The Review

Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Mosaic

[Click to enlarge]

It's event season. While most of us will not be attending galas at the Met or star-studded movie premieres, we still have functions in our social calendars where we need to dress to impress. Here's your guide to dressing for end-of-the-semester soirees.
The "fests" or Preakness
Girls: These events are outside, so leave the heels at home unless you want to leave a bill for your ground-aerating services. As for the rest of your ensemble, break out one of your jean skirts, but do the rest of us a favor and ask a morally-sound individual if it's too short. If you don't, I'll be the girl with the fantastic disgusted look on her face - I've had far too much practice.
Guys: Thank your lucky stars - you'll look overdressed in anything nicer than a hat, T-shirt and shorts.
Date parties
Girls: Do not wear a prom dress. Go for a knee-length cocktail dress or classy bermudas and a sassy shirt. Leave scandalous dresses on the hanger if you are going as someone else's date. You don't want a whole room of strangers pre-judging you. With that said, feel free to be more daring in the company of friends.
Guys: Ties are standard but no jacket is necessary. As a kindness, you should try to color-coordinate your outfit with your date's. She's going to take pictures (her friends will even if she doesn't) and you'll look oh-so-suave in the "stalkbook" aftermath.
Formals
Girls: Still not OK to wear a prom dress if it was one of those poofy-skirted, beaded-top numbers. A more mature option is a column dress (read: one that goes straight down).
Guys: It's time to address the white tux issue. I place that outfit in the same category as girls' questionable dresses - wear it to your event, not hers. As Ashton Kutcher said about dressing to match Demi Moore, "You're the purse." Don't steal the show.
Weddings
Girls: NEVER wear a prom dress. I'm serious. A young woman at my brother's wedding wore a bright blue glittery full-skirted disaster with criss-cross straps in the back and she looked like a 16-year-old prima donna. Speaking of prima donnas, don't wear white unless you want the bride to hold an eternal grudge (you're not a purse, but you're certainly an extra in bridezilla's glorious day). I suggest, again, a cocktail dress but with a jacket or sweater to cover your shoulders during the ceremony.
Guys: A suit. As a college student, you should own one anyway. And you don't have to wear the jacket for long; the length of the ceremony will suffice.
Always ask a veteran attendee about unspoken dress codes if you've never been. And use your good judgement when deciding what to wear - you might regret donning that long skirt or those unhemmed pants when you step into a port-a-potty.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools