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Day-to-night musings

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Is day-to-night dressing still a thing? The concept of dressing appropriately for work, and then with minimal or no changes, wearing the same outfit out to a restaurant/bar/gallery, etc?

One of the best articles I've read recently is called something like, "I thought day-to-night dressing was going to be a much bigger deal than it is." A humor article, pointing out that not many of us really do this. Most of us go to the office then go home for the evening, or go home and change, then go to a party. Or, if we really are going straight to a bar, it is not a big deal to be wearing our work clothes, like in Cheers. Day-to-night dressing seems to be a concept invented by the same people who write every romantic comedy lead as the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine. She needs these clothes, clearly! She has places to be!

I am watching a YouTube video, and one of the girls described sort of an on-the-go lifestyle. I thought this outfit, a breezy maxi dress with a black moto, was a fabulous idea for day-to-night, as most workplaces and venues are loosening up their standards. It is hip, yet polished.

(Her name is Shanna Battle, btw.)

What do you think of the day-to-night concept? Is it still relevant? Do you have go to outfits for this? Any ideas for fun new items to refresh this concept?

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21 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

Sisi

Veteran

I think that in this casualized world if you go to work wearing something just pretty enough, then you
can go to almost any evening event. I would just take along something special to add at the last moment, such as a statement necklace or dressy shoes or a headpiece of some sort .

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I saw that article too — or at least the headline — and chuckled. It’s true, it’s not really much of a thing for me, and I suspect not for a lot of people. “Day” vs “night” dressing isn’t so much of a thing when you 1) don’t have an “office” job or uniform, and 2) a night out most likely means happy hour at a local pub and maybe a nice casual dinner and a casual concert, movie, etc. Life has become less formal and less bifurcated. I’m ok with that, but sometimes I do miss the opportunity to get truly dressed up. But that’s a different thing altogether.

When I do have a day that will segue into an evening event — art opening, etc — I’ll usually go with sort of elevated casual and just be a bit more dressed up for my day than usual.

cat2

Veteran

I’ve only ever seen it a thing in DC. I blew it the first time and wore my suit to a dinner where everyone else had changed. Otherwise, it’s always been fine to stay in my work clothes.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting responses. It can still be a thing for me -- despite not working at an office job -- but mostly when I travel. For instance, for a day of sightseeing followed by a fancier dinner or theatre. Of course, in most cases, I *could* go to the evening event in whatever I wore for sightseeing, but I'd *prefer* to be more dressed up (or at least in different footwear with different accessories) for the evening event. Usually I end up doing what Janet suggested -- compromising with a slightly dressier daytime look (if possible) and maybe shedding a layer or two, switching out jewellery, and making other tiny changes.

I do think juxtaposition is a gift to us in that way (as with the example you provided.) Jeans with a really sharp blazer, a dress with a moto, etc.

Another version of this that I struggle with all the time is more like: gear to streetwear.

If I were more into athleisure, this would not be an issue. But because I am very active, with walking and biking as my main transportation -- I do need to wear clothing that works for those activities. How to make it feel dressy enough to my regular life, when my aspirational style is dressier than my environmental norm? A conundrum. I tend to look for footwear that will crossover easily, bags that can easily fit into my bike panniers, clothes that offer easy movement and don't constrict.

Runcarla

Veteran

Though my retired lifestyle is super casual, I look for opportunities to dress up. Sometimes it’s just a matter of switching out sneakers for dressier footwear, and adding a scarf or other accessory, some mascara and a slick of lippy! (I do this for bridge night.) This would be your ‘day to night’ dressing.

Sometimes it’s a complete change of clothes. (I do this if I’ve been grubbing in the garden and have a date night with DH for dinner out or a concert or something else special.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Since I don't work in an office I take advantage of a evening plan to come up with a new outfit, but when I did work in an office I would go straight out in the same clothes. Not sure if it is really a thing, or just a thing to write articles about.

Sal

Veteran

I think mostly that this is a concept for fashion editors or bloggers to write about. I might have done this once or twice in my life. I have often gone for work drinks in my work clothes. Or gone home and had a quick change and then headed out. I am more likely to change into my sports clothes at work in the bathroom.

Runcarla

Veteran

I think the idea of day-to-night dressing is similar to ‘how many times do you change your clothes’ in a day.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think of day to night dressing as being particularly relevant to people who are dating or “looking for love” (can’t think of a better way to express this!). If I were going out straight from work and meeting up with a romantic interest or, well, trying to, I wouldn’t want to just go in my work clothes. I would want to sex it up a bit. So I might switch out a conservative work top to a strapless top or a metallic top or something backless (if I had a nice back, which I definitely don’t). Or switch to sky high heels, if I could wear them. Or add drama to my hair or make up. You get the idea. It’s not relevant to my life at present but I think it could be a thing still for some people. In my youth I would never go home from work, get changed and then go out. It would take too long and I was often working late in any case. I would always just stay in the city. I can’t imagine that’s changed for city workers.

Joy

Veteran

I dress the same way for all day and seldom change. All day dressing is the norm for me.

Jules

Veteran

These days I take it more as inspiration on how to remix, accessorize and tweak essentials to suit different occasions. On Saturday for example I wore the same black culottes all day, but different top, footwear, bag and jewelry, based on going from casual but fun & coordinated brunch look to a dressier party look in the evening. But of course by that point, changing my pants out as well would have been easy. It's more necessary when travelling with a limited capsule and needing pieces to do double duty. But this isn't true "day to night" I suppose...I think I tend to agree with Brooklyn that having a certain lifestyle which includes an office to leave eg. your basic flats and cover-up blazer at makes it more relevant.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I don't really do "day-to-night". Going out - even to something casual - feels like its own special event, demanding that I shake off the day, and wear something new to mark the specialness of going out. But that's me, on the other side of the pandemic. Even when traveling with a carry-on wardrobe, I will change most or all of an outfit to go out at night.

But even before 2020, I either went home and changed, or changed into a different outfit that I brought with me, before leaving work.

However, I have never lived in the midst of a mass-transit city like New York or Chicago, where running home to change, or pulling a fresh outfit out of the trunk of my parked car isn't an option.

unfrumped

Veteran

I used to love those articles. I think they fit into my imaginary lifestyle! Pack a sparkly necklace and dressy shoes in your work tote….

Retirement does usually allow for being able to put on a “ new” outfit, whether it’s lunch or an evening outing, not at all especially dressy, but more, how do I want to look/ feel for this situation? Plus when at home I’m often grubbier because of being outside a lot, gardening and such.

What’s interesting for me is that anythytgat involves a restaurant, or theater, is usually freezing for me. So warm- weather dressing theoretically will be cottons & linen blends, but I must have a jacket, and sometimes more than my typical very light summer toppers. Not too dressy or too tailored/ corporate, but also want options that are not a hoodie! it shows me that I need to do several try- on sessions each S/S to re- evaluate proportions ( the infamous pants width & length, shoes, whether top layers) & color coordination, so I can dress in basic outfit but add a jacket that elevates, or at least works. This year I’m also planning to just leave a pashmina or maybe even a desperation warmer jacket in the vehicle we usually take, when the venue allows easy going back to car, because recently I have just been miserably frozen in arctic A/C despite pants & jacket.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Sisi--that is a good point. I wonder what a good "base outfit" would be, in this case. I seem to do well with a black shrunken tee and flowy black pants, and switch out my shoes, like you say.

Janet--it really is true that...how many people really do work in offices, these days? I find it funny that any "job advice," whether networking or fashion, defaults to office work. So many people I know work door-to-door, or behind a counter, or teaching, or what have you. Including myself. And remembering that you will be going somewhere after work, does help you "elevate" the outfit in the morning.

cat2--I also find that there are two environments where this stuff matters--a)in big cities, and b)among richer people. Rich entrepreneurs gradually took over my hometown over the years, and I used to beg my mother for brand-name clothes to compete with other kids in high school.

It was the same living in NYC, and I suspect that is still true. You really needed to know where you were going at night, and if you were meeting up with friends later, it was a given you would go home and change. Woe be unto the girl who showed up at a trendy bar with a backpack and sweatshirt.

Suz--you seem so stylish, that I'm guessing no one notices you struggle with the athleisure-to-urban environment struggle. The only thing I can say about that is that ppl. who look most stylish in that stuff tend to be overt about it being athleisure, like in this picture.

I like what you said about juxtaposition--that really is a trick that so many stylish people employ, huh? Especially ones that seem like they belong anywhere. There's an elevated, yet DTE quality of their dressing.

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Carol

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Veteran

Runcarla--I like that. Looking for opportunities to dress up. On my more organized days, I do that, but on regular days, not really. However, my everyday standards have gotten better over the years. For example, in my home town, it is totally fine to go around in an ugly t-shirt you got in a 5k. Now I wouldn't be caught dead in that.

Jaime--glad you are able to dress up before going out. As people said, I think it's less of a thing now, but I think standards are still there in some places. But if you're smart, you just switch out shoes, jewelry, etc. like people said. No need for a cocktail dress.

Sal--and that brings in an entirely new concept into day-to-night dressing, right? Sports clothes. Like maybe you're not going to a bar, but to racquetball or tennis after work. I don't see anyone writing about this.

Brooklyn--I think there are plenty of city "kids" who still go home first, whether students or workers. But these are the ones willing to meet friends at 10, and stay out to 2.

I love your concept of DTN for romance. I'm not sure why this never occurred to me, and it totally makes the concept more relevant. I would also want to look great. I'm picturing what I would do...in my casual town, it would be fine to show up looking cute in general. Just freshen your makeup, take that baggy coat off, and you're good. But if a date were really important, if I really wanted to look good, I would spend time in the morning or evening "sexing it up," as you say.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Joy--sounds like a great idea. I do changes, though most of them are unexciting--work wear into lounge wear, for example.

Jules--you know, that is a good point. Traveling, and with a limited suitcase. It is actually quite relevant, since most countries are more formal than the U.S. (mine). It is so relevant that people ask on this forum what to pack, since they understand other countries are more formal.

Day-to-night dressing is absolutely important when you just got done looking at some ruins, and get back to the hotel for a quick change. At that point I might hope I'm wearing a lightweight shift dress, and just change my walking shoes for some strappy kitten heels, and go to dinner.

Mary Beth--it is totally an option to live in a huge city and change! As I said in responses above. But your concept of going out needs to be different. When you go home and change in a big city, you are no longer popping into the neighborhood happy hour right after work and going home for Netflix and chill.

The opposite--you are going home to Netflix and chill for a couple hours, groom well, change well, and THEN go out. You are going out for a second event of the day, and it needs to be done right. I think this practice of going home first is more common than the opposite.

I love your comment of "shaking off the day." I never thought of that, but it really does apply to so many of us. I think of the relative bleakness of John T.'s life in Saturday Night Fever, and how he'd start to come alive when getting ready for dancing.

unfrumped--curious--where do you live? The Arctic AC is famous in the U.S., but wondering if it applies to other countries. I love what you say about a "desperation jacket" in your car. Sometimes these functional items end up being a statement--everyone seems to notice when a woman throws a fleece or her boyfriend's coat over a dress, and it looks kind of cool.

This "jacket/sweater in summer" presents another conundrum for me. What to do with it when you're hot? Draping over an arm I don't love. Tying around my waist I don't love. It feels like dead weight for me, but it sure isn't dead weight in that freezing movie theater.

Joy

Veteran

I do not wear lounge wear but wear what I have on. I am afraid lounge wear would make me too casual. Most days I dress into pants and a top and topper. The topper gets removed as the day gets hotter and back again for evening when it is cool. Twice a week, more often in summer, I try to wear a dress or skirt, dresses and skirts have become summer ware replacing shorts. Skirts are a bit shorter in summer.

April

Veteran

When my Eliana dress came, I modeled for Mr. A who said, "Now where would you wear that?" Me "Well *I would* wear it to the grocery store, just never to cook in" (sleeves and length too dangerous for the kitchen.

His reply: Yes, you would do that.

Joy

Veteran

Clothes for day to night…. A tuxedo set in black with a sequined top. A black silk dress very simple so it can be dressed up and down, long hair put up.

Suntiger

I generally don't go home between activities, cause I live in the middle of nowhere, so I just dress for the dressiest thing I need to do that day.

I'm not At All a night person, and rarely leave the house if it's already dark! I do like going to plays and concerts, where I like to dress up more, but nearly always in summer. Occasionally I would pop by the brewery after work, but don't need to change for that.
ETA- what I picture "day to night" dressing as is things like coctail parties after some city office job.

DonnaF

Veteran

Even when I was young, I don’t remember ever going out during the week other than with work mates to Happy Hour. If it were a meetup at 10pm or even 8pm I’m sure nothing would get me to leave my place, especially since I would be depending on public transportation. Dress up occasions were always on weekends as they continue to be for me. Which reminds me that I need to think about what I will wear to a birthday party this Saturday and how to plan for temperature variation.