Do share what you go with …

Skirt and sweater, no combat boots, the All Saints outfit is a bit much.

PP here. I wear that outfit with low or flat pointy toed shoes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No jeans, no combat boots. Think something like this----wide leg trousers (or a trouser skirt, perhaps), a fitted top, nice belt and shoes, tasteful jewelry, maybe a cropped jacket or cardigan to layer if needed. Not necessarily this color scheme, but winter white never hurts. I'm not a Gwyneth fan in general, but she's pretty good with outfits that are appropriate in multiple settings.

Agree! This is similar to what a PP wisely recommended: sweater-trousers-booties-done. And OP already has the winter white sweater.

As for Chanel combat boots, a slimmer style would work better with the black sweater-slip dress:

I go to lunches and dinners with lawyers a lot and I wear some variation of the Gwyneth outfit very frequently in winter. I don't like the floral/silky corporate blouses (just personal preference), so I do a fitted turtleneck and wide leg pants. Sometimes throw on a fitted wool blazer like the pp suggested.

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?

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.

Op thank you for providing closure.

+1 there should be a law! i can't believe i will never know what that one person wore to her date's house on nye. which dress did that other woman pick to wear to the wedding? how can my brain handle so many unanswered questions. thank you, op, for not adding to the unsolved mysteries rattling around in my head.

but also: i think if you are a partner at a law firm yourself, you just wear whatever the heck you want to something like this. everything you've suggested is edgy but pretty - and you, i think, have earned the right to wear them. the outfit you picked sounds perfect, that said.

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.

Op thank you for providing closure.

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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the wife of a senior partner at a DC firm who's hosted these dinners, don't wear jeans or the combat boots (tbh, I don't want them traipsing all over my nice wood floors and area rugs).

Your satin skirt and sweater idea is fine - for me, I'd be nervous about spilling something on myself, but I'm kind of like clutzy like Keri Russell's character in The Diplomat.

Wouldn’t pumps be worse? Honest question. We also have nice floors and fancy rugs and I shudder when the pumps come in.

+1. Especially pumps with very narrow heels. I would take a guest with combat boots in my house any day over pumps!

But I agree they are not appropriate for this dinner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with something appropriate for a business casual office. Something simple in a dark color with maybe some kitten heel slingback - like this https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/chiara-boni-la-petite-robe-nastia-v-neck-belted-cocktail-dress-0400021571140.html?dwvar_0400021571140_color=BLUE+NOTTE

I second something like this. You are thinking too casually. This is like going to a jackets and tie restaurant.

No, it's not. It's dressy casual.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with something appropriate for a business casual office. Something simple in a dark color with maybe some kitten heel slingback - like this https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/chiara-boni-la-petite-robe-nastia-v-neck-belted-cocktail-dress-0400021571140.html?dwvar_0400021571140_color=BLUE+NOTTE

Oh wow girl, no. I would never. I’m only 40, I’m also a lawyer and I think that way too much for a more intimate home dinner.

Agree. Definitely not this. Not ever

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with something appropriate for a business casual office. Something simple in a dark color with maybe some kitten heel slingback - like this https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/chiara-boni-la-petite-robe-nastia-v-neck-belted-cocktail-dress-0400021571140.html?dwvar_0400021571140_color=BLUE+NOTTE

I second something like this. You are thinking too casually. This is like going to a jackets and tie restaurant.

OP has already said this doesn't work because she's too busty.

Anonymous wrote:I would go with something appropriate for a business casual office. Something simple in a dark color with maybe some kitten heel slingback - like this https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/chiara-boni-la-petite-robe-nastia-v-neck-belted-cocktail-dress-0400021571140.html?dwvar_0400021571140_color=BLUE+NOTTE

I second something like this. You are thinking too casually. This is like going to a jackets and tie restaurant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I think you should wear the two piece dress that you linked. It's beautiful and perfect for the occasion (if I wasn't in credit card debt I would buy one myself!). I would style it with boots similar to the ones on the model.

Okay, thank you. That’s where I’m leaning although I’m now having so much self doubt! It looks kind of weird with booties or pumps so I’m nervous re the shoes. Idk. It’s also supposed to snow on Saturday!

I think this is a moment where you decide if you're going to be you (the black outfit screams personality--laid back, cool vibe, sort of Lisa Bonet vibe) or you are going to be an asset to your spouse and blend in. It really depends on how ambitious your spouse is, and you are for him/her. If you're going to wear the black outfit, add simple black suede booties and call it a day.