You can get a cute cocktail dress at H&M for around $50. It will be foot to have in the closet for the future.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like THE social event of the season.

OP here - yeah, it doesn't sound fun to me (or DH). But I get the sense that we kind of "have" to go. I do like the school and the people, I'm just naturally antisocial.

Sounds like THE social event of the season.

Thanks everyone - I'm glad that pants and a nice top are fine. Of course, I also don't own a nice top, but since I really should, I don't mind spending a little on that. I have a feeling that many of the women in this group will go all out, but it's good to know that there will probably be other women who are wearing pants.

Anonymous wrote:For a school event, nice slacks and a dressy top is completely fine. I bet that's what you'll see a lot of. I wouldn't go out and buy a new dress for this, shop your closet and accessorize.

ITA. Really not worth going all out for - pants with heels + a great statement necklace & clutch, you're set.

Anonymous wrote:Budget? Age? Hair color?

Nordstrom has a selection of specifically cocktail dresses. They also offer petite sizes. Hard to go wrong with them. http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-cocktail-dresses?origin=leftnav#category=b60139439&type=category&marketingslots=2&page=1&size=petitem&width=&color=&price=&brand=&instoreavailability=false&lastfilter=size&sizeFinderId=2&resultsmode=&segmentId=0&partial=1&pagesize=100&contextualsortcategoryid=0&sort=price&sortreverse=0

You could get away with dressy top/pants in a pinch but you would probably feel more comfortable in a dress and heels. Add a statement necklace and clutch if you have the $.

OMG, who would wear that glitter print skater dress?? Nordstrom, what has happened to you??

At our school, the athletic/fit (tennis playing) moms get decked out with cocktail dresses. The more conservative wear pants with a sequin top or something with bling. Either is acceptable.

For a school event, nice slacks and a dressy top is completely fine. I bet that's what you'll see a lot of. I wouldn't go out and buy a new dress for this, shop your closet and accessorize.

In my experience most people do not go overboard on the cocktail attire. Keep it simple and tasteful. Don't show too much skin.

Black pants and a dressy top are fine! You'll have a great time.

If you wear pants wear a lot of bling.

You get a range at most school auctions. Nice black pants and a nice dressy top with nice shoes are fine. No one's going to say anything - you're there to support the school.

Budget - as little as possible. Age 39. Hair color-light brown.

I would definitely feel more comfortable in pants, and I might even be willing to buy heels. I hate dresses, my legs aren't good. I will check out the Nordstrom recs, thanks!

Budget? Age? Hair color?

Nordstrom has a selection of specifically cocktail dresses. They also offer petite sizes. Hard to go wrong with them. http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-cocktail-dresses?origin=leftnav#category=b60139439&type=category&marketingslots=2&page=1&size=petitem&width=&color=&price=&brand=&instoreavailability=false&lastfilter=size&sizeFinderId=2&resultsmode=&segmentId=0&partial=1&pagesize=100&contextualsortcategoryid=0&sort=price&sortreverse=0

You could get away with dressy top/pants in a pinch but you would probably feel more comfortable in a dress and heels. Add a statement necklace and clutch if you have the $.

I feel like I need to attend our new school's auction, and the invitation specifies "cocktail attire." I never dress up, I never wear dresses, so I'm very unsure of what might qualify as cocktail attire. I don't suppose a dressy top and black pants would work? I assume I'd need to wear some type of dress. Any ideas, links, other assistance anyone has would be extremely helpful. I'm 5'2, pear-shaped, and generally a size 8-10.

Also, if anyone would like to chime in on what DH should wear, although he actually dresses nicely for work so has plenty of dress pants/shirts/ties in his wardrobe already.

Thanks!!