Thoughtful choices · 2 min read
Make an invitation’s dress code your own
An invitation sets a tone; your jewellery choice can still feel like you. Three short questions make getting ready easier.
Read what the invitation actually says
An evening invitation can conjure a more elaborate outfit in your mind than the occasion calls for. Read the clothing note again before getting ready. Follow a specific dress requirement where there is one; avoid turning a vague phrase into a strict rule of your own.
Begin with: “What is explicitly being asked of me?” A small dinner at home and an event requesting formal dress may call for different preparation. If the note is unclear, asking the host gives you a clearer starting point than guessing from photographs.
Keep one detail that feels familiar
The second question is: “What would I like to keep of myself in this outfit?” If you do not enjoy wearing necklaces in everyday life, an invitation need not make a necklace compulsory. Favourite earrings with a blouse and trousers that suit the dress request can feel reassuringly familiar.
Suppose you have chosen an olive blouse and dark trousers. Try your small hoops, then a pair of more sculptural earrings. Before deciding which looks dressier, notice which feels like you while you talk and smile. Include any specific jewellery request in the invitation in your decision.
Finish with one sentence
The third question is: “How would I describe my choice in one sentence?” “I dressed for the occasion and kept the earrings I feel at home in” can be enough. That sentence helps you hear your own decision rather than trying to resemble somebody else’s event photograph.
For your next invitation, write three lines: the clothing requested, the personal detail you want to keep and the jewellery you chose. Try the outfit once. If you want a change, change just the jewellery; you do not have to restart the entire process.
