How to...navigate a dress code

…navigate a dress code

There seems to be nothing more confusing than a dress code.

I don’t understand what it is; each one has a clear definition of what it entails. Yet at every occasion I go to that has a dress code, there seems to be somebody that clearly didn’t read the invite.

I have been to a semi-formal wedding where people have worn skate shoes and sundresses and a cocktail wedding where jeans were spotted. Going on these occurrences, I bet that tomorrow’s smart-casual wedding has someone in a top hat and tails.

It should be a simple task, yet clearly it still boggles some minds.

The best piece of advice I have, if you are unsure about what a dress code means, is to Google it and see what you find. Generally, you will have an answer in less than ten seconds.

If you do not trust the answer you get, my advice is to head to the Vogue forums where there are countless threads dedicated to what exactly each dress code requires.

The third, and most logical piece of advice is to ask the person organising the event. After all, they are the ones that set the code and are the only ones that know what exactly they are wanting from their guests.

This is also the safest, as sometimes, the person hosting the event doesn’t know the correct meaning of the dress code they set and therefore will be expecting something completely different.

Dress codes may by confusing but at the end of the day, it helps make an event perfect for the hosts, so if your unsure of what you need to do, pull your finger out and do some research.

If you can’t be bothered researching, take my Uncle Rob’s advice and be slightly overdressed. If you’re a man, you can always take off a tie or a jacket.