What would you wear?

[John in Covina]

Of course, I withheld showing disdain towards those that failed to understand or cared not to abide by the dress code for the event. Since I work in high tech (where you can come in with sweats, pajamas, shorts, etc) all day every day, my wearing of suits and ties every day is a source of issue.

******
I think it shows that at some level they are aware of their short comings but rather than rise to the higher level they would rather brow beat others to join them in slovenly dress habits.

Although I work indoors it is not heated (adequately) and has no A/C, in the winter I must layer warm clothes and summer shorts rule because it is nearly as hot inside as it is outside. And this is So Cal! We are having a cold snap with temps in the low 30's (F) and into the teens in the high desert and mountain areas at night.

 

[Gray Ghost]

Just went to exactly this kind of affair on Saturday myself...I wore (surprise) my kilt, with french cuffed shirt, kilt jacket, formalwear sporran and sghean dubh, etc.

Nice. There is nothing like a well dressed man in full Scottish attire. I enjoy wearing my kilt and ensemble every chance I get. Looking forward to the Burns Dinner in January. I am Eric Dubh of Clann an Camshron (Clan Cameron). I am known as Eric the Black because of my affinity to the black clan shirt at the games.

Eric "Gray Ghost" Russ

 

[Gray Ghost]

Flying Scotsman

Ceud Mile Failte my friend. Failte to the Lounge.

Gray Ghost

 

[maintcoder]

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I think it shows that at some level they are aware of their short comings but rather than rise to the higher level they would rather brow beat others to join them in slovenly dress habits.

Exactly and there is always the pressure to conform, just because they do.

Nature abhors a vacuum and anything not status quo... lol

 

[Senator Jack]

That's why I have no qualms about wearing a tux at the drop of a hat. If you watch any films produced up to the 70s, cocktail/dinner party scenes routinely show a mix of tuxes/suits/gowns. We can only presume, here, that art was imitating life.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[The Wingnut]

Cocktail / evening to me means black tie. If I want to make a statement, it'll be my Casablanca white dinner jacket ensemble. If I want to blend in with the other tuxedos, I'll break out the black '30s tux. Both are obviously not your run-of-the-mill rental / modern cheap polester blend black tie setups.

I can understand why people don't want to dress up, they find it constrictive and don't view events of a more formal nature as fun, but boorish and pedestrian, and not as an opportunity to entertain oneself. The t-shirt and cargo pants crowd either doesn't know any better, doesn't care, or doesn't want to play along. Many 'formal' parties now are a business or benefit event, and turning people away at the door for their attire either is detrimental to the cause or just unthinkable given the circustances...

I've never been much of a social animal, and find as I get older, I become more private and withdrawn...however, I can crank up the charm and cut a swath through a crowd at a party with the best of 'em. It's kind of a fun roleplay game, 'Bond...James Bond.' It's all how you view it.

 

[melankomas]

If you were invited to a function that listed 'evening/cocktail' as the attire, what would you wear?

Last Saturday evening, I saw people attend said function wearing:

• T-shirt and cargo pants
• Jeans, button down shirt, no tie, and corduroy jacket
• Slacks and sport coat, button down shirt, no tie
• Single breasted suit with a polo shirt
• Dockers and a white button down shirt (no tie)
• Camisole top and slacks
• Formal gown
• Tuxedo

I was not surprised, but somewhat saddened that so many people made little or no effort to dress appropriately.

to be perfectly honest, i wouldn't have a clue what to wear. i am quite good with when to wear detail or parade BDUs, service dress, or mess dress, but i have no inkling what should be worn at such an affair (beyond what i've now read in this thread). if there was an RSVP involved, i would ask the target of that response what would be appropriate, and do my best to adhere and therefore not disrespect the organizers of the event. if i could find no one to ask, i would wear a plain dark suit (with a proper shirt and tie, not a polo shirt).

 

[Paisley]

This is where the little black dress comes in handy. (A little black suit would work well, too.) The LBD should be about knee-length, simple and classic in design. Its impact should come from the quality of the fabric and how well it suits its owner. Earrings, a pendant or brooch, evening bag and a pair of awesome shoes should add all the pizazz that one woman needs.

 

[griffer]

to be perfectly honest, i wouldn't have a clue... if there was an RSVP involved, i would ask the target of that response what would be appropriate, and do my best to adhere and therefore not disrespect the organizers of the event....

The organizer is a great resource, but the player and the power sets the tone of a business function.

Unless I really know all the contingents of the party- in which case they would expect me to dress well- I always ask the senior player what they are planning to were to the event. Assuming you value his/her approval and he/she is worthy of respect, then I try to not overdress my boss. If he says suit and tie, then I wear a suit and bow tie. He says business casual, I wear a blazers and slacks. I might out-quality, or out-vintage, but not one-up him in formality.

I love bow ties, incidentally, because they look great with a blazer/slack combo, and after a recon scan of the room, I can either add or subtract a bow tie in seconds. They just disappear in a jacket pocket.

And Paisley, amen to that, but for men- those who think beyond the binary 'Suit/No-Suit' status- it can get a bit more complicated.

 

[jamespowers]

Put me in the Tuxedo wearing repsonse. If it said evening attire I would dress in evening attire. They would likely expect me to show up that way though.

Regards,

J

 

[melankomas]

The organizer is a great resource, but the player and the power sets the tone of a business function.

fftopic: i don't understand "the player and the power". i know the words, but don't understand what they mean in this sense. if it's not too much trouble, could you explain? forgive my language difficulties, please; i'm a bit confused. i will remember the expression's meaning when i understand.

 

[melankomas]

This is where the little black dress comes in handy. (A little black suit would work well, too.) The LBD should be about knee-length, simple and classic in design. Its impact should come from the quality of the fabric and how well it suits its owner. Earrings, a pendant or brooch, evening bag and a pair of awesome shoes should add all the pizazz that one woman needs.

fftopic: there's an interesting discussion about suit "quality" at the moment, elsewhere. what defines the quality of the fabric composing a dress, and how does it make this impact?

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Ceud Mile Failte my friend. Failte to the Lounge.

Gray Ghost

Tapadh leibh! It's a pleasure to be here, and to learn so much. Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

 

[Tomasso]

Cocktail / evening to me means black tie. .

Then what does it mean when the invitation says Black Tie?

 

[Twitch]

I believe its entirely dependent on who is originating the invitation. If it is from someone in their 20s focusing on other 20-30 something folks they're not going to arrive in suits ans cocktail dresses.

If it was sent by a corporate head for a get together of upper management or junior execs you'd expect "old time" evening wear.

It's all relative to the sender and his or her character.

I was dismayed when we went to see Phantom at the vintage theater, the Pantages, in Hollywood when one weiner was there in a T shirt, shorts and shoes with no socks. I felt like unbuttoning my suit jacket, ulimbering my Walther .380 from my shoulder holster and plugging the butthole! Yes I was packing!

 

[Paisley]

fftopic: there's an interesting discussion about suit "quality" at the moment, elsewhere. what defines the quality of the fabric composing a dress, and how does it make this impact?

I've started a thread in the Powder Room called "Little Black Dress" that describes my idea of good quality fabric. I think good quality fabric makes an impact because it looks softer, richer and more expensive. People want to touch it. It also makes you feel good to wear it.

 

[Samsa]

It seems that this is a case of an ambiguous invitation, which leaves the guests guessing as to what would be appropriate attire. If you haven't already seen it, I would recommend you go to Ascot Top Hats Ltd and click on the "Dress Code" link. This contains a great guide as to what one should put on an invitation, and the corresponding dress that should be worn by a guest.

In response to the original question, I would have worn anything from a jacket and slacks, with or without a tie, to a dark suit with tie. A tuxedo doesn't seem to make sense for "Evening/cocktail."

 

[Tourbillion]

If it is evening/cocktail attire dinner then you would wear dinner jacket or a dinner dress, right?

A suit or a cocktail dress would be appropriate too, I guess but it doesn't seem right to me.

Most ladies today wouldn't know the difference between a dinner dress, a cocktail dress and a formal gown. The difference is more obvious with menswear.

I don't recall anyone being glaringly underdressed at my company Christmas party this year. However, I still have a slight problem with wearing a cocktail dress to dinner. Especially a company dinner, it is too exposing, I want my upper arms covered for dinner.

It might just be me though

 

[Miss Sis]

To me, that dress code means:

Men wear Black Tie. Whether you prefer single or double breasted is a personal choice.

Women, a shorter Cocktail dress if it is stand up. If there is dinner, then a long dress.

Like Daisy, I would MUCH rather be what some people consider Over dressed than Under dressed. It is respect for your host to dress nicely and make an effort.

 

[griffer]

fftopic: i don't understand "the player and the power". i know the words, but don't understand what they mean in this sense. if it's not too much trouble, could you explain? forgive my language difficulties, please; i'm a bit confused. i will remember the expression's meaning when i understand.

I refer to office politics. It is all fine to be above that sort of thing, but I was giving my advice on how to determine what a man should wear to an office/business function.

In an office/corporation of any size, there are usually several centers of power. It isn't always simply the 'boss'.

So you look to the power centers and the people that get on well with the power centers - the players. Take your cue from them, then you won't offend or be over or under dressed.

In basic training, the phrase is 'be gray'. Sometimes, being distinctive - over or under dressed - makes you a target. So, the conservative stance is to not stand out.