A Complete Style Guide for Every Occasion
Dressing to impress is no simple task, which is why a little help hurts nobody. It can be overwhelming to select what kind of clothing to wear on certain occasions, and it would be great to have a basic guide ready to get you out of a sticky situation. Here’s a guide that can give you an idea of what to wear and avoid for some popular occasions you may get invited to.
Baptism and other religious ceremonies
Religious ceremonies are important and sensitive events, so it is crucial to ensure that you dress appropriately. These ceremonies usually happen during the day, so a daytime dress is ideal for women. It can be a solid color dress or something with a print; either should be okay. However, avoid something with a low cut, anything too short or clingy. If you do not like dresses, wear a suit that looks comfortable with some feminine cut. You can even add layering of a sweater or a jacket. If there is a lunch or an evening event that follows the ceremony, you can even wear a cocktail dress to the ceremony with a jacket or a wrap that covers your shoulders.
For men, wearing a formal suit to the event is ideal. If the weather is too hot, you can experiment with the kind of fabric for the suit and go for a semi-casual look.
Weddings and cocktail parties
These fancy events sometimes have a dress theme, like a black-tie ceremony. For the wedding, wearing something classy and elegant can never go wrong. However, the cocktail and engagement party is where you can experiment with your style a little bit. A classic cocktail dress can be a little black dress or even a pastel-colored dress that can be easily accessorized with jewelry. Usually, cocktail parties can be fancy affairs, but they can also be dressy casual, so try to understand the crowd and place and make an informed choice. In fact, why not ask your friends what they’re wearing and plan outfits accordingly? Stylists suggest avoiding casual fabrics like denim, jersey, and chino and making sure the dress is not too short. You can check if the dress is the right length by standing tall with your hands down. If the hemline is above your fingertips, it’s too short for the occasion.
Festive attire
Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday occasion is another reason to dress up, and what better way to dress than what suits your taste and style. Also, most holiday parties don’t particularly have a theme, so finding the right piece of clothing for the occasion is mostly easy. Since it’s the festive season, wearing something colorful or funky will be more than welcome, and don’t forget to accessorize with the right add-ons. These can be chunky jewelry, beads, bows, and some tassels. Wearing lace or sequins is also not out of the question, so wearing a lace dress with boots, a lace top with skinny jeans, and heels can all be appropriate.
The only thing to be careful of is to ensure the holiday party you’re going to follows the same casual, fun, and festive theme. And if you are planning the holiday party at your own house, let everyone know what the ambience will be like. You must be extra careful of the guest list to ensure everyone is comfortable and no one feels awkward or out of place.
Bridal shower
Before attending an event, it’s always a good idea to inquire if there is a dress code to follow. If there isn’t one specified, consider the occasion to be casual and fun. This applies to events such as baby showers as well. Keep in mind that dressing appropriately is important. Some outfit options to consider include skirts with sweaters, comfortable pants with a round-neck top, floral dresses, or even fitted pants with a flowy top. You should also probably expect several activities at these events, so dressing accordingly is important. This also involves deciding if you want to wear heels or flats. Shoes can be avoided as they may not complement most dress choices. If you’re attending a party in a garden, it’s best to avoid wearing pointed heels as they can easily get stuck in the soft grass. It’s better to opt for flats for your comfort and ease. If you’ll be involved in a lot of social activities, like helping the bride or the mother, then flats are also a more practical choice. If it is more of a sitting event, you can opt for heels in which you don’t have to walk too much and will not have to take them off.
Family get-togethers
This is a fun occasion to dress up for! Now you will most likely just want to wear your pajamas for this family home get-together or picnic, but putting in some effort to dress up for the occasion will surely impress those in attendance. Opting for a pair of nice jeans or casual pants paired with a comfortable top is acceptable. You don’t have to wear heels, but it’s recommended to wear shoes, especially if the family plans to play outdoor games with kids. Just avoid yoga pants and t-shirts, which may offend some family members. Simply be mindful of everyone attending the event.
Cruise and holiday attire
Usually, if you are on a cruise trip, the website will already have some details regarding the appropriate attire. Especially if you are taking a cruise to another continent with a different culture. Also, if you are on the deck most of the day, you may want to wear clothes that can cover your arms and legs to avoid too much sun exposure and lead to sunburn. Casual clothing is the most appropriate, but be mindful of cultural differences and respect the clothing protocol wherever necessary. Warm beach vacations can be enjoyed in sundresses, shorts, floral shirts, bathing suits, cover-ups, etc. If you’re docking somewhere with a colder climate, pack the right winter clothes and shoes as well.
