Suitable for Business Attire & Seeing L.A.'s Mayor? - YouLookFab Forum

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Suitable for Business Attire & Seeing L.A.'s Mayor?

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I'm leaving in 30 minutes to go with my brother to a special event downtown. It called for Business Attire and today it's cold and possibly rainy. We won't be outdoors, but I'm not sure what the venue will "feel" like.

I thought I'd go with black and cream and only spice it up with my pearl shine net Commando legwear.

I need to eat and then put my lipstick on, which I haven't done yet. As for accessories, it will only be stud earrings and my watch. Hope this looks okay. It is warm and comfortable. ETA: I added the last pic to show I could add a "metallic" plastic necklace this a bit fun.

Ann Taylor skirt, Zara sweater, Stuart Weirzman boots, Danier jacket, BCBGMaxazria purse

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Urgent

26 replies

Latest reply was from jurocha

Anonymous

I think you look fine and fab. I'd wear that to meet with any of the politicians (a few governors and representatives) my DH and I personally know.

Sheila

Veteran

Oh Vicki you look stunning! No matter what the venue, you are sure to make an excellent impression.

MsMary

Veteran

Vicki, you know I love you, right? But I don't think those black boots and fishnets are businesslike enough for an event with "business" in the title. I'd tone it down just a tad even though you look super fab.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, MaryK; it's just that in secondary emails they added "Dressy Attire" to the "Business Attire" description (keeping both!), so I thought I could push the envelope a bit. :). Specifically, it says Business or Dressy Attire.

MsMary

Veteran

It depends on what you're going for. This is a fab "Ladies Who Lunch"/early cocktails look and if that's what you're going for, you have absolutely nailed it. And yes, it's defintely dressy. It is not, however, "business attire."

I actually feel fine about it as "dressy."

MsMary

Veteran

Oops, can't edit.

But... it's not business.

But it's dressy.

Why, oh why can't they say something like "Business Formal" or "cocktail attire" so people will have a fighting chance of figuring out what they are supposed to wear???

MsMary

Veteran

Which also brings me to... Is "dressy" the same as "festive?" Or does "dressy" mean "business formal" as opposed to "business casual?"

If it's the former, again, I think you're fine. If it's the latter, notsomuch.

And as a practical matter, given the ambiguous dress code, I guarantee you won't be wildly out of place.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jacket TWIN!! (Well, quadruplet, really). But wow, you look fantastic in this!

Still...I do see Mary K's point about boots and tights....On the other hand, nobody said you were the corporette type, did they?

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

So, is Business Attire a suit, either with pants or a skirt, and definitely a fitted jacket?

Thanks, everyone, for posting in Realtime.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Hey, Jacket Twin/Quadruplet. I almost thought about wearing pants, but wanted to show some legs for once. Funny, I wasn't thinking "business," but, how to keep my legs warm.

On the agenda: Cocktail reception, heavy hors d'oeuvres, award ceremony and dessert reception (full dinner will not be served).

MsMary

Veteran

I would say Busienss Attire generally involves a jacket: Pantsuit, skirt suit, dress with jacket, pants or skirt with non-matching jacket. But to me, although Business Attire might conceivably include Howard Weitzman black pointy-toe knee-high boots, it would NEVER include said boots with pearl-shine net tights. In fact, in my view, it would never include those tights at all.

None of which, I hasten to add, means you don't look super fab.

MsMary

Veteran

Okay, last comment: I go to an annual brunch at the Bel Air Country Club, for which the dress code is always specified to be "business casual." I always interpret that to mean "business casual for the men, Ladies Who Lunch for the ladies," and I am always right. After giving it way more thought than is necessary or appropriate, I think Vicki's event can probably best be described as "business attire for the men, festive/dressy attire for the ladies."

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Can't help with the dress code aspect, but I love this and you look amazing!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Shevia, and others. Having a great time and I just saw Michael Eisner. After receiving a nice compliment from a woman in the elevator here at Club Nokia at L.A. Live, and being at the event, it was a perfect outfit tonight.

Mia

Veteran

A friend once gave me some advice which I thought was good. She said to consider the venue and the occasion when choosing an outfit. I think you look smashing in this outfit, totally appropriate for what you describe. Hopefully you will give us the full report of how it all went.

Dress codes seem next to useless these days except as a "ballpark". Well of course it is a little different for men...

Deborah

Veteran

Vicki, your outfit is stunning!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love the outfit on you and I'm glad to hear it was perfect for the occasion! Thanks for sharing it with us. I learned a lot from the discussion--it's great to hear MaryK parse out business and dressy variations. One of the many reasons I love YLF!

MsMary

Veteran

Yay!! After all my over-thinking, I was confident your outfit would be perfect!!

Anonymous

What a great outfit and I love that jacket! The tights are just the icing on the cake, and add some lovely texture. I'm sure you were 100% appropriate. I often wonder if they state two dress codes so the people coming straight from work won't feel out of place in their attire, while welcoming others to take it up a notch if they want to. Well my dear, you have taken it up several notches and I hope you had a blast. I love that black and cream color scheme. And the clutch (meow)!

MsLuna

Veteran

Wow, very chic!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Vicki, you put together one heck of a stunning look. I'm glad it fit in with the dress code...those things are always tricky to figure out!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think it's smart that they specified something in the dress code. Otherwise, people would show up in jeans and sneakers. In any case, I think your outfit was perfect Vicki.

I wonder what Michael Eisner is up to? He used to be my boss at Disney. (Well, my boss's - boss's - boss's boss ... lots of layers in those days but I was a well-paid and happy underling!)

Neha

(website)

I love your outfit! So chic.

Neel

Veteran

Would it be wrong if I said you look HOT!

I suck at event appropriate attire though, so no clue on that one!

lyn67

Veteran

Love the white core outfit Vicky, not only dressy and festive enough, but special, too!

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

I am glad to hear everything went perfect. Though it is already late for outfit assessements, I hv to add and echo the others: you were extremely well-dressed; appropriate for the event and still fashion forward.

(I wish I could rock net legwear as you did! It was the best detail/addition! I am taking a lesson home here...)