Man (me ) needs some clothing advice

[MindPilot]

I've been invited to a work-related function where the dress is "Business cocktail attire". What does that mean? Suit? Tie w/o jacket? Jacket w/o tie? Tux? Underwear? Clean underwear? Can I do that LA-cool thing with the t-shirt and jacket? The function is one of those your-company-is-doing-a-fabulous-job-being-a-good-corporate-citizen things on a Saturday evening after six.

Seriously we're getting recognized for our financial support of a women's & children's shelter and I will be one of four people representing a major multinational corporation to the community and media so I don't want to screw up by dressing inappropriately.

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. 'Business cocktail'?

I think they've gone too far in their arbitrary descriptions. :eyes:

Goddamn, I wish somebody would explain this shit.

Wear a suit, or at least jacket and tie.

[NMDemDist2]

10. they threw in "Business" so the girls wouldn't look like they were

headed out to the club

here's a "Business Cocktail Dress"




here's a "not so Business" cocktail dress

[Ariana Celeste]

2. Not that I'm experienced, but, better to be

over-dressed than under-dressed, right? If you find that you are a little over-dressed, you can take the jacket or tie off.

[MindPilot]

5. That's kind of what I was thinking

In front of cameras and elected officials, you can't really go wrong with a dark suit, white shirt and--dare I say it--a "conservative" tie.

I'm always a little uncomfortable in these situations because most of the time at work I wear jeans and t-shirt.

[NMDemDist2]

3. it means a dark suit and tie for you and a nice knee length dress for her

when they add "business" to it, it means they don't want the girls to be to "tarted" up

http://fashion.about.com/cs/glossary/a/partydefinition.htm

Cocktail Attire means short, elegant dresses for her and dark suits for him.

[MindPilot]

12. Thanks for the link -- very informative. n/t

[flvegan]

4. Suit and tie is appropriate dress.

Whatever one step down from a tux would be for you.

[LeftyMom]

6. Black dress, nude pantyhose, pumps with about an inch and a half of heel

:evilgrin:

No really, just wear a suit. Shoot dirty looks at whoever had to make the invitation complicated.

[Loonman]

7. Banana hammock, smoking jacket, cowboy boots

With Groucho Marx glasses, except with the dicknose instead of the regular one.

[MindPilot]

9. OK, now yer talkin'

but should the thong have fringes or sequins?

[Ramsey]

8. Wear a suit

Wear a nice business suit with a good tie. Wear an interesting tie and a matching pocket square as opposed to the usual blue or red office tie, to dress it up a bit. Make sure your socks are matching and wear decent shoes.

[MindPilot]

11. Shoes?! I gotta wear shoes?

This is San Diego fer chrissakes! I work in IT; not sure if I have any matching socks.

[BigMcLargehuge]

13. This sounds like a job for... INTERNATIONAL MALE!!!!!!!

Colonel Sanders Nouveaux (AKA would you like Jo Jo Potatoes with that?)



The Hawley Griffith (if you are standing in front of sheetrock you look like a disembodied head)



The Liza (AKA I stole this from mom's closet).



The Eraser

[SoCalDem]

14. Dark suit (not brown)..white shirt..(french cuffs are a nice touch)

black shoes..

for the lady:

basic black dress (or navy)..nothing terribly low-cut..(think classy-not sexy).. strappy heel shoe..not mega-heels:)



Classy-not extreme is the watch word.