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View Full Version : What would you wear? Cocktail event



crl
01-31-2012, 06:05 PM
We have been invited to a cocktail event by the one of the judges dh clerked for. All current and former clerks are invited along with spouses and significant others. The invitation came by email and did not specify attire. It is cocktails from 6 to 8 pm in chambers on a Friday.

Dh says he intends to wear a jacket, no tie.

I am trying to decide if I can come up with something appropriate from my current wardrobe or if I need to go shopping. So, I'll start with the general question, what would you wear?

Thanks!
Catherine

SnuggleBuggles
01-31-2012, 06:09 PM
I'd probably grab a dress with some sort of sleeve out of my closet and pair it with tights and boots or high heels. The dress I'd grab out of my closet is a sweater dress that has a bit of style to it. :) Or, I would go with a pencil skirt, nice blouse and heels.

mackmama
01-31-2012, 06:21 PM
Conservative LBD with red or turquoise heels.

smiles33
01-31-2012, 06:33 PM
Since it's in chambers, and after work, I think I'd go dressier business attire rather than cocktail attire, since many of the other women are likely coming from offices. Not to say you need to wear a suit, but a conservative dress (as opposed to strapless/sleeveless) might be best. Hope it's not too boring!

DrSally
01-31-2012, 06:47 PM
I tend to agree that after work, in chambers, would be more business attiremthan cocktail dress. Do you have a nice black or gray dress, with nice heels and some jewlery. calvin Klein makes some nice, knee lenth dresses.

crl
01-31-2012, 06:58 PM
Okay. I lack a LBD. Sounds like my green halter top cocktail dress is out, which is what I thought too.

I have a purple with cream polka dots sleeveless cotton dress. It is lovely, but I think it is a day dress so not good for this.

I also have the LE cowl neck dress and an Athleta nectar dress in similar material. These seem too casual to me?

I have a royal purple cowl neck sweater dress. It comes to just below my knees. Maybe this is a possibility?

I also have a black skirt with diagonal off white pinstripes. I think I would have to buy a silk blouse of some kind to go with this. I have a cream silk blouse, but it is a tunic style and I think the lines are wrong to go together.

I also have black wool trousers that do go with the cream silk blouse and also with a nice Anthropologie red sweater coat.

So, out of those choices, do you think something works? Or do I need to buy something?

Thanks!
Catherine

SnuggleBuggles
01-31-2012, 07:25 PM
I vote for the trouser outfit or sweater dress.

DrSally
01-31-2012, 07:32 PM
I think you're right about the LE and Athleta dresses being too casual. I think the purple cowl neck dress might work.

This seems sort of boring, but could look really great w/the right jewlery and shoes
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-dress-three-quarter-sleeve-shift?ID=528522&CategoryID=13156&LinkType=#fn=DEPARTMENT_TYPE%3DDresses%26sp%3D1%26 spc%3D52%26ruleId%3D25%26slotId%3D31

smiles33
01-31-2012, 07:36 PM
I vote for the trouser outfit or sweater dress.

:yeahthat: I don't know if it's worth buying something just for this (unless you regularly have events like this) since it's such an unusual combination of business crowd/setting but in the evening with cocktails.

DrSally
01-31-2012, 07:42 PM
This gets good reviews and I like that it has a cap sleeve.
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-dress-cowl-neckline-belted-work-dress?ID=536488&CategoryID=13156&LinkType=#fn=DEPARTMENT_TYPE%3DDresses%26sp%3D2%26 spc%3D52%26ruleId%3D25%26slotId%3D46

There's a Suzin Chin faux wrap dress that is nice (I found it at NR). Flattering cut, Matte jersey material, and the vneck doesn't go too low.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/suzi-chin-for-maggy-boutique-ruched-faux-wrap-dress/3036369

DrSally
01-31-2012, 07:43 PM
Of course, if you don't want to buy anything, I think the sweater dress or trouser outfit would be totally fine. Just trying to enable :)

crl
01-31-2012, 07:48 PM
Thanks you all! I am a little torn. I think I should probably try to make something I own work since we don't go out much in general. But then I wonder if I should go ahead and get a LBD.

I was eying this one: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/suzi-chin-for-maggy-boutique-ruched-matte-jersey-dress/3093956?origin=category&resultback=0

Catherine

smiles33
01-31-2012, 07:50 PM
Thanks you all! I am a little torn. I think I should probably try to make something I own work since we don't go out much in general. But then I wonder if I should go ahead and get a LBD.

I was eying this one: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/suzi-chin-for-maggy-boutique-ruched-matte-jersey-dress/3093956?origin=category&resultback=0

Catherine


VERY cute! I like it and it's versatile so you could dress it up more for regular cocktail stuff. I say go for it! :love-retry:

SnuggleBuggles
01-31-2012, 07:57 PM
I think that would be a good dress to own!

TwinFoxes
01-31-2012, 08:58 PM
I vote for the trouser outfit or sweater dress.

If you want to wear something you own, I agree with this.

I think the Nordstrom dress that DrSally linked to is a good choice. I think it's conservative, but cute. I think you can dress a little less business like since you're not coming from work.

TwinFoxes
01-31-2012, 09:00 PM
Thanks you all! I am a little torn. I think I should probably try to make something I own work since we don't go out much in general. But then I wonder if I should go ahead and get a LBD.

I was eying this one: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/suzi-chin-for-maggy-boutique-ruched-matte-jersey-dress/3093956?origin=category&resultback=0

Catherine

I wish the model was standing in a normal position, it's really hard to see how it falls. I'm a big fan of matte jersey, because it's usually has a nice drape, so maybe it falls nicely.

crl
01-31-2012, 09:14 PM
I like the dresses DrSally linked to as well, but the skirts may be a little too straight for my fat thighs. The one I linked has good reviews.

I think I just need to decide if this is a wardrobe hole I ought to plug (LBD) or if I should really just wear something I already have. The poor sweater dress has gotten very little wear and it is a great color on me, so maybe I should just go with it.

Thanks!
Catherine

DrSally
01-31-2012, 09:17 PM
I love matte jersey too. Drapes nicely, dressy, but not too fancy. The dress you linked to is really pretty.

DrSally
01-31-2012, 09:17 PM
Do you have a link to the sweater dress?

crl
01-31-2012, 10:05 PM
Do you have a link to the sweater dress?

It's over a year old so no link. This is rather like it, except my dress is much longer and a dark, purple-blue. http://www.amazon.com/Newport-News-Cowlneck-Misses-RASPBERRY/dp/B00473ZBGY/ref=sr_1_165?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1328061145&sr=1-165

Catherine

TxCat
01-31-2012, 10:30 PM
I agree with a previous poster - either the sweater dress or the trouser outfit should work perfectly well.

That being said, even though I don't need it for work, I find that a couple of dressy "business"-style outfits have been invaluable. If you love the LBD you posted, I would go for it, but if you don't love it, I would just keep in mind that this is an area of your wardrobe that you could fill in at some point.

DrSally
01-31-2012, 10:44 PM
It's over a year old so no link. This is rather like it, except my dress is much longer and a dark, purple-blue. http://www.amazon.com/Newport-News-Cowlneck-Misses-RASPBERRY/dp/B00473ZBGY/ref=sr_1_165?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1328061145&sr=1-165

Catherine

I gottcha. I think that would be fine.

crl
01-31-2012, 11:19 PM
Thanks everyone! I think I will go with the sweater dress I already own.

Catherine

lowrioh
02-01-2012, 11:19 AM
Thanks you all! I am a little torn. I think I should probably try to make something I own work since we don't go out much in general. But then I wonder if I should go ahead and get a LBD.

I was eying this one: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/suzi-chin-for-maggy-boutique-ruched-matte-jersey-dress/3093956?origin=category&resultback=0

Catherine

I have that dress in a dark purple and it is very flattering and can be dressed up or down. I wore it as a Honor Attendant at my Sister's wedding by wearing dresser shoes and accessories and then dressed it down to another wedding where I was a guest. If you are shorter it might be an odd length though.

crl
02-01-2012, 12:56 PM
I have that dress in a dark purple and it is very flattering and can be dressed up or down. I wore it as a Honor Attendant at my Sister's wedding by wearing dresser shoes and accessories and then dressed it down to another wedding where I was a guest. If you are shorter it might be an odd length though.

Good to know. I am 5'7" so I usually don't have trouble with lengths.

Thanks!
Catherine