In the modern age, fashion is more than just clothing. It’s a way to express yourself and your values. But it’s also important for practical reasons: knowing what to wear can help you fit in at an event or even get recognized as an expert in your field. This guide will walk through all these considerations so you can feel confident that you’re dressed appropriately for any situation!
Consider the culture
First and foremost, know your culture. This may seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: make sure you are wearing something that is reflective of the culture where you live. If you’re not sure what this means, ask someone who is part of the community (like a friend or coworker) what they think might be appropriate to wear at an event like this one.
If they still aren’t sure, ask again! You’ll get better answers than we could ever give here on this website about how to dress for an event in order for you to fit in with those around you. Learn what is smart casual dress code, what is black-tie formal, and more. As per the experts at LinkedIn, “Business attire is clothing most appropriate only in the workplace or a professional setting, while smart casual attire refers to clothing that fits the workplace and other environments.”
Look at the venue
The next step is to look at the venue itself. This involves looking at where you will be going, what type of event is being held there (i.e., wedding, charity fundraiser), and then reading up on the place to get further information about it.
If you are attending an event at a restaurant or bar, consider seeing if there’s a website that could provide some insight into what people wear when they visit there. You can also check out their social media accounts and see how people are dressed there as well.
Observe the people
It can be difficult to know what to wear to events if you’re not sure what other people are going to wear. You could ask someone, but they may have different preferences than you do. One way that helps is by observing what other people are wearing at the event venue and then seeing if their outfits match up with the dress code suggested by the company hosting it. If they don’t match up well enough (like if someone’s wearing a suit when everyone else is wearing print button-downs), then there’s probably some flexibility in terms of what you should wear too.
Consider the weather
Even if you’ve been invited to an event on a Saturday afternoon, it’s important to check the forecast and make sure there isn’t a chance of rain or snow. If it looks like there might be a storm in the area, consider bringing an umbrella along with you in case you need to duck into an indoor space for shelter.
Keep your coat handy. This applies for both hot and cold weather—if it’s going to be cold outside, keep your coat handy so that when things get chilly during an outdoor event (or even just over time), you’ll have something warm to slip on.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing what to wear for an event. The best way to make sure that you look great is to think about the people who will be there and what they’re likely wearing.
