[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Hello Brethren,

I am attending an event billed as a "Valentine's Ball" at the British Deputy High Commission where a meal will be served. I imagine it will be a buffet verses a plated dinner. The venue is their community bar/pub/activity center so it certainly won't be the peak of formality. I am a bit stuck because the suggested dress on the invitation is "Dress to Impress". I am a bit perplexed as to how a "Ball" can be anything but formal?

My evening wardrobe covers the spectrum from white tie to black business suit with all the regular stops in between, yet in diplomatic circles this is the first time I have seen "Dress to Impress" on an invitation.

I contacted the host and the response was "Interpret as you see fit, but no jeans please." WTH?

A search of the internet leads me to understand that "Dress to Impress" is "sub black tie", with a broad personal license to be a bit, God forbid, "blingy" or "fashiony". From images, this is one of the few categories of dress where it appears easier for women to pull it off successfully than men. For the record, I am not "blingy" or "fashiony"....at all...with non argyle patterned socks being about as fashion forward as I can tolerate.

I am thinking of keeping it simple with a basic "Becks" DB look. White spread collar, conservative tie, linen pocket square, khaki or cream linen trousers, and a capt toe half brogue in black. I will forgo the body art however.

Thoughts or comments on "Dress to Impress" appreciated. I find it unnerving, but I am a traditionalist to the core.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Further clarification. Some of the female attendees have been pushing for more guidance from our hosts.

"Guests can be as formal as they like. Our female officers will be wearing dresses, our male officers are wearing shirts with either tie or bow tie."

"I will be wearing a 3/4 length pencil dress, some of the other girls are wearing knee length dresses."

So, change of plan and I will go with the white dinner jacket, shawl collar.

It appears that the vague nature of "Dress to Impress" was not my concern alone.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[eagle2250]

^^I have no idea what constitutes "Dressed to Impress," but that is a great choice!
A very distinguished look, for sure. :beer:

 

[Bridgers]

The only time I've heard the phrase "Dress to Impress" used for an event was for bars having special events for the 20-something set. Generally a push to get people to wear the nicest thing they have that still looks cool and attractive. So vaguely somewhere between what you'd wear to the club and the interview room. Which is still painfully vague. :beers:

 

[Charles Dana]

Some of the female attendees have been pushing for more guidance from our hosts.

"Guests can be as formal as they like. I will be wearing a 3/4 length pencil dress, some of the other girls are wearing knee length dresses."

Well there you have it. Stop fretting. You'll look cute in either type.

So, change of plan and I will go with the white dinner jacket, shawl collar.

Seriously, that's a wise choice. The instruction to "dress to impress" gives you license (ok, licence) to go all-out. To me, at a ball, that means at least black tie. (Caveat: I do not have extensive experience with British Deputy High Commission balls. Translation: I've never been to one. I shook a sheriff deputy's hand in Spindale, North Carolina once. He was dressed to impress in a khaki uniform and badge. The gun was the icing on the cake. I was wearing a light blue OCBD with a grimy collar. We were outside a diner. There was a sign reading "Elvis Eats Here!" I was dubious.)

 

[EDC390]

You're sure to impress

 

[fishertw]

Well there you have it. Stop fretting. You'll look cute in either type.

Seriously, that's a wise choice. The instruction to "dress to impress" gives you license (ok, licence) to go all-out. To me, at a ball, that means at least black tie. (Caveat: I do not have extensive experience with British Deputy High Commission balls. Translation: I've never been to one. I shook a sheriff deputy's hand in Spindale, North Carolina once. He was dressed to impress in a khaki uniform and badge. The gun was the icing on the cake. I was wearing a light blue OCBD with a grimy collar. We were outside a diner. There was a sign reading "Elvis Eats Here!" I was dubious.)

 

[derum]

As it is a "Valentines Ball", the dress to impress refers to peacocking it up to be attractive to the opposite sex. The Bogart/Bond/Ferry aesthetic of white DJ and bow tie should do nicely.
In the immortal words of the Texan bards: "Every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man"

 

[Oldsarge]

Oh, I do hope so. That's about the only sort of attraction left to me.

 

[Oldsarge]

Further clarification. Some of the female attendees have been pushing for more guidance from our hosts.

"Guests can be as formal as they like. Our female officers will be wearing dresses, our male officers are wearing shirts with either tie or bow tie."

"I will be wearing a 3/4 length pencil dress, some of the other girls are wearing knee length dresses."

So, change of plan and I will go with the white dinner jacket, shawl collar.

It appears that the vague nature of "Dress to Impress" was not my concern alone.

Cheers,

BSR

View attachment 28790

I would say you are mustachioed to impress. Well done, that man.

 

[Andy]

A suit! And I'll have what he's having!

 

[Kyle76]

A suit! And I'll have what he's having!

Quite the generous pour to boot!

 

[JBierly]

To me "Dress to Impress" is wear whatever you think you look best in. Whatever suit, tie, PS, etc... If it's DB then so be it. I know what I would wear out of my wardrobe. A bespoke piece with a DB vest. I impress myself every time I put the thing on! Black tie would be a close second.

 

[Flanderian]

Further clarification. Some of the female attendees have been pushing for more guidance from our hosts.

"Guests can be as formal as they like. Our female officers will be wearing dresses, our male officers are wearing shirts with either tie or bow tie."

"I will be wearing a 3/4 length pencil dress, some of the other girls are wearing knee length dresses."

So, change of plan and I will go with the white dinner jacket, shawl collar.

It appears that the vague nature of "Dress to Impress" was not my concern alone.

Cheers,

BSR

View attachment 28790

Nice try!

But wouldn't you rather something like this!? irate:

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Nice try!

But wouldn't you rather something like this!? irate:

This photo confirms my fear that "impressions" in dress, as in life, can be both good and bad.

Thanks for the assist fellows. I will report as to how "Dress to Impress" is interpreted by the other guests. Sadly, no photos will be allowed at the event.

I am going with the basic kit while shawl, black tie, tuxedo trousers and patent shoes. I have the mustache back in fighting form after giving it a significant trim a few months ago.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[SG_67]

Nice try!

But wouldn't you rather something like this!? irate:

Save that outfit for the embassy dinner in the Czech Republic.

 

[zzdocxx]

:lol: