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My low expectations weren’t low enough
By Meg | May 3, 2008
I recently attended an awards ceremony at the community college here. The invite said that “cocktail attire” was suggested, so I dressed accordingly in my little black dress, eggplant heels, and sparkly clutch. Despite the wording of the invite, I was fully prepared to be the only one there dressed up.
Fortunately, I wasn’t, but most people were dressed as I expected, in t-shirts and jeans. O.k., I’ll give them that. It’s a community college, it’s a weekday evening, people are coming from classes, it’s a super casual city — I get it. Personally, I don’t think it would have killed anyone to wear a blouse and nice pair of slacks (or *gasp!* a skirt), but eh, sometimes I’m just beyond caring.
But just when I thought that I had set my expectations low enough to be accurate, out comes a girl on stage with a top so short or jeans so low-rise that several inches of midriff were exposed.
What the heck?!
How does someone — presumedly an adult — think that is appropriate attire for class, let alone an academic awards ceremony where the invitation even says to dress up?
Tags: Impressions, Modesty, School, Style
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May 3rd, 2008 at 7:01 am
How does someone — presumedly an adult — think that is appropriate attire for class, let alone an academic awards ceremony where the invitation even says to dress up?
That’s easy - this is someone who comes from a family that never dresses up for anything. Not Christmas dinner, not going to church, not going to funerals, not going out to eat. Never gets dressed up for anything. At all.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 am
I hate going to that sort of thing because I never know what to wear. Then again, I never leave my midriff out anyway (unless I’m being sexy at home) so I wouldn’t ever do that. But yeah…cocktail says a little fancier to me.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Um.. cocktail attire DEFINITELY does NOT mean jeans and a shirt.
I would’ve worn what you wore too… and midriff baring is NOT allowed at ANY event..
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Wow, that is really, really sad. I was actually commenting to a friend that people in NYC tend to overdress, which I think is great because I love pulling out the dresses, nice slacks and so on whenever possible. I hope you felt fabulous in your outfit.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Man, midriff-baring is not acceptable. But perhaps that’s her very warped idea of dressing up. Eeek.
Perhaps I’ll move to NYC just so I won’t be the only one to dress up.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Glad to know that I’m not the only one who thinks that was just wrong — though sometimes I have to scratch my head and wonder.
Toby, I think you may have the answer there to at least part of the puzzle. Some people just never do dress up, so they never think to dress up.
Mrs. Micah, I always try to dress the nicest that anyone would expect, and maybe a little nicer, then walk with an air of confidence that doesn’t reveal that even I worry that I’ll be the only one dressed up — despite the fact that I love dressing up and to a point, actually want to stand out.
Fabulously Broke, can I take you with me next time I have to dress up?
Anastasia, that’s it. I’m moving to NYC. At the very least, I’m going to have to make a point to visit more often.
Tarah, may that’s the other piece to the puzzle! I have known some people to think that dressy = sexy = trashy. It wouldn’t be the first time.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Jeans and t-shirts are to be expecte at the local community college(not encouraged, but expected =P). Bare midriffs are to be tolerated or ignored (sad, but true . . . ). What I find to be shocking is that someone running the event, or a special guest, would wear anything short of “smart casual”, or preferably the afore mentioned “cocktail attire”! I share your shock and disappointment with the direction people are taking. The youth (and young adults) dress up better (well . . . more expensively) for the club than for formal occasions. Sigh.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Hi Miss Conception! Yes, it is a sad state of affairs — though I would be scared to see half the club wear I’ve seen around here worn on campus. Then again, sometimes I feel like I have.