Attire Decoded: When to Wear Your LBD

Photo: Linsley Lindekens Photo: CharityHappenings.org Photo: CharityHappenings.org Photo: CharityHappenings.org

The age-old dress code enigma should need little decoding. If the party is black tie (required), it will usually be stated on the invitation; creative black tie and black tie optional is a more fun way to request cocktail attire. If it’s within an hour or two after work hours think business casual, flirty dresses and a little more personal ‘oomph’.

Now that the basic guidelines have been provided; I have to speak out. Here at charityhappenings.org, we sift through event photographs to feature in the newsletter, issue after issue, and I have just one thing to say. Ladies: black tie doesn’t mean black dress. In a recent study led by psychology professor Andrew Elliot of the University of Rochester , men were shown versions of photographs of women identical in all aspects, with the exception that the researchers digitally modified the shirt or dress to red. When the outfit was in a shade of red or there was a red border surrounding the photo, men deemed the subject to be more desirable and altogether superior. There is something primal and inherent that red stirs within them, even in pictures – and remember, we worry so much about the dress code because there is almost always photographic evidence beyond those who see you that night.

If you are worried an entire ensemble of red is just a drop too much for you, pick a similar but muted shade. Accessorize with red – bangles or baubles – or add some red to your makeup; a lip stain if you’re not bold enough to tote Chanel’s CoCo Red. Let's be honest, it doesn’t even have to be red, if we make red the new black the photos won’t get any more interesting. Diversify. Find out what color makes you feel like that sassy siren you are, and embrace it.

I’m often asked what my secret is. How do I walk into a room and own it? The answer is simple: confidence and individuality. That uniqueness is hard to carry off when you’re rocking the same color as the ten girls around you. Leave black to the men for their classic James Bond-esque tuxes, and take some advice: pop. Wear a color that stands out; and not just because its ‘in,’ but because it's something that really makes you stand out like Tinsley Mortimer did in our last issue.

Let's face it. We've all had those days where we stare at an invitation, and then stare at our wardrobes. In a season where you spend as much time attending events, fundraisers and networking as you do at your day job, you should be able to stand in front of your open closet, surrounded by sumptuous, albeit black, fabrics, and skip the safe choice. Forego the black and slip into something that makes you conjure up a memory or makes you feel like you are not your every day self. Instead there is a little something different: it’s the “I have a secret look” that the savviest of girls can invoke at a moment’s notice.

Tara Lyn Gordon

Fashion & Trends Editor