Dissecting the Dress Code

THE CODE: PARTY CHIC - an absolutely ambiguous combination of two absolutely vague words describing how one should dress. And then, most of the time, you decide to do whatever you like and well, end up overdressing or underdressing, both of which are equally embarrassing.

We know full well the ambivalence with which you treat dress codes. We've been to parties before, and our pride has been bruised once or twice before because of unfortunate cases of sartorial emergency. So, our point is: it pays to understand what a dress code really means. You'll be spared all the unpleasant and definitely unnecessary stares, as well as all that suspicious giggling behind your back.

That's why after deciding on a dress code for the party, we decided to explain further what we mean by the code. The word chic itself originated in the land of the stylish and the sophisticated - yes, France. And, its definition, according to Merriam-Webster, includes:

1 : smart elegance and sophistication especially of dress or manner

2 : a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology, or pursuit

You can see that party chic is all about being fashionable, about having a classy style for the party. And wearing flip-flops, torn jeans, and singlets is simply NOT any of those. So, if you don't want to be caught by the fashion police, you'd better avoid wearing any of those contraband items. Xp

Here are some tips then on how you can go about preparing yourself for the party:

1. Start looking at your wardrobe and see how you can mix and match what you have for EQUINOX! (PRECAUTION: You may have to clean the wardrobe up and re-organise it first before you can see anything at all in it. xp)
2. Get creative and think of how you can dress according to the theme of fall & spring. Choose what suits your personality best - fall, spring, transitional, or both?
3. Hop on the next bus and go down directly to Orchard Road, VivoCity, Suntec, anywhere to check out what other additional items you may need to beautify yourself. (PRECAUTION: You should have saved quite some money first before you can take this step. Driving yourself to poverty due to EQUINOX is in no way advisable.)

Just an extra tip: Doing a dress rehearsal one or two days before the event itself may actually be quite useful. You can see whether your combination works or not, and if it doesn't, you still have time to take corrective measures. Certainly, for such a party where you'll see and be seen, you wouldn't want to draw attention for all the wrong reasons... =)