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Dressing

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Special occasion dressing

anchie

Veteran

After reading couple of posts about holiday dressing I came to realization that I am not very well prepared for special occasions. Actually only two times in my life I went shopping for special occasion - once was for my high school graduation dance, and second time for my own wedding. All the other special occasions in my life - and there were many - like high school reunions, weddings, dinners with prominent figures, big birthday and holiday parties etc. - I never did any shopping - I always thought that I can wing something from my current wardrobe. Well, my approach had various degrees of success, few times borderline disastrous and I regretted not been more appropriately dressed.
I always kind of thought because those occasions were far apart and my weight fluctuations are big factor, that buying something to wear once is kind of waist.

I am curious to hear about your experiences and habits. Do you shop in advance to have it ready when occasions arise, do you shop before the specific occasion or are you like me, and just try to make special occasion outfit out of your every day clothes. If you bought something special, were you able to wear it more often than you thought you would? Or have you regretted buying it?

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

Runcarla

Veteran

3 years ago my family attended a week of celebrations that culminated in a New Years Eve wedding. This event inspired me to create a dressy occasion mix-and-match capsule for the various events I would be attending, and for special occasions afterward. The capsule is comprised of classic pieces that don’t really date. Some cross over to regular wear when juxtaposed with less refined pieces. The capsule consists of:

black pants
black blazer jacket
black silky bomber with embroidery
silky ivory button down
silver foil t-shirt
navy blue lace tank top
flirty, above the knee, sleeveless LBD
long sleeved, ruched LBD
black taffeta ball skirt
black patent leather pointy toe tuxedo pumps

If you decide to build a dressy capsule, my suggestion is to start with a dressy suit and a lace or silky shirt or camisole top. Add pieces that mix and match and meet your idea of special. I like satin and lace, but there are sequins, feathers, ribbon, leather, tulle, etc. that signal ‘special occasion.’ Items don’t need to be black, either. Maybe that’s where you might park a cream or white suit?

I would also suggest at least one pair of shoes or sandals that are mainly for special occasions. Sparkly sandals, silver sneakers, patent pumps.

Sure, the party clothes don’t get as much mileage as day-wear, but they are there when I need them (no panicking when an opportunity arises) and that corner of my closet always makes me happy!

Irina

Veteran

In the last 20 years I shopped for a special occasion twice - both were dresses to attend weddings. For other occasions, I winged it like you.
we used to have formal Christmas parties every year and I maintained a small capsule of tops, a blazer and a pair of formal pants. Those days are gone. Now Christmas parties at work are something to attend with one’s colleagues after work. Last year I wore a pair of black tuxedo pants with a black cashmere turtleneck and a long pendant.
I regret sometimes that I don’t have a special occasion clothes. I bought a few pieces for summer but struggled with winter stuff. Winter clothes is more expensive and I’m not sure I would get a good use out of it. I know that some of my summer pieces could be worn casually.
But the winter ones... So, it is a bit of issue for me.

slim cat

Veteran

I'm with you on not doing enough special occasion shopping - done it 2-3 times total right before the event ( donated later because of very limited use ).
Last year I decided that I should expend the dressy part of my wardrobe and wear it to work or after. So far I'm pleased with my new additions - ombre midi skirt, metallic jacket, cropped velvet pants and the last one - leather jacket from All Saints. They are not that super dressy that I can't wear it at work - it's encouraged at Bloom.
I still don't have the real special occasion dress ( probably don't need it anyway ) or amazing topper/jacket. I'd like to find a few more items - like the pretty dress or silk blouse that would work for different events in the future.

anchie

Veteran

Thanks Runcarla, your capsule sounds delightful and very practical. Are you covered for all levels of dressines and possible variations between summer amd winter occasions? I am not really planning to work on my capsule at this point - don’t have any events on my calendar in foreseeable future - but maybe when things go back to normal it would be good to be prepared instead of winging it. Or maybe just buy outfit one occasion at a time with plan for future mix and match possibilities?

Liz

Veteran

Whenever I've bought something to have on hand for a hypothetical occasion, the kind we think we should be prepared for, I've regretted it. My weight fluctuates, and the events may or may not ever come. My lifestyle is very casual, and is going to stay that way.

It turns out I need special CASUAL clothing,
something it's taken me a long time to recognize. I do have speaking
engagements, business meetings, weddings, etc., where I
really care how I'm dressed. But they're all casual. And I simply have
not mastered being dressed way down and yet looking festive for a holiday party, or looking good under bright lights and cameras on a stage, or appearing polished in a
business meeting. I should probably
pre-shop for this.

Minaminu

Veteran

Runcarla, you built up a beautiful capsule for special occasion. I got a few pieces but I am still missing a few, but interestingly is very similar to yours!

Faux fur pink jacket
Black lace top
Black pants
Black jumpsuit
Black pumps
Black dress
Silver pumps
Pink silk clutch

I am missing a tuxedo jacket and some sequin, but I am in no hurry to add them!

Anonymous

I have a decent capsule of pieces for holiday dressing - and that’s a category where I might pick up the odd item on sale out of season . I used to entertain quite often and also go out to the odd holiday party and I love to get dressed up when I can ! None of these pieces get worn very often so I don’t tend to spend a ton of money on them. I hate being underdressed and not having “ the right thing on “ - but not everyone feels that way . Carla’s idea of a couple of classic simple pieces is a great way to start . A crepe suit with satin lapels and a cami or blouse , some interesting footwear ....etc

Runcarla

Veteran

@ Anchie - the toppers (wool blazer jacket and silky bomber) add an extra layer when things are cold. The long sleeved dress works better in cold weather, that the sleeveless - but the sleeveless looks especially good topped with the bomber, and can be removed when the venue gets hot or I’m dancing!

What lisa p said about shopping off season! Party wear goes on deep discount after the holidays. Better shopping for the sequinned and shiny, plus accessories.

What I don’t have is something light and cheerful for a warm weather event like a daytime wedding, christening, or graduation where black won’t do. I haven’t been to such an event in a l-o-n-g time. My inclination would be to shop thrift for a party dress.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I do a variety of things. I have enough dressy in my wardrobe to take me to most dressy events, but might get a new dress/skirt for the occasion anyway. Depends on my mood! I don't have a ball gown though.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I have built up my dressy capsule gradually in the past 10 years. Started with shopping for my husband’s 50th 10 years ago, we were doing a theme that had a 1920s element to it and since I also love Art Deco, the Little Black Dress I bought did many occasions! It was about 13 years ago that I had gained the weight and so the few dressy things from before that, from my 30s and earlier 40s, didn’t fit except one black tuxedo jacket. I have been a stable weight since then( 2007) only losing a few kg in the past 2 years, not enough to make my dressy stuff not fit. With my current capsule I hardly ever need to buy something new, although I did for my daughter’s wedding last year, because that felt even more special. I am pleased that in the end the dress for that was on sale ( happened unintentionally) because I have still only worn it the once.

nemosmom

Veteran

A couple of years ago, we had back-to-back bat mitzvahs to attend. One in Phoenix, one in Minneapolis. One uber conservative, one over-the-top glam. I scrambled to buy outfits for both, only to have the weather throw a wrench in my plans at the last minute (coat did not fit over an outfit, poor footwear planning, etc). Since then, I have cobbled together mixable separates. I have a sprinkling of shiny things I can add for festive occasions, and a handful of dark pieces, in case of somber or more conservative event.

Net-a-porter has a fun "Fashion Challenge" series on Youtube where they come up with imaginary events, then try to make outfits from the clothes provided. You could try something like that with what you have in your closet, and photograph looks to use as reference later.

MsMaven

Veteran

Generally I only shop for special occasions--lots of weddings the last few years. I was able to use one dress for two different weddings that took place far apart and with different guests. With some outfits I've been able to rewear dresses or suits on several occasions, but this has happened only a couple of times. I've been able to wear some of these outfits on New Year's Eve and on formal nights on a cruise.

Right now I don't have a dressy capsule. I do have one long black dress in my closet--I haven't tried it on since it came back from the cleaners 5 years ago, but I assume it would still fit me. Right now I have no known occasion to wear it in the future.

At present even without the pandemic life is pretty casual. If I had to I could put together a black skirt, black top, and sparkling jewelry and be content. The idea of assembling a capsule just for dressy sounds good, but think I'll put off any serious consideration for that.

Anonymous

I’d be in trouble if I had a summer special event to attend - and would likely have to buy something . I get annoyed just thinking about it .

slim cat

Veteran

Shoes for special occasion - the impossible thing for me to find. Difficult feet - and often too high expectations of the shoes labeled "comfort".
Got rid of the old ones - haven't found anything since that time ( metallic sneakers or flat sandals are my thing ).
That would be the mission for the next year - I have time ( no special events now anyway ).

rachylou

Veteran

I do buy a holiday outfit every year still, but everything else I wing from my closet. In the olden days, when there were dressy events requiring true formal wear, I’d buy for the occasion.

LaPed

Veteran

I'm okay with festive-casual and can pull plenty of "fun" outfits from my closet, but I would struggle to create an outfit for a very formal event. Luckily the chances of having to attend one in the near future are very low. I'm the kind of person who somehow manages to make everything look casual, even things that look very smart on others. Might have something to do with my general disinterest in dainty footwear, hosiery, makeup, jewelry, shiny fabrics, crisp fabrics, drape, ruffles... You'd think the answer would be menswear but a tux jacket feels just as costume-y as a cocktail dress does.

SarahD8

Veteran

I have a few scattered dressy items in my wardrobe, but it isn't really a functional dressy capsule.

Even pre-pandemic, my life was very casual. I didn't have many "events" to dress for and my environmental norm was and is extremely casual.

(Case in point: about a year ago, I asked the forum what I should wear to a literary reading. I ended up wearing jeans, riding boots, a long cotton/silk tunic, and a cropped fair isle sweater: basically an everyday outfit. And I was kinda overdressed. As I predicted, many attendees and some of the other panelists were in fleece.)

So I don't really *need* dressy clothes. But my lack of them prevents me from *making* occasions to dress up. And on the rare occasion that a dressy occasion does arise I end up cobbling something together that isn't quite right, and feeling dowdy and uncomfortable in my skin all evening. We talked about this a little bit at the beginning of this thread.

All that is to say, I'm on Team Be Prepared, or would like to be. I absolutely aspire to have a capsule of pieces like Runcarla's that could be mixed and matched with each other and with more everyday things to achieve different registers of formality.

Oddly (given the year that this has been) I've acquired a couple of dressy items secondhand over the course of the year. I seem to be homing in on a color palette of mermaidy greens, which I'm excited about. I should take some pics and see how it all hangs together and where the holes are.

Bijou

Veteran

I have a large collection of dressy items because:
1. they are my favourite things to wear
2. I seem to be able to come up with enough occasions to wear them.

My dressy toppers are a feather jacket (the blurred black jacket) and velvet coats.

In terms of being versatile, I would say the less formal items are easier to wear more often. Items that get the most wear from me is blue lace dress and the colourful skirt.

The reason that I love having my dressy capsule is that I look forward to going to events and never have to worry if I have something to wear.

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