First Question of Dressing Etiquette

1. What is the Occasion?

Knowing what is appropriate to wear requires as much good taste as it is to dress elegantly. (Let's assume your grooming is already immaculate and you have good posture and poise.) Note the difference, knowing what is appropriate to wear is NOT THE SAME as knowing how to dress elegantly. You may turn up in a white ball gown at your friend's wedding and look elegantly but what you have done - is in very bad taste. The real mistake in dress etiquette is wearing the wrong outfit for the occasion. Appropriateness and adherence to the dress code are keys to having good clothing etiquette. The real obvious examples are like the previously mentioned, wearing the wrong shoes - e.g. heels to go on a hike? (what?), revealing clothes in a conservative country or culture, wearing white or black to a wedding, too revealing for anyone else to look without blushing, pajamas to the grocery store etc. In general, the rule of thumb guide to be in good taste, you try not to draw any negative attention to yourself (or any attention at all, for that matter). Also, remember that day time clothes are different from evening clothes. Similarly, evening clothes are worn in the evening and never in the day. .

A simple guide to day time dressing:

Wear light-coloured clothes such as whites, beige, pastel, or bright colours (if your complexion deems fit). Dark colours are too harsh. Also wear only natural looking make up, with minimal jewelry, unless you have a glamourous day event. Low to medium heels are appropriate.

A simple guide to evening dressing:

You can afford to go a little more formal. Or not, it is your choice. Black, of course is always welcomed, along with darker, richer colours. Those who practice strict etiquette only wear diamonds at night. It is definitely more tasteful to wear glitter and high heels in the evening but scale your amount of glitz to the type of event. See my gallery guide to a basic wardrobe.

2. Going from Day to Night

Dressing Etiquette Tip: Making an Outfit Work From Day to Night

Since we do not always have the luxury of a change of clothes from day clothes to evening clothes, especially when the circumstances warrant it, we have to learn how to make an outfit go from day to night. If you have an cocktail event after work, you could wear a cocktail dress inside and wear a blouse or cardin over it. You could pair it off with an executive jacket. If your dresscode at work is more professional, stick to little back dresses or structured dresses in navy or cream. After work, can safety tuck away that outer layer and you can put on accessories such as pearls, or chandelier earrings. Dab on some eyeliner and red lipstick that you've tucked away in your purse and you're good to go.

3. Common Pitfalls of Dressing Etiquette

In our increasingly casual society, there is a greater need for dress etiquette, especially after all the stories we've heard on bad dress etiquette - the alarming things people wear.

a. Wearing casual wear to the office

b. Wearing beach wear in the city

c. Not dressing in one's Sunday's Best at Church

d. Wearing bright and colour clothes at a funeral

e. Wearing entirely black outfits at weddings

f. Wearing flipflops everywhere.

g. Ignoring the specific dress code of an event.

Date: 2014-12-21; view: 911