Bah Humbug or Practical? - YouLookFab Forum

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Bah Humbug or Practical?

Thistle

Veteran

So, we have a company party at an esclusive country club for just the management team. I had planned to simply wear a burgundy wrap dress (with sleeves!!) with a sparkly tank underneath and try to find some dressy slipper flats.

I could rewear the slipper flats per Angie's post and the wrap dress is already in my closet. All I need is an inexpensive tank with some beading at the top. Oh, and the shoes.

The other holiday parties we are attending are all informal. As in jeans and a tee is fine, jeans and a nice sweater makes you swanky. New Years will have us inviting friends over for board games and champagne. (I live vicariously through Anna!)

So, I would have no other reason to wear party pieces. Except for the company party again next year.

Does this seem okay, or am I being bah humbug?

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from Freckles

Anonymous

That seems perfectly logical and fine to me!

cade

My practical side always gets the better of me: Put your hard earned money towards things that you get a lot of use from. Besides, if anybody should remember your dress from one year to the other, they have bigger problems to deal with.

Emily

Veteran

Sounds like a good plan to me! I would be tempted to pick up a fancy clutch or sparkly statement jewellery to go with the dress...

unfrumped

Veteran

No humbug at all. I totally hear you on how much effort to put into special occasions. I do think it's fun to dress up to the level of the occasion as much as I can, but pressure-shopping doesn't improve on looks.

You've analyzed the parts--are you asking whether you should go even more festive/formal and get very dressy items? I think you've described an event where it isn't really key to go all superficially glitzy and glam--good fit, rich colors and festive trim or jewelry make the first impression, IMO. You need a dressy clutch!

Now if you'd had your eye on something special, or were aiming to add a special occasion capsule--but I don't hear that.So I'd go more on how that dress or outfit makes you feel.

Now, shoes--it can be hard to multi-purpose shoes, so I think they should "go" with the dress even if they also work for other outfits. They should not be so "useful" that they don't do the dress justive. Hmmm. Footwear is my nemesis.

NDMom

I think it would be wise to use your hard-earned dollars for things that get the most use in your wardrobe. Your planned outfit sounds great. Like Emily stated, I would get a fun clutch purse to add a bit of punch.

I am in the same boat. No one dresses up.....and I always wanted to be a glamorous lady! (My mom said I said this ever since I could talk).

AviaMariah

Veteran

Sounds perfect to me!

DonnaF

Veteran

Your solution sounds great to me. Will the company party be mostly 1) sit-down at a table; 2) going through a buffet line, and/or 3) dancing? Thinking ahead to future years or what I would wear if in your situation, my solution would vary according to 1), 2), or 3). By this, I mean if #1 I would concentrate on a glitzy blouse and/or necklace, and if I kept a clutch on the table, then a fancy clutch. If #2, something non-fussy that I wouldn't trip over, but I would have to give more thought to shoes. If #3, then comfy but pretty dancing shoes would be a consideration.

Echo

Veteran

Your idea sounds like the perfect solution, IMO. It doesn't make sense to spend big on a new dress that you will likely only wear once, and it sounds like the outfit you have in mind will look great!

JAileen

Veteran

I have a similar situation. One dressy party, everything else casual. I have a collection of holiday basics - black skirts, black pants, black shells, etc, then I look for a new (or thrifted) piece to go with the basics. I also have a dressy handbag and beautiful (but unfortunately) uncomfortable black heels. I like to keep my outfit cost low and instead spend good money on things I'll wear a lot, such as good quality boots.

I think your plan is good. I think if you spent too much money it would make you feel worse.

Kristin L

Veteran

Your solution sounds practical to me. I'm 100% for saving the money and putting into something else, like new spring clothes in a few months.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Your solution sounds good to me. Save your clothing money for what you will get the most wear out of. With family and friends scattered all over, and DH having to work, I am in a very similar situation.

carter

Veteran

I'm a "make it work" girl, so I think your plan is perfect. Let the 20 year olds waste their money on big ticket one-wear pieces. We're wiser than they are!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Size down 1/2 a size

http://totokaelo.com/store/pro.....eon/persia

I find this brand very comfortable, up there with AGL.

dustt

Veteran

smart and practical - no humbug at all!! -

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I can't vouch for the comfort, but aren't these cool

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/se.....egoryId=PP

catgirl

Veteran

Totally sensible!

Deborah

Veteran

Sounds very smart to me. You could even forget the sparkly tank and wear a statement necklace for some bling.

Anonymous

That sounds like a plan! I concur with everyone here. Spend your big money on the things you can wear most. Over time you can collect things like jewelry, a clutch, and special occasion shoes.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a smart plan to me!

Jules

Veteran

I might have a slightly dressy party this year; usually I don't even, maybe just The Nutcracker or something similar where I need to look appropriate but the focus is elsewhere. I love looking at the holiday clothes and fashion photos but I realized long ago they bear no relationship to my actual life. Your party outfit sounds great.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This sounds smart to me. You'll look pretty, feel good, and know you have more money to spend for something you'll wear more often.

I almost never have dressy parties at the winter holiday season either. So I know exactly what you mean. I would like an excuse to go all glitzy...but really...it's not going to happen.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm all for it! I would have fun with the accessories, for sure, but I think it's a great idea to use a dress in your wardrobe already. I always think its best to stay fairly low-key when "partying" with coworkers, anyway.

I just found out that I have 2 additional performing opportunities this seasons -- one is full out schmaltz and bling......I've got the opposite problem to solve.

Gigi

Veteran

It seems to me that if you're not super-excited about buying some formal evening wear for this event, then by all means stick with what you have. If you were excited about adding some dress-up stuff, that would be another thing. But it's a downer to invest your money into something that's not going to be part of your life later on.

I like some of the suggestions on this thread--maybe buy a piece of glitzy jewelry or an eye-catching clutch instead that you can also use for other, less-formal occasions. That will be less money and more versatile.

Anonymous

Your wrap dress with some bling sounds perfect.

kkards

Veteran

hmmm, i'm a little uncomfortable with wearing workwear to a holiday party at an exclusive country club. this is not a party, this is a work event, and as such, will your dress stand out as different and mark you as not one of the team? what do the other women wear? if the other women will be wearing workwear then i say go for it. if not, i say, get the party separates so that you can reuse parts next year.

Mochi

Veteran

No need for justifying your choices anyway, but that sounds like a good plan.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

This sounds like a great plan to me - burgundy is a very good holiday color and with the right extras like the sparkly cami and dressy shoes you can easily kick it up to festive wear. And you know that just about every woman going to this party is probably going through a similar thought process - and some will panic and shop last minute (which most often leads to a poor decision), while others will be practical and calm about the process. I used to panic and shop last minute. I rarely ever wore the item again. It felt too much like a "costume" and not enough like "me."

Edit: I wonder if a lace cami might work...something along this line but maybe not as low cut?

http://www.victoriassecret.com.....logueType=

pil

Veteran

Depending on your other accessories, what about a pair of patterned hose? Angie had a pair of burgundy hose in the YLF store.

Thistle

Veteran

so, listening to kkards, I am going to talk to the CEO's secretary and ask her about standard wear at the event.

I have not gone the last 2 years as year 1 I was on maternity leave, and year 2 they gave me 2 weeks notice of the event and I couldn't book a babysitter.

The one year I went, it was pretty across the spectrum. Some wives came in sequins, other a basic black dress (I am the only female on the management team, so there is no collegue to ask).

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