# advice on attire **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 3, 2008, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294 "2008-10-03T10:46:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/1 "2008-10-03T10:46:04Z")
I just received an invitation to attend a function where the dress is recommended to be “casually elegant”. For the guy (me), what can I wear? Sport coat? Sport coat and tie? Suit and tie? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/2 "2008-10-03T11:45:33Z")
> [@rbroome](#): > > I just received an invitation to attend a function where the dress is recommended to be “casually elegant”. Thanks Suit and tie! 🙂 Not a monkey suit! i.e. formal as for a groom or groom’s man. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/3 "2008-10-03T13:46:03Z")
That IMHO is a stupid invitation:rolleyes:, and doesn’t mean anything parsable. You have to read into it what the event is, and who’s inviting you, neither of which you mentioned. If I got an invitation like that with no further information, I would wear nice slacks with a sport coat with a nice shirt (either one that buttons down the front, or something like a wool polo) but no tie. I would also consider skipping the jacket, but you can never go wrong with a jacket.🆒 Traditionally the standard is casual, black tie, or formal. These were originated in the days when “formal” meant white tie & tails for evening, so the bar was higher than today. Now “casual” can mean it’s OK to have holes in your jeans;), and some people use “formal” to mean tie & jacket for men. Years ago when the casual Friday practice was about to edge into the rest of the week, corporate functions started taking to using “business casual,”😕 which flummoxed me at first, until I figured out that they mean basically (for men) is slacks (no jeans) and a shirt, button-front but maybe could get away with a polo. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/4 "2008-10-03T15:13:50Z")
Moving to IMHO from GQ (not the magazine, which perhaps might be a source of advice to the OP);). Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/5 "2008-10-03T16:33:03Z")
First off, I’d smack whoever used such an oxymoronic phrase. Second, I’d want to consider whether I would want to attend a function where the host has such a poor grasp of the English language. Third, I’d call the host and ask him what s/he’s wearing and adjust my attire accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/6 "2008-10-03T16:45:45Z")
I’d go with a suit. A man in a sharp-looking suit…rowr! I bet most of the dudes there will err on the casual side–you can be the elegant alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/7 "2008-10-03T16:50:57Z")
Personally, if I were a guy I’d wear a jacket to that. Of course, if I were a guy I’d go beat up whoever wrote that crap. I once got invited to a party that was “luau formal”. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/8 "2008-10-03T16:53:07Z")
That’s when you wear an Aloha, Sir shirt. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/9 "2008-10-03T17:30:13Z")
Union suit, cumberbund, Red Lobster bib. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/10 "2008-10-03T17:45:42Z")
That makes no sense to me, I would either ask them, or wear what you would normally wear to that type of event. I have a hunch that phrase is directed more at the ladies (ie, it’s semiformal but pls find a stylish outfit and do your hair and makeup). for guys I assume they’d be happy to clarify if it’s suit, sport coat, or slacks. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/11 "2008-10-03T18:41:09Z")
Hey - I’m a girl and if I got that “dressing instruction” I’d be flummoxed too. I guess go with suit and tie. That way if you see other people before you go in and you are too dressed up you can ditch the tie and coat and casual it down a notch. Seriously - casually elegant? Are you going to a party given by the writers for the J. Peterman catalogue? Quite frankly I’m tempted to ask for your friend’s phone number so I can call and ask what they were smoking to make themselves think they would look sophisticated by using a term that only serves to cause confusion in their guests… ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/12 "2008-10-03T18:47:52Z")
Tails with cutoff shorts. Dumb fucks. Maybe you can check out the hall this event is being held at and see if there’s a standard there. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/13 "2008-10-03T20:45:52Z")
“Casually elegant”? I guess I would wear my denim tux! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/14 "2008-10-03T20:52:14Z")
> [@ShelliBean](#): > > Seriously - casually elegant? Are you going to a party given by the writers for the J. Peterman catalogue? If so, keep your eyes on the girl with the face like a frying pan. I hear she really brings the house down when she starts to dance. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/15 "2008-10-03T21:15:50Z")
I honestly can’t remember ever seeing this dress code before, so I actually Googled it. As it turns out, GQ has the Best. Answer. Ever. as far as stupid dress codes go. > [@](#): > > Q: I’ve recently been invited to a summer wedding where the attire is “picnic chic.” What the hell does that mean, exactly? And what ever happened to “formal” or “casual”? Seems like every invite I get these days has some kooky creative description for what I’m supposed to wear. > > A: You could put some of those party toothpicks with the cellophane ends through your pierced ears. Invitations that say “dress festive” or “creative black tie” or “casually elegant” are signs of social despair. I’d rather go to a toga party. Second the motion you call your host and ask them what they’ve got in mind. I’m thinking they meant “casual dress, but not jeans casual… more like, chinos casual”, but then went all wanker on you. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/16 "2008-10-03T21:28:30Z")
Shorts, tshirt and a top hat. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/17 "2008-10-03T21:29:31Z")
If I were you I would wear a pair of slacks and a cashmere sweater. You can never go wrong with cashmere. (Well, unless it’s 30 degrees out.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/18 "2008-10-03T21:33:06Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Union suit, cumberbund, Red Lobster bib. That’s hot. Now I feel all fluttery inside. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/19 "2008-10-03T21:42:51Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > That’s hot. Now I feel all fluttery inside. You oughtta see my take on “sophisticated provocative.” Rrrowwr. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294/20 "2008-10-03T22:04:32Z")
Nice shirt with Spider-Man [cuff links](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018MRS3G/ref=nosim/?tag=nextag-apparel-tier2-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B0018MRS3G&linkCode=asn). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-attire/466294.md?page=2)