Help! is "casual dress" the same as "business casual"?!? - YouLookFab Forum

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Help! is "casual dress" the same as "business casual"?!?

Prudence

I have to attend a work part at the home of a 'big wig' for my husband's new job on Friday. It's a small liberal arts college in the mountain west. My husband said that it was business casual, but I just got the official invitation away from him and it actually says "casual dress" !

I'm already a bit intimidated by the status change that comes with this new job (I'm a state analyst). I really, really, don't want to show up looking inappropriate. There will be about 300 people there.

I had planned to wear a silk sheath dress from Ann Taylor (thrifted) with low open-toe nude heels. I figured that was a tad dressy but within range. Now I'm thinking that will be way too dressy. Husband will probably look like a Banana Republic ad.

The dress is white with a watercolor floral pattern.
Help!

Dressing

46 replies

Latest reply was from

Dana

(website)

Veteran

It's hard to know without seeing your dress,but it sounds like it might be a tad dressy. I rarely take "casual" too literally. You'll always feel better being over vs. under dressed.

Do you have a cute top and skirt you can wear?

Prudence

Whoa, long link..... I would look like this only not as leggy or blond.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q.....s:51,i:325

Prudence

I have lots of options... I just feel unsure about what is "right".

K. Period.

Veteran

I think the dress would be fine. I'd probably just take a second option on shoes and purse to dress it down or up. For example, if I had heels and a patent bag, I'd feel more dressed up. If I swapped them out for a woven straw bag and strappy stacked wedges or flat sandals, I'd feel more casual.

Chippy Mia

I think you would look lovely. Do you know what the iternary is? Will you be with the other spouses mingling or will there be some team building activities where spouses participate? I would probably bring another pair of wedge/flats just in case you will be ask to join in some activity. Bring a cardi or shawl as sometimes the evenings can get chilly in the mountains.

Prudence

I think it is just a mixer. I will only know one or two people there other than my husband. I think our geography plays a role in the whole thing. I tend to bat for "team dressy" but my city is often a bit more "rugged". Though, the crowd at the party will have people from all over the country and the world.

Anonymous

When in doubt, dress up. It's better to overdress than to underdress.

Diana

Veteran

I would probably take this to mean smart casual. I suspect that there will be a wide range of formality levels. I think your dress would probably be OK but I would swap the shoes out for something like ballet flats or sandals and choose a less dressy handbag (like a larger leather purse rather than a little patent clutch or something). If you need a topper, I would choose something like an informal knit blazer or even a cardigan rather than a very businessy blazer or jacket.

rachylou

Veteran

I'd wear flat sandals with a silk dress to an academic gathering. But I do think silk sounds a little dressy. What dept. is your husband in? Oh, but wait, you said 300 people. Actually I think a silk dress and flat sandals would be perfect. They have to be thong sandals. Failing that, seriously no gladiator sandals.

I wear things like this to physics/materials science gatherings.

On a tangent, I note, at these things: Without fail there will be oriental carpet, a pedal singer sewing machine, a pioneer amplifier from the 70s in a stereo cabinet made from pressboard and with a glass door you push to open, a Henry Evans print, and an upright piano in the dining room. Someone will get up and play the piano after dinner (Schubert). This, btw, is exactly the way every home in my parents' hood is, including theirs. It's disconcerting. You're never quite certain where you are.

If it's the university president, heels are OK, but they should be low and plain. Unless we're talking the religion department. Then you can be nattier. Anyways, the president's home is always strangely under-furnished. Someone might get up and entertain on the baby grand, but they have to kick the string quartet aside.

Anonymous

No, I don't think they are the same thing. For an event like this, I would still do the silk dress. I would just be mindful of not going too evening with the styling: No sequins or overly glittery /shiny stuff, light makeup and a simple hairstyle.

cciele

Veteran

rachylou -- love your description of the typical university residence!

I think you've gotten great direction here Prudence. To answer your question, I have no idea what they really mean by "casual dress" -- so many ways to interpret that. I like the dress and think it would work really well with casual accessories (low-heeled shoes or flats, casual topper). You could always bring a variety of toppers, from denim jacket to cardi to blazer to pashmina, and throw one on after you get a peek of what other guests are wearing

rachylou

Veteran

Came back to add: presidents seem to like solid color wall-to-wall, as opposed to oriental rugs. If not wall-to-wall, them a rug made from wall-to-wall. In blue. I call it "presidential blue."

But I'm wondering, if you're in the mountains... maybe we'll see some Native American weavings take the forefront, etc. (actually, these are always present too, but they don't anchor the decor here on the coast).

;>

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou, you crack me up!!!

No wonder you're confused, Prudence. I would be, too. It's really tough to know just what this means.

"Dress casual" COULD mean Dress: Casual. OR it could mean "dressy-casual," i.e. business casual.

Or, it could mean: We don't have a clue what we mean!

I'll bet it means no ragged denim, and no skimpy tube tops. Apart from that, probably anything goes.

It will vary by district a bit, with some places being more formal than others. In my university town, the way to strike a balance at an event like this might be a cotton dress in a similar style to the one you're considering, or a sheath, or really anything, along with less-dressy shoes, topper, and bag. So, just a step down from the silk. But that's my town, where they think you are overdressed if you wear anything that isn't cut like a burlap sack, whatever it is made of.

Seriously, I wore the blue dress in the first pic the other night to an event and was one of the dressiest women in the room. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nim-jacket

Ditto when I went to Banff for various events there. The only thing I dressed up more for was an actual "ball" where some of the women were in full-length gowns.

Gaylene

Veteran

Sounds like one of my universities, right down to rachylou's description of the faculty members' houses. I'll also add that you will find a range of outfits from "my best decade was the 60s (or 70s or 80s)" to "I spent my summer in ____ and I've decided to dress like I'm still there" to "a serious academic wears wool regardless of the temperature" to "I like to be one with my students" to "I hiked all the way up the mountain to get here ". So, really, the only "look" that you will NOT likely find is corporate casual. With an exception for the president's wife, who will be wearing a flowered silk dress with sensible heels. The president, depending on his personal bent, will wear either a sport coat, or a polo shirt, depending on how he sees his relationship to the faculty.

My go-to, never-fail outfit for such occasions is a pair of lightweight, flowy trousers with a silk shirt (scrunched sleeves), 2" heeled sandals (but NEVER stilettos--ruins that carpet and the hardwood floors, and digs into the lawn), and a piece of statement jewelry. A white, denim jacket, to be slung over my shoulders when it cools off in the evening, completes my outfit.

Here's how I deconstruct the outfit: The trousers say I am an academic who has more important things on her mind than frivolous topics like fashion, my silk blouse says I am old enough to understand how to dress up but young at heart (the scrunched sleeves), the heeled sandals give me height and say "I am woman, hear me roar" (useful, if someone plays the academic upmanship game with me), and the statement piece says "I, too,travel and love the exotic". Finally, I find the white denim jacket adds the perfect "and I like my students" touch.

And, contrary to some of the other respondents, I'm not sure, in this situation, being too dressy is the right move. Academic environments are weird that way. I'd say pay attention to your husband. A new male faculty member who resembles a Banana Republic ad sounds pretty spot on to me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOVE Gaylene's reply. I think that has got to be the perfect outfit, Gaylene. And I agree 100%. You really don't want to be too dressy. Academic environments are different than almost anywhere else that way. It just feels wrong.

rachylou

Veteran

That's an on-the-money-outfit, Gaylene, if I ever heard one.

It also just occurred to me that "coiffed" make-up and body-con clothing are the two things that will actually make a person look like they're not there to stay (career-wise). It's Natalie Portman v. Kim Kardashian. Closed-toe shoes are also always reassuring.

Anonymous

I am married to a university professor and have lived and worked in an academic enrivonment for years. I disagree that it's not a good idea to dress up. I much prefer to be overdressed than underdressed, so I err on the side of dressy. So far, I've never been off the mark. Whenever we're invited to a university affair or to a dinner at the dean's house, everyone is dressed in smart casual attire, which is quite different than business casual. I always wear a dress to those things, because I have yet to see a woman show up in pants.

Now if you're talking about a university event for students, that's a horse of a different color. Business casual will work fine for that, whereas smart casual might be OTT. If I didn't know, I'd still err on the side of dressy.

With the exception of a piano, our house doesn't resemble the one described in this thread. And we happen to have a piano because I happen to be a pianist. We do know a university professor who owns a nicer piano than mine, but never plays it because no one in his family plays. It's just there for show. At our house, the piano gets played, and it's not in the dining room. LOL!

Queen Mum

Veteran

ha- should we start a pool on what everyone will be wearing? Love Gaylene's prediction for the presidents wife.
I have to agree with Gaylene too that you do want to guard against being over dressed.. especially if you choose to wear a dress. You might well be one of the few actually IN a dress.. you certainly don't want it to be a "dressy" dress in that case. For some reason it seems less conspicuous to be overdressed while in slacks than to be overdressed while in a dress. If I wanted to wear a dress I'd probably stay away from silk.. unless it is a casual print... and stick with a dress that you won't feel like you stick out like a sore thumb if you are indeed the only one in a dress. Does that make any sense?
Gosh, why do these things have to be so difficult?

Anonymous

No doubt it depends on the university. Where we work and live, when the Dean says "casual," he means dressy casual (AKA smart casual), which means a dress and heels and nice jewelry. The men wear suits.

When we lived in the Southwest, the university environment was more casual and no one ever wore a dress.

I just happen to be one of those people who has an easier time dressing up than down, and I don't feel the least bit awkward if I'm dressed better than someone else. It's better than the other way around. That said, if I know people are going to show up in casual attire, I don't deliberately overdress. I'm just saying that if I don't know, I err on the dressy side.

Diana

Veteran

Rachy, you crack me up.

I would argue that it's fine to be dressed up but not necessarily good to be dressed too businessy. At least here in the northeast US and especially in science, there is a bias against appearing "too corporate" in academia. It is however different in the professional schools (medical, law, business, etc) where businessy attire is probably expected. For example, I wouldn't wear a navy skirt suit, but a colored jacket over a printed dress would probably be fine. Men would probably wear a sport coat and tie but with khakis and not a full suit.

(I am not a professor - yet - but I have been to plenty of these types of things, and I have been around the academic/university world for a long time.)

Anonymous

I agree about not looking too corporate. That said, what they call "Sunday attire" here in the Deep South is usually appropriate.

Diana

Veteran

Not my style, but if you are more comfortable in a suit, choose something like a Chanel style suit and not a business suit! (Ruth, a Chanel-esque suit would be considered sunday attire, right?)

Gaylene

Veteran

I agree with some of what you are saying, Ruth, but I have also found that different universities can have quite different "dress codes". Appropriate faculty dress in large urban universities can be quite different than in a small, mountain-town college. My dress, jacket, and heels outfit that works well in the urban setting would get me strange looks in my current environment where a number of faculty wear hiking boots to work.

And dressing for a small dinner at the president's residence, or at a university affair where I'm going to be mingling with business people and donors, calls for a much more dressed up look than a casual faculty "meet and greet" at the beginning of the term.

I guess I was responding to Prudence's cues that the affair was a "casual dress" mixer at a small, liberal-arts college in the mountain west with 300+ people likely to be in attendance. Given that description and the fact that her husband probably not going to be wearing a suit and tie, I'm still thinking I'd stay with my trouser/silk shirt combo.

But you raise a good point. Probably the best advice might be to talk to some of the other women who will be at the event and ask what they are planning to wear.

ETA: At our last "big event" for corporate donors, our biggest donor was from the oilpatch. He wore a cowboy hat and boots with a "western" shirt and tie. I noticed that he didn't spend much time with the "suits" and did most of his talking with a couple of guys who ignored the "business dress" code and wore jeans and shirts. Just goes to show how much influence geography can have on dress codes!

unfrumped

Veteran

I think Gaylene has the idea but it can extend to skirt and blouse or slightly more casual dress. See Angie's dress codes, and you'll see that you have to wonder if the dress code is truly "casual" since it might include shorts and chino skirts, in the right setting. Going more "dressy casual" lets you "overdress" one notch. The main thing I would examine in your AT sheath dress outfit is whether it is somewhat bombshell or cocktail-appearing and can't be disguised. That is in the fit and fabric. Very fitted and shiny silk will be less clearly in the advertised code, though not necessarily a reason to call the fashion police. Or your dress may be a good chameleon (like the elusive LBD that can go from beach to cocktail hour!) and look summer-breezy with casual accessories. A linen-blend, or raw silk, (or that look), less "body-con", as noted, dress with more casual accessories is what I think of, or the pants-outfit equivalent. Accessories that are simpler or more natural materials rather than blingy. That sort of thing.

Prudence

I think I am going to abandon the dress in favor of a silk top and pants. That way I can wear heels and a slightly more unique accessory without feeling flashy. I'll try to post a picture later.

Thank you everyone! You confirmed my feeling that this was indeed a little bit tricky, and not just all in my head.

shiny

Veteran

I am late but was going to say we go to a lot of these type of events as my husband works for a university (in administration). Except the university is in an urban setting. I would totally wear that dress, with flats or wedges, more casual purse, and I'd probably throw on a denim jacket to tone it all down.

rachylou

Veteran

Law school and medical school are different, I agree.

Ruth! You guys must be at Stanford! ;>

Gaylene

Veteran

And I'll wager that you, rachylou, have some experience with western college towns. Your descriptions of the houses cracked me up!

It's so funny when I think about how specific, yet varied, academic dress codes can be... I spent a couple of years in England which involved a bit of lecturing and when I came back to Canada, I had a suitcase full of sensible shoes, long woolen skirts, tights, and jumpers.

Now I'm in a situation where I sometimes wonder if I'm the only person who doesn't own a pair of cowboy boots. And tucking one's jeans into boots is quite a radical statement at my college. BUT, this year, the Calgary Stampede Queen and her Princesses were finally allowed to wear skinny jeans tucked into boots. Much shaking of heads, though, among the true-blue westerners-- what is this world coming to....

Jjsloane

Veteran

I understand your confusion, to me "casual" can mean a lot of things. I think it sounds like your dress is perfect (but I'd rather be over dressed than under dressed any day). Keep the jewelry minimal, the heels low and you have a winner.

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