Women: Wear a shorter dress with some frill. When to wear it: company party, daily work attire, business lunch meetings. If you so desire, layer with a v-neck sweater, a blazer, or a sport coat. Men: Wear a button-down or a polo shirt, paired with khakis, or dress pants. A casual dress and flats are options as well. Women: Put on a skirt, khakis, or dress pants paired with long sleeve or three-quarter sleeve tops. When to wear it: cruise lines, the country club, friend’s home for dinner, nice restaurant. Accessorize with leather shoes and a belt. Men: Wear an open-necked or polo shirt, paired with khakis. You can also opt for dresses and skirts with minimal accessories. Women: Choose an open-necked or polo shirt. When to wear it: church, dinner, or an invite received via phone or e-mail. Avoid showing up with wrinkles or clothes one size too big, too small, or in a non-coordinating color. Men: Wear trousers and a dress shirt with a leather loafer, oxfords, or a slip-on shoe. Pair with a patent leather flat, or one with nice embellishments such as a bow, buckle, or a print. Instead, opt for silk pants, dress pants, or a skirt. Women: Avoid wearing denim, tennis shoes, and cotton tees. When to wear it: office parties, happy hours, business luncheons. Men: Opt for dressy trousers, paired with a collared shirt and loafers. Women: Wear a pencil skirt or dress pants, paired with a silk or button-down top and high heels. Hunt and Tannya Bernadette, a wardrobe stylist and 2009 Fashion Marketing graduate from The Art Institute of Seattle, decode what to wear for the following dress codes. If you are not comfortable placing a phone call, you can send an email. “If not, there is usually a contact person listed on the invite, including a contact number. “ Depending on how well you know the person who sent the invitation, you can place a call to them directly,” Hunt says. Laura Hunt, an image, fashion, and beauty consultant at Freeway Fashion, says you should always ask what to wear if you’re invited to an event with an unfamiliar dress code. With so many different dress codes out there, it can be difficult to know what to wear, even when the type of dress requested is stated on the invitation.

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