Proper Attire Etiquette Advice Q & A
Most
questions I receive, as an etiquette professional, concern attire choice. Many are about what to wear to a wedding,
especially for the mothers of the bride and groom. Occasionally, questions are unique, like,
"What to wear for a movie premiere". From the flood of questions I receive about
attire, it seems likely that you might have your own. What follows are a few of my favorites. Hopefully, your question will be answered
here.
What is proper attire anyway?
Q: What
is the definition of proper attire?
A: Proper
attire is the expected clothing choice for places we share with others: the public forum, function, or
situation.
What is cocktail attire?
Q: The invitation states "cocktail
attire" for the August evening wine and cheese engagement party for my son
and his fiancée. There are 100+ guests
invited to this Louisiana party.
Most
likely people will flow outside the home.
Would a tab collar, starched white shirt, and no tie under a dark
suit jacket be proper for a man? Since it will be hot, is it appropriate to
take off the jacket? And is it
appropriate to leave the shirt untucked beneath the jacket, as men's styles are
now showing?
A: Cocktail
attire is a suit for men and the little black dress or its equivalent for
women. Men may be a tad adventurous with their attire, but the shirt
should be tucked in. An untucked shirt is eye candy for photoshoots and
actors. If the suit is of high quality, the tie could be optional. Nevertheless, it is part of the
costume. Removing the jacket may be fine when outdoors. Just watch
what other guests are doing. Typically, men suffer in silence with
jackets securely in place.
LA Red-Carpet Movie Attire
Q: I'm a
male actor in a movie premiering next week—red carpet and all. I don't have a clue what to wear! The LA
premiere is at 6 pm; the actors and director are not well known. Genre is romance. Help!
A: Dress
codes for these events are difficult to navigate, even if we know the
particulars – venue, time of day, and actors involved. The safe choice is a tuxedo. Since this is LA (quirky, fun), you could be
daring with a tie and shirt; skipping the tie entirely is fine. Alter your attire based on how well the
premiere is publicized. This might be
one of your best gauges for how formal the event may be.
Sexy attire for hubby’s medical residency graduation?
Q: My
husband will be graduating from a medical residency for a specialty in anesthesiology
soon. The event is in late June in the evening. My choice of attire is a knee-length
cotton/Lycra® sundress in a tulip print, hot-pink trim, and hot pink small bows
on the thin hot pink straps and a back pleat. I am a size 6, D-cup with a thin waist. My husband falls out of his chair when I put
it on. What is your opinion?
A: It may
be best to nix the sexy
attire since this graduation will, most likely, be a conservative affair.
After all, the focus should on your husband as the professional, the
doctor. Guests and other graduates
should be looking at him and not your D-cup.
The
safest choice is the little black dress or its equivalent. Pair it with a jacket or wrap, and please
watch the cleavage.
Wow! This is formal.
Q: My
husband and I are planning to go to an evening black-tie charity dinner this
week. It is fall/winter here in Australia. My husband will probably wear a
black suit, white shirt, with red silk tie and vest. I am not sure what to wear.
Shoes?
A: Black
tie equals tuxedos for men. A formal
evening dress, long or short depending on the event, is best for women.
Usually, charity events are more formal, so long seems more appropriate. Choose
a color that compliments your complexion, but is not too bright—no red. Pairing
your dress with a shawl might be a good choice if the weather is cooler.
Your
shoes should match your outfit and can be open or closed-toe. If you
choose open-toed, do not wear nylons, as it is viewed as a fashion faux pas.
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by The Polite One
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