Semi-Formal?
Great feedback on the Spender vs. Saver post yesterday. I could write a whole post in reply to it and I plan on it! So look for that in upcoming weeks.
Yesterday I went shopping for a dress or “semi-formal” outfit to wear to Eric’s Christmas party in December.
First, what does semi-formal mean anyways? I posed that question to Twitter yesterday and Mandy sent me a link to this article, which said:
Semi-Formal or After Five means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.
So I’m thinking a nice little dress, right? Except I don’t really have any dresses. So I went shopping (but didn’t buy anything, yet). Here are a few things I tried on:
Now, I should note that I’d really like to find a dress that’s NOT black since I already own two black dresses and I think it would be really fun to get a coloured dress. With that being said, let’s move onto a few of the things I tried on yesterday (I apologize for the crappy Blackberry photos):
This dress is from Ricki’s. It’s relatively pricey ($89) and I’m not sure I like the halter.
I thought that I could pair this sparkly top with dark jeans and heels, but apparently that’s not “semi-formal”. Or is it??
I really love this dress from Winners. Only problem is it’s one size too big and they didn’t have a size smaller. It doesn’t look wayy to big, though and is very reasonably priced. I think the detailing is really pretty.
This dress I borrowed from my friend and she said I could keep it over Christmas. It’s a size six. A SIZE SIX! I don’t think I’ve ever worn a size six in my life. I quite like that.
Here is a strapless dress I also borrowed from her. Now this particular dress is too small, but I’m wondering if I should be on the hunt for a strapless style for myself?
So help me bleaders (hehe, sorry, reading Julie & Julia right now). First, tell me WHAT semi-formal is? And then tell me what style of dress/colour I should go with!?
Thanks, loves! XO
The greyish dress your friend lent you is divine. You look fabulous.
I LOOVE the last one on you!!
and semiformal? Im so lost on the terms these days. here I get invited to “texas formal” events sometimes—-what on earth is that?!
I think strapless is so overdone these days you should go for something different. My first choice is the third dress (from Winners) with the detailing. It looks green in the picture too, which I love because it’s not black. You can probably have it taken it for not too much money. My second choice would be the grey one from your friend. Let us know what you choose!
I like the greyish one on your as well – you look hot, lady! It looks like it might be a halter from the front – which I think is such a flattering cut on people. I also like the first halter dress, too.
Tough decisions! No matter what you go with, you’ll look awesome.
And to me, semi-formal means a dress of some sort. That’s fun that you guys have a fun Christmas party to go to! I don’t have any this year!! Or any year, really. With the economy being crap, no companies have had Christmas parties lately!
the 2nd to last dress looks great on you. I’d wear that one!
i like the greyish dress. (2nd to last dress). that just looks phenomenal on you! we’re trying to host our own new year’s eve party, so i’m totally trying to find a fun party dress!
I love the strapless dress on you!!
Those dresses are all semi-formal – dressy, but not evening gown dressy!
I love the greyish one or the halter! Even if you wear black you could pair it with red nails and accessories or something like that
I’ve never been to a proper Christmas party! This year our work is doing an afternoon lunch at a restaurant, which will still be nice – but I wanna dress up goddamit
Not the dress from winners–it doesn’t fit. I didn’t like the strapless one, either. However, the first one you borrowed from your friend (I believe that’s the size SIX) looks AWESOME!! I also liked the first one from Rickis.
Just my $0.02.
H =)
I love the first borrowed dress from your friend. I think the neckline is super flattering on you and the dress just fits you so well. I think you look really great in the halter style dress as well. It’s just a look that seems to work really well for you!
Finding cute dresses is always so hard! I can never find anything in the store I like but I see tons of dresses on people that I love! haha
I like the first one you borrowed from you friend
I like the dress form Winners! Where I’m going today!
I love the first one from your friend, I think the cut is the most flattering- the halter is nice but something about the neck line is a little vampy. The one from your friend still *ahem* shows your assets (lol) but it’s a bit more refined. With a little sweater or even just a nice necklace I think you’ll rock that party!
I like the first one you borrowed from your friend! It could easily be paired with a dark red or green pashmina or other type of wrap. Or a great necklace, and red nails as someone else suggested. Deciphering holiday dress codes is entirely way too complicated.
I cannot find any good dresses out there to wear to my Christmas party! They all feel either too dressy or too flimsy and scandalous! I fit into a size six now too and I feel like they changed the sizing because I have been an 8 for years and I havent lost any weight!
semiformal means dress. no pants for you! and yes, strapless looks great on you. embrace it.
I think semi formal is definitely all the dresses you tried on, but not the jeans- though I love that top.
I actually like the first dress, I like halter
I say go with the friend’s dress that you can keep over Christmas, you look so absolutely gorgeous in it!!!
If you want some other choices too, check out Zellers. I got a dress from their Pure Alfred Sung collection and it’s beautiful!!! It may be a bit more on the formal side but you could pull it off for sure
The size six one. Knockout.
I love the blue/gray one it looks great on you!
I’d go with the first dress you borrowed from your friend. It is smokin’ hot and super flattering! And, has anyone mentioned that it is a SIZE SIX? Haha
Stay away from jeans.
IMO a semi-formal Christmas party means a cute cocktail dress… so I don’t think the dark jeans would cut it.
As for your dresses, the grey one is gorgeous! But the strapless is cute too – like you said, if you could find one you liked more.
Love the size six gray dress.
I also think that the sparkly top with some black pants, killer heels & accessories would be perfect for the occasion!
I like strapless dresses BUT I hate that it’s hard to find a shawl/jacket to wear with them in the winter so I’d probably rule that out. And you don’t want to have to worry about pulling the dress up all night, either!
You should go with the borrowed size 6……you look awesome!!!! Plus you can buy a little shrug or something and accessories to go with it or hawt new shoes!! LOL
I went dress hunting last Friday and no luck…..i might go with a black pencil skirt and a nice top.
Your right jeans is not semi-formal lol
I like the gray size six that you borrowed from your friend as well as the black dress from Winners.
And really, having a cocktail dress is a must in every closet so it might be worth buying it! You also said it was relatively inexpensive so just buy it and get it altered. I do that OFTEN with clothes (because really, my body is very rarely the model body the clothes were made for) and it makes everything look stellar. I think women should get far more clothes altered than they do.
Have fun! I LOVE going to Christmas parties! YAY!
Definitely, no question, the first dress you borrowed from your friend. You look amazing! I really love the detailing in the front! It really adds something extra to the dress. And, because you’re borrowing the dress, you don’t have to shell out $89! Sweet! Which, you could always use as an excuse to buy a new pair of shoes or a new handbag or earrings to go with the dress! ha. I’m a bad influence!
Oh, and I agree with the definition of semi-formal. You don’t have to wear a tux or a ball gown but you should wear something dressy — a dress and cute shoes for girls and slacks/button down shirt/maybe blazer/maybe tie for guys. I suppose a girl could wear a nice pantsuit instead of a dress if she’s so inclined!
the size six bluish/grey dress rocks. Go for it!
I like the first dress. You can’t go wrong with a black cocktail dress that shows cleavage. Oh, and that grey dress is divine!
In keeping with your saver attitude I think you should opt for that gray dress of your friends because it looks smoking hot on you! So flattering! You can totally jazz it up with accessories too!
I LOVE the grey-ish one from your friend!!!
I think it’s a GREAT mix of classy and sexy! Which I believe is what you need for semi-formal!
I LOVE the sparkly top too just for more casual parties (not the semi-formal) where did you find it???
I have so much to say!
Okay, first of all.. I also get a little confused on what semi-formal really is. Since it is Eric’s christmas party and I just happen to know FSJ and how things are… I would say that you would be safe with any of the options you’ve shown here on the blog. Not that I want to assume people are less fancy dancy up there, i just don’t imagine that everyone at Eric’s work has something super fancy to wear… and it would be a little more casual, but still formal. They’ve gotta say it’s semi formal, or else i’m sure some of the guys would just be comfortable wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe? Ok, am trying hard to not say this in a demeaning way about Eric or where he works or who he works with, but I think you understand!? Haha. I just keep digging myself a hole… dig dig dig…
And I think that you should wear the size 6!!!!!!! (I am soooo proud of you!!!! That is great!!!!!!! All your hard work is paying off, I must admit i’m quite jealous because all Dyllon and I have been eating is garbage food! Sigh) The size 6 dress isn’t black (which is what you wanted… mind you… it’s not yours and I know you wanted to buy something not black if possible. I just think it has scrunching in all the right places, the neckline is nice, and it is extremely flattering. You will have to let me know what you decide! I am excited for you
I don’t really like any of them. My favorite of the all of the ones you’ve pictured is the green one from Winners, I like the style and the color, but the fit isn’t the best.
I think you should keep looking!!
Semi Formal is a nice knee length party dress. Eric should wear dress pants and a suit jacket, but not necessarily a tie.
You look beautiful, I’m very proud of you.
I love them all!!! I like the ones you borrowed from your friend but they all look fabulous! Semi-formal means short party dress and dress pants/button up for dudes. thats how i’ve always done it… and its worked great!!! keep us posted on your choice!
6!!!!!!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOO
WOWZA!! Your a hottie!!!!
I like the One your borrowed from your friend but I REALLY like the strapless one!! SUPER cute on you!!
DONT get the one from winners, it doesnt fit. Its cheap (i know you like that) but it doesnt fit!!
Love you
xoxo
Like the majority of the commenters above me, I say go with the borrowed grey one! I love the cut!
Hmmm…. after much thought… I’ve decided that you should wear the dress you borrowed from your friend because it looks fan-freaking-tastic on you (and you will be so incredibly giddy and glowing as you wear it because you know you are wearing a size 6 and you will feel so fantastic about that )… and then you can use the money you would have spent on a dress to purchase a pair of fabulous shoes
Vote for the grey
I love the gray one on you! It is really flattering.
I say you have the right idea with a short dress. I too, always want a “color’ dress and always end up with another sort of black one! I like the first one you tried on and the first one you borrowed from your friend.
HOT HOT HOT..
If it was me, I’d probably go with the first black one.
I think you look HOT in the first one!
I didn’t read everyone else’s comments… but WEAR THE GREY DRESS!! It’s hot and looks great on you.
Jeans are NEVER semi-formal, no matter what.
I think that you look great in the greyish-blue dress that your friend lent you. The dress from Winner’s would be nice too, but then I would probably suggest that you take it to a tailor to have it taken in just a bit.
oooh So many comments!
I’m going to say that Jess’s purple-y one looks fab! It’s similar to the black one from Ricki’s but it’s a color!
do ittt
I think you look great in the halters. Those two are my favorites. Definitely go for something fitted at the waist because it makes you look awesome.
I love the one that you borrowed from your friend, it looks very good on you …HOT; HOT..!!