You know the feeling when you had been invited to some kind of party, but don’t have a clue what to wear?  You rummage through your decades old closet, with tons of clothes in it, but still find nothing appropriate or just don’t know if you have anything that is appropriate.  If you go through these situations a lot, then read on so you will be much better prepared for that next special occasion.

The basics

For times that you have no idea how the attendees will dress, just keep your outfit simple.  Choose a statement piece of accessory and build around it.  Try to avoid clashing colors or textures.  Make sure everything fits nicely and that nothing pops out, like your bra strap.  If you are dressing simply, you can opt to wear bold makeup colors like red lipstick and really bright-colored eye shadow.  However, if your clothes are rather attention-seeking, then tone it down a bit with natural-looking makeup.

cocktail dresses

Dress for a wedding

Back in the day, you weren’t supposed to wear anything black for a wedding.  These days, what to wear to a wedding depends on the time of year or what themes the couples want to go for.   For Spring/Summer weddings, light-colored dresses made with flowy fabrics are usually acceptable.  For winter weddings, probably something more warm.  The best way to decide is to ask the host for advice.  To play it safe, bring a pretty scarf or a pair of dressy earrings which you can whip out just in case.

Dress for a job interview

Obviously, you should not wear anything casual if you are going for an interview with a large, traditional company.  Wearing a suit or anything business-like will be more appropriate, to show your interviewer than you are very interested in the position.  However, with companies that are in the creative or artistic field, it pays to be a little bit more out of the box, as it shows you have your own personal style and that you show your creativity through what you wear.

classic tailored three-piece

Dress for a funeral or wake

It is always safe to wear anything black when going to a wake, but you don’t really have to.  You can wear mostly anything, just as long as it’s respectful.  Clothes that have neutral or muted colors like grey, navy blue, brown or dark green may be your best bet.  Make sure your clothes are not too short and have a respectable neckline.  Patterns are also okay, but would have to be discreet and dark.  Keep your accessories simple like stud earrings or simple pearl jewelry.  Do not wear anything that’s too eye-catching, unless you are specifically told to.

Dress to impress

If you’ve been invited for a first date or meeting your in-laws, then you are pressured to wear something which will impress them.  On occasions like this, go with something that shows your personality, without being too risky.  To start with, choose clothes with colors that you know flatter you or an outfit that you had been complimented on a few times previously.  Avoid something that may be too tight, too short or with a very low neckline.