Help dress me for work event at a partner’s home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
IMO, combat boots are 'outdoorsy', they would look questionable at an indoor dinner. I also think a turtleneck is too constraining at an indoor dinner. Both of those items make me feel hot just thinking of wearing them for 4 hours. The outfit has to be classy/classic and comfortable. What's wrong with a nice pair of low-heeled pumps or fancy flats, at an indoor dinner?

The turtleneck thing is a 'you' thing though. I'm always, always cold.

A turtleneck sounds great to me since you never know who has a cold house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
IMO, combat boots are 'outdoorsy', they would look questionable at an indoor dinner. I also think a turtleneck is too constraining at an indoor dinner. Both of those items make me feel hot just thinking of wearing them for 4 hours. The outfit has to be classy/classic and comfortable. What's wrong with a nice pair of low-heeled pumps or fancy flats, at an indoor dinner?

The turtleneck thing is a 'you' thing though. I'm always, always cold.

A turtleneck sounds great to me since you never know who has a cold house.

OP is busty and said no way to the turtleneck. But I am with you. I wear turtlenecks all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what OP thinks is happening:


But this is what is actually happening:


And this is the dcum crew (including me):

Yeah, no. As a 40 year old lawyer in the DMV with kids, I’ve never imagined I am on vogue level. No pretensions there. I’m just also not at your level of neck scarves and sweater sets and hideous trousers. We can all love GP’s look all day but it’s perfectly tailored, wildly expensive and she’s a rail. The knock off suggestions made don’t look comparable. It’s not possible. You need tailoring and a great body and a huge disposable income. Thinking you nailed it with club Monaco pants and sale silky shirts is just off base.

How can anyone be this cranky and live.

I really hate the DCUM posters who bag on people who give details responses, but seriously, Ms 40yo lawyer needs to give it a rest. I'm guessing she's a litigator.

[Anonymous]

I would wear dark trousers, a cashmere sweater, a little jewelry. Boring. I would assume the house might be too cold or too hot and I might have to take my shoes off. So I’d be prepared for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re these, not too crazy
https://images.app.goo.gl/JGosiyQnNRyRiza6A

Law firm spouse here.

No. Don’t wear these boots. When in doubt, you can always wear a black cocktail dress but not this satin skirt. The only way I would do that is with a traditional shoe but even then I feel the slit is too high on this dress for this event. I have a long, black, all saints sweater dress which I would consider wearing. You could also do a sweater, skirt and the pants, nice blouse, cardigan or sweater would be the safest and choice. Whatever it is, avoid anything trendy or bright.

For the first event I attended as spouse, I tried on 10 outfits for DH and he said no to all but 1. Then I understood the level of conservative dress expected. Ask your spouse for opinion.

If you are really young (20s) you can get away with the satin skirt and boots and people will just chalk up your poor choice to inexperience and youth.

[Anonymous]

How did it end up going and what did you wear, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The AllSaints outfit is great. Skip the heavy boots and go with kitten heels or more refined knee high boots

I’m doing this with my Veronica beard booties. I hope it’s okay. I don’t have time to go anywhere and I’m exhausted now ha. I will leave the combat boots at home. I will not tie this sweater about my shoulders.

This is classic! I’m going to use it as my mantra for when people try to put me in a box, cashmere-lined or no.

How was the event?

Ha ha, yes!

I want to know, too. Please come back and let us know how it was, and what everyone was wearing!

[Anonymous]

I got way in my head about it so I broke out my old work pants, Vince, wool, black, high waisted, a silk shirt and booties. I carried a clutch because I wasn’t sure about what bag to carry in this half work half fancy place. You all were very correct that jeans would have been very wrong ha but because it was super icy, the boots may have been the call! I almost broke my neck. Also, these VB booties are the most uncomfortable things ever and they have almost no heel. Seems unfair. It was mainly skirts, some silky, cocktail dresses of varying types, tights - some non which it was COLD - trousers and quite a few blazers. For men, suits to sports jackets to sweaters. There was a serious range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got way in my head about it so I broke out my old work pants, Vince, wool, black, high waisted, a silk shirt and booties. I carried a clutch because I wasn’t sure about what bag to carry in this half work half fancy place. You all were very correct that jeans would have been very wrong ha but because it was super icy, the boots may have been the call! I almost broke my neck. Also, these VB booties are the most uncomfortable things ever and they have almost no heel. Seems unfair. It was mainly skirts, some silky, cocktail dresses of varying types, tights - some non which it was COLD - trousers and quite a few blazers. For men, suits to sports jackets to sweaters. There was a serious range.

Thanks for coming back to tell us. Sounds like you wore a good outfit (boots aside) - also, I feel like it's on the party thrower if people are dressed in such a range; they gave confusing messages.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update! I think you sound 100% appropriately dressed for the night!

[Anonymous]

OP I have a question - if you're a partner at a law firm yourself, why did you need DCUM's help in dressing for this event?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I have a question - if you're a partner at a law firm yourself, why did you need DCUM's help in dressing for this event?

My firm doesn’t do these. It’s more casual in general and not DC based and I work remotely. It’s not like a monolith culture of law firms.