How To Pick The Right Dress For Every Occasion
Nothing is more embarrassing than showing up at an event and realizing that you’re not dressed for the part. Your wardrobe may always feel like a complete chaos whenever you’re invited to a special event and find nothing appropriate to wear; however, knowing how to work with what you have is key to picking the right outfit for every occasion. For obvious reasons, you wouldn’t want to show up for a job interview with ratty jean shorts or make an appearance at a midnight masquerade bash in a polka-dotted pantsuit.
If you want to dress to impress at every occasion, check out our guide on how to do just that.
White Tie
Although this dress code is not as common as it used to be in the 1940s, you may still come across it on wedding invitations. White tie dress codes are also known as ‘evening dress’ or ‘full dress’ events, and the names speak for themselves. When you’re picking out your dress, make sure it’s floor-length and that you pair it with dramatic makeup, accessories, and shoes. White tie dress codes are also reserved for high-end events such as academy awards and red carpet ceremonies.
On the other hand, if you’re the one hosting this kind of event, which is most likely a wedding, you’ll want to dress for the part if you expect people to follow your lead. However, this may be a challenge depending on your dress size and height. The fashion designers from https://madamebridal.com/plus-size-wedding-dresses recommend opting for a neckline wedding gown for brides hosting a white tie event, as this will give them the space for more dramatic décolletage that can accentuate their overall look. This goes especially for plus-size women who may want to flaunt some cleavage and spice it up with some flashy jewelry.
Black Tie
While it’s less formal than its white tie counterpart, black tie is a little more toned-down when it comes to dressing up. You’ll still want to opt for long gowns, but you should go easy on accessories and how dramatic your shoes are. In other words, black tie is less dressy and gives narrower space for the exaggerative self-expression you may see on red carpet events.
That said, you can also opt for shorter dresses if you pair them with some elegant heels. Avoid flashy patterns, and keep the look simple. With black tie events, you can also opt for separates; meaning, you can go with evening maxi skirts and matching tops. However, you’ll want to avoid pantsuits and rompers.
Formal and Semi-Formal
Of course, formal dress codes can be a little limiting, but they’re less dressy than black tie. You can opt for shorter dresses, but preferably stay away from anything too flashy, such as puffy dresses or see-through gowns. Floor-length dresses are advised to stay on the safe side, but you can also try out a knee-length cocktail dress, a pantsuit, or a romper. It’s advised to stick to dark colors, but it’s not essential unless otherwise stated in the dress code section of your invitation.
That said, semi-formal falls between casual and formal, so you have fewer limitations and you’re able to mix and match with blouses and slacks. However, if you’re opting for a dress, avoid maxi gowns and instead stick to knee-length cocktail dresses. You can wear short gowns, as long as you avoid anything that makes you look like you’re about to go clubbing! So avoid bandage dresses and anything too cheeky.
Smart Casual and Casual
This is the way you’ll want to dress before you head out to an interview you want to nail. Although you may be tempted to wear a dress, it’s best if you go for separates like a knee-length pencil skirt with a plain blouse if your options are too formal for a smart casual. However, you can also opt for a pencil dress and top it off with a blazer. Avoid maxi dresses or long skirts, and instead stick to knee-length fitted dresses.
On the other hand, casual events are where you can go crazy without having to look work-appropriate. If you receive an invitation with a casual dress code, opt for summer dresses, polka dot patterns, vintage gowns or denim.
Depending on the formality of the event, you’ll want to pick your outfit or dress accordingly. Never be afraid to exaggerate your appearance and go overboard with accessories and a puffy gown at a white tie event. On the other hand, you’ll want to tone it down a notch if the dress code is slightly less formal, namely smart casual events, where people tend to accidentally go overdressed. However, if you ever find yourself looking like the odd one out at an event, just flaunt what you’re wearing as a fashion statement!
