Posts with tag formal

We totally understand the appeal of this dress, but we feel like we've seen it before ... perhaps on our Barbie when we were kids. But maybe that's exactly what Olga Kurylenko loved about it -- it's super feminine and very, very "Movie Star." A style like this takes glamor to a whole new level.

We realize it's supposed to be a joke, but deep inside our hearts, we believe these guys might be on to something real with The Fuxedo!

Stuckey and Murray don't mention the price, but how can you put a price on genius? There are many men in our acquaintance who would very much appreciate a graceful sewn-in cummerbund and bow tie. Most have spent their lives searching a graceful two-way zipper fly.

So much grace for one item of clothing! It's practically couture.

Oh, don't just take our word for it. You must see for yourself. Safe for work, unless you sit near someone with delicate fashion sensibilities. You know, the kind who get hives from sale racks. They just won't get it.

Formal events are often the events for which we want to look our very best. You might be seeing people you haven't seen for a while, or meeting new people you'd like to impress. Either way, you want to look absolutely amazing.

The thing is, formal gowns often show body parts we normally keep covered, like our backs, shoulders, and arms, and they sometimes cling to our stomachs and hips in ways that are unflattering -- not exactly what we're going for on a big night out, right?

Here are some tips for working with your figure when finding a dress for a formal event:

We love cruise lines! They're so fun and glamorous and totally over the top. And nobody does cruise/resort collections better than Badgley Mischka, kings of fabulous jaw dropping gowns.

Have you ever had a formal event to attend, and gotten yourself all gorgeous and dolled up only to look in the mirror and think, "Huh, that's not really me"? If you've got a bit of an edge to your style, it doesn't seem right to pack it all away for a night (unless you want to, of course).

If you're like most of us, chances are you don't spend a lot of time in fine dining establishments. They're expensive, they're stuffy, and the food has funny names. Nevertheless, you're being a good boyfriend this Valentines Day, and taking your special lady to the fanciest place in town.

Now what are you supposed to wear?

Before you choose an outfit, make sure you understand the dress code. If you're going someplace really nice, then it might be black-tie only (read: tuxedo). However, more than likely you've chosen someplace with a dress code that isn't quite so well defined. Here's how to approach this potentially thorny situation:

• Call ahead. Hopefully you'll get a straight answer, like: "slacks and a shirt, no tie or jacket required."
  

• If you get a coded answer, like: "casual elegance," "proper attire," or "dressy casual," resist the temptation to ask "what the hell does that mean?" All of these cryptic responses translate into: no shorts, no t-shirts or tank tops, and no open-toed shoes. Everything else is fair game.

• If you're still worried, don't hesitate to swing by the restaurant beforehand. Wait around outside for 10 minutes, and you'll get an idea of what other guests are wearing.

• When in doubt, overdress. A tie and jacket is perfectly acceptable at any place that considers itself fine dining. And in fact, if you live on the East Coast, this might be expected. (In most other parts of the country it's rare that these will be required.)
  

Now that you know what to wear, check out the gallery so you know you'll look good wearing it.

Most men I know have at least a dozen ties, and about that many dress shirts, just for good measure. You know, in case they end up having to dress up for some random formal function, or for a job that they might get, later, when they grow up. But let's be honest guys -- chances are you wear a tie so infrequently that you have no idea how to match one to a shirt.

And it's even worse when you're shopping. Then you're forced to pick out a cool shirt, plus a cool tie, and make sure they match -- on the spot, with no help, and potentially without access to decent mirrors. Fie!

Fortunately there's a solution. Express Fashion has created a Shirt and Tie Guide, that offers 13 different shirts to pick from, and an assortment of ties that go with each. No more guessing, no more freaking out at the last minute, and no more showing up to dinner with the boss wearing a bold striped shirt and some wacky paisley tie you got from your dad back in grade school.

Plus, let's not forget that ties are coming back into fashion, so you might get more use out of the Shirt and Tie Guide than you think.

Trying to decide what tie to buy? Here's what's hot:

[via Damn I Like That]