The article provides tips for dressing appropriately for dinner parties, which are a mix of dress-up and casual social events. The hostess/host announced a theme party, so it’s best to find something that matches the theme. If there is no theme, go for something fashionable but not too trendy. In warm climates, wear slouchy silky pants or tops, while in colder regions, silk and/or cashmere knit tops and heavier fabrics for the bottom are appropriate. When you are an immigrant, wearing a traditional garment from your former homeland is educative, an ice-breaker, and always appropriate when dinning with friends or colleagues. Avoid anything too festive, especially, when the party is at a home, not at a restaurant. Read what to wear at a dinner party, what not to wear, and get inspired by the photos of dinner party outfit ideas.
- Don’t Sweat What to Wear at a Dinner Party
- Attention: Is There a Dress-Code Theme?
- Who Should Wear What at a Dinner Party?
- Dinner Party Outfit Ideas
- What Else Works at a Dinner Party?
- Dinner Party Dress Code Tips
- How to Accessorize for Dinning at Someone’s House?
- Which Shoes to Wear to a Dinner Party Invitation?
- Further Dinner Outfit Suggestions
- What Else to Think About When Going to a Dinner Party?
- Dress for Success: Dinner Party Does and Don’ts
- Dinning Invitation Courtesy
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Don’t Sweat What to Wear at a Dinner Party
Dinner Party Invitations – whether at your boss’, a friend’s or colleague’s house or in a restaurant – are those in between dress-up and casual social events that are hard to dress for. While how to dress for a BBQ or the dress code for a cocktail party are straight forward casual and dress-up, respectively, the dinning-party dress code seems to be neither fish nor meat to many of us. You will have to strike the balance to feel comfy, appropriately dressed for the event, respectful, look to your best, and to have a great time. Sounds like squaring the circle?
Attention: Is There a Dress-Code Theme
First make sure that the hostess/host has not planned a theme. If so, you are out of the salad! Just shop your closet for a sustainable costumes that matches the theme.
If there is no theme, you should go for something fashionable, but not too trendy. Trendy is for Girls’ Night Out.
Who Should Wear What at a Dinner Party
Dinner parties are a good opportunity to wear that shrunken blazer or embellished cardigan, or flowy dresses (e.g. panels 2, 5, 6). Unusual colors (panel 4), wild patterns (panels 2, 6) or cuts fit the bill (panel 5). In warm climate or summer, go for slouchy silky pants or tops. However, make sure to have only one slouchy item not look frumpy. In colder climate regions or winter, silk and/or cashmere knit tops and heavier fabrics like jersey or gabardine (panel 3) or even white denim (panel 1) are in order.
Stay away from linen because it may wrinkle when sitting at the table. If you are an immigrant, wearing an everyday item/outfit according to your heritage (panels 7, 8) like a lice jacket, kimono, janker, Baro’t Saya, cheongsam, dirndl or bunad, lederhosen, saree, mantilla, peineta, lodden boots, bombachas pants, baiana dress, or even a traditional Irish cable-knit sweater will be appreciated by nearly everyone. Such an outfit is an ice breaker, especially, when there are people you never met before. Panels 9 and 10 show examples of winter outfits.
Tip: Try a regional outfit when dinning with friends or colleagues.
When you get a dinner invitation in summer, make sure it’s not a grill party. Note that how to dress for a BBQ differs from what to wear at a sit-down event.
Dinner Party Outfit Ideas
What Else Works at a Dinner Party?
Tip: When you are an immigrant or alien, wear a heritage dress at a dinner party. It’s a great ice breaker.
Are you the more girly girl? What about a midi or longer chiffon dress with a motorcycle vest or jacket, or a long lace dress with a denim jacket (panel 5)? A fit-and-flare dress with (panel 3) or without cardigan (panel 9) is a great option in winter.
Dinner-Party Dress-Code Tips
Avoid anything too festive, especially, when the party is at a home, not at a restaurant. You do not want to out-dress your hostess who did all the work, and runs back and forth between the kitchen and the dinning table! Unless she has a maid who prepares and serves the dinner, she will not wear something too fancy due to the risk of spilling and ruining it.
Tip: When the meeting is at a restaurant, keep the (unwritten) dress-code of that place in mind when putting your outfit together.
In an Alaska roadhouse, for instance, anything chiffon would be out of place in winter.
How to Accessorize for Dinning at Someone’s House?
Dinner parties are your Card Blanche to accessorize with cocktail rings, chunky short necklaces, short layered necklaces, or an oversize scarf. But please only one of these pieces at a time! See for instance this guide how to up your style with scarves.
Avoid long pendant necklaces and scarves because they may drop into your plate when you reach for something. The best jewelry to wear to a dinner party are those that you can see when you are sitting at the table. My favorite are statement earrings that are best for the face shape.
Which Shoes to Wear at a Dinner Party?
The type of shoes should be picked with the vibe of your outfit in mind. Thus, nearly everything not too casual and not too fancy works. For instance, wedges, strappy or beaded sandals with no to a little heel, cut-out ballet flats, even booties are great if they fit to the other items of the outfit style- and color-wise.
Switch your bag. Leave your dress bag, work bag or backpack at home! Add a not too large clutch or other fancy bag matching the vibe your look.
In winter, bring a pair of luxury foldable ballet flats, slides, mules or inexpensive flat-outs so you won’t have to wear your tall boots or walk in your socks or tights inside the house. It’s just polite courtesy not to spill your host’s carpets with snow splash or wet footwear. Of course, bringing a pair of shoes requires a larger bag than a clutch. However, whether or not you have to bring shoes, your bag should clearly be outside the territory of black tie or work tote. See the bags shown below as examples. They meet the bill.
What Else to Think about When Going to a Dinner Party
Don’t wear wide leg or palazzo pants, when it is the first time you are invited by this host. You want to know that you will not have to take off your shoes! Pants cut for plateau shoes become a hazard without them!
That is also true for any pants and jeans cut for heels.
Tip: When the party takes place at a friend’s house in winter, make sure that your outerwear can take it that the host/ess throws every coat just onto their bed. Very Alaskan. In other words, you should be able to stick your gloves into the pockets of the coat, and the scarf and hat into its sleeves.
Dress for Success: Dinner Party Does and Don’ts
- Wear something related to the theme for a theme party. See this guide how to shop your closet for a costume.
- Don’t out-dress the hostess.
- Bring a thoughtful gift.
- In rainy or snowy weather, bring a pair of shoes to wear in the house to not spill the carpet.
- Keep the location in mind.
- Keep your relation to the hosts in mind. If it’s your boss don’t go wild with your look and accessorizing.
Dinning Invitation Courtesy
Well, two last things. What ever you wear, make sure it will not make you feel uncomfortable when you are “forced” to over-eat. Bring a little thoughtful gift for the hostess. Last, but not least, remember the end time that was given on the invitation. You don’t want to be the guest who is told it is time to go home.
Enjoy the food, compliments, and evening in style!
Photos: G. Kramm
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