted by companies include clients and vendors, keep it tasteful and demonstrate your
creativity with a striking color or fabric. Show your good taste and fashion sense with a Tony Bowls
or Alyce Jean de Lys suit or dress.
Long or Short
Unless the
event is very formal, you may want to opt for a tea-length dress instead of floor length. If the event
is a small fundraiser for a favorite charity, a knee-length Mon Cheri Montage dress could be perfect.
You’ll look elegant, refined and tasteful. Short dresses like those from Tadashi can work well for women
with nice legs.
If the event is the opera or ballet season opener or a gala-type
affair, you may want to opt for full glamour and go with a floor-length dress. The Nicole Bakti, Pretty
Maids or Terrani long dresses can provide the desired elegance. Styles are available in slim-fit gowns
that allow you to show off the fruits of your time at the gym. Corset styles can be very forgiving by
cinching the waist and offering an hour-glass figure. Beading, gems and rhinestones all have their place.
Black is always appropriate but color can be fun and adds dazzle.
Weddings
Weddings
are probably the most common formal event. Mothers and mothers-in-law also want to shine on the bride’s
special day. After all, a beautiful mother lets the new husband and in-laws know how a daughter will
age. Let everyone know know that it will be with beauty, grace and style. Minor tailoring can make a
beautiful suit look haute couture.
Mothers-in-law want to put their stylish foot
forward; there’s no need to wear granny gear even if you can’t wait to be a grandmother. Wear La Belle
or Alyce Jean De Lys, and let everyone know you flew in from Paris for the wedding. That’s the kind of
grandma you’re going to be.
Wedding guests want to look great too. Making an effort
to look good is a way to acknowledge and embrace the specialness, solemnity and celebratory nature of
a wedding. Putting forth the effort to look your best expresses to the wedding’s families that this is
indeed a special occasion.
Elegance and Comfort
If you’re hosting
a formal event, you’ll want to look smashing but also be comfortable. A dress that is stylish and fits
well is especially important since you’ll be greeting guests and trying to put everyone at ease. Make
sure straps don’t fall, that skirts don’t ride up and that you’re not having to constantly adjust a belt
or strap. A dress from Interlude will make your elegance look effortless.
The significance
of dressing up or having clothes for special occasions quite often gets lost in our modern times. But
special occasions and the clothes we wear for them are meaningful.
At any event,
you’re there to have a good time and formal occasions allow you to do look good while doing so. Your
dress should be reflective of your personality and should suit your body type so that you wear it and
not the other way around. You can enjoy yourself so much more if you don’t have to think about your dress
after you put it on. Be the charming and beautiful social butterfly that everyone is glad they met.