If you were told there's a fancy event tomorrow, would you have appropriate clothing in your closet or would you need to go "emergency shopping?"?

No, I have not had a reason to go to a fancy event in years, so I would have nothing to wear. I would have to run out and buy something.

This is something I appreciate New Year’s Eve for. New Year’s Eve us when we go out and buy new clothes but many of them go to the pulgatory of the closet (because they are too fancy). Time like that is a great occassion for the clothes to shine.

How fancy is “fancy”? I think the most my social circle has ever done is a garden party for a wedding. I can definitely field that.

I have a couple of options for cocktail attire, should anyone revive that (wonderful!) tradition.

Other than that… I’d have to pull something out of the woodwork.

I have a hand tailored suit I got last year that would be more than appropriate.

What the hell is “fancy clothing” or a “fancy event” for that matter?
Over here in england town fancy dress means we dress up like a superhero or a clown or some famous person.

And if you’re talking “fancy” as in the British tradition of the “fancy dress party”, I’ve SO got that covered.

Seriously people start having fancy dress parties because I love costume!

When I said “fancy” I was referring to an elegant affair, for example a wedding at a formal event space, or a holiday party, same thing, hotel ballroom or something similar. Maybe someone’s birthday dinner at an expensive restaurant, is another example, @ucme.

I have fancy clothing I could wear to a wedding, dinner at a nice restaurant, the theatre or a casino or the like. If I needed a long, formal dress – no. I’d need to go shopping. I never need to get that dressed up. Even though I have what you’re calling ‘fancy’ outfits, I might go shopping anyway.

Okay, so yeah, I own some snappy threads.

A fancy event tomorrow?
Count me out.
After a bit I recently dressed comfortably/appropriately for a friend’s evening yard party.

Country Mouse.

Ah, OK – I could surely field a trip to The Theatre, or a party at a rented hotel.

Black tie would involve either a shopping trip or a day or two at the sewing machine.

I can shine up adequately for a “formal” occasion, but I can ROCK a costume ball! I have more Steampunk accouterments (corsets, skirts, boots, wigs, hats, frequent flier miles for the airship, etc) than one person really needs.

I hate to show up for Steampunk events twice in the same outfit. How gauche.

I have a tux if that counts. I also have an interview/wedding/funeral suit.

Shopping trip! My wardrobe consists mainly of jeans, cigarette pants, tees, hoodies and a few hot tops.

I am so grateful to live in Hawaii. Aloha shirts are always appropriate.

Nothing says “man” more than a sharp tailored suit worn together with a pair of the wife’s Jimmy Choo’s…fabulous darling.

Yup.

When I graduated high school my aunt bought be a nice suit since every respectable man has one. We are talking tailored. Dude was all up in my junk.

I still have it and it stills fits 20 years later.

*waves a flipper at @johnpowell

I have enough clothes to supply all of fluther, no emergency shopping needed.

Hawaii_Jake: So very good to have you back.

I could make do with what I have on hand. And I’d bet some other guy(s) would be worse dressed than myself.

I’m moving to Hawaii

*swims to one side to make room for @dammitjanetfromvegas and offers a flipper to shake

There are fancy events all the time. I just don’t go to them. It’s not that I don’t have appropriate attire; I do. I just prefer intimate, informal and simple to large, formal and “fancy”.

I try to avoid all such occasions enthusiastically.
If my damnedest fails,
I can usually come up with something.
Or at least something to assure that I will not be asked back to do it again!

How formal? If a gown is needed than I would need to go out. If its an uppity wedding than I have an outfit or two. Nice dress that is just below the knees or fancy evening dress blouse with dress slacks and throw on a short bolero sweater or silk wrap. I have plenty of high heels to choose from.
Simple formal event. I can wear the dress or slacks or tone down the blouse with a nice silk blouse and sweater.

I have a beautiful black suit that can be confused with a tux.

It’s interesting how many women say they’ve got multiple choices, or will have, and the men say they have a suit. ( or a shirt )
Interestingly, things don’t change. The styles of clothes may, but not the approaches….

I have a fancy dress in my closet, but it doesn’t fit! I’d have to go dress shopping.

Actually, I have three outfits that don’t fit that are “fancy”. One could be used for a formal event. The other two are semi formal.

Emergency shopping it is. Followed by a complete failure to find anything I like that both fits properly and is affordable. Followed by weeping and sending my regrets.

I have a tux and a couple of suits that are current and fit perfectly. I was father of the groom twice this year so I was forced to get stuff from this century – even though the bespoke suits I had made in Thailand still fit and look great.
I wish I had a need for them. Is someone here getting married? I’d come.

waving the corner four leaf clover petal at @Hawaii_Jake

I would not go to such a do even if paid to. Anyway, yes I would have to go out and buy something at the last minute.

Up until I got married, I had one suit tucked away at my parents’ house. I couldn’t conceive of ever needing it for any event I did not need to come “home” for (weddings, funerals, etc).
Shortly after I got married, I had a job selling furniture, and the dress code was coat and tie required. I got my first tailored suit, and another jacket that coordinated well with any one of several pairs of slacks.

Now, most of those have gone the way of thrift-store donations. I still have a grey pinstripe double-breasted suit in my closet, but I don’t think I’ve worn it in over ten years!

I either would not go at all, or grab whatever I deem good enough from the pile.
If they turn me away, fine, I did my best.
I am not going to waste money to satiate some long dead praetorian’s phantasies about what has to be worn among the aristocracy.

What made me think of this question is that I am invited to an event tonight at a tony restaurant in NYC and was told on the invite that the dress is “chic/trendy.” Event is a birthday dinner for my rich cousin. I know a dress is optional for a night out in NYC, so I am going with pants and either a nice blouse or sweater, probably with either a great necklace or a silk scarf. It’s supposed to be chilly tonight.

I was shopping in the local department stores last night for the blouse or sweater, and a handbag. I was looking for a small crossbody handbag, but have my criteria. My criteria is not only that it has to be attractive to me, but can’t be a lot of money since I will only be using it probably very rarely. I could easily spend $150—$200 for a nice bag but will hardly use it, and don’t want to spend on something that’s going to sit in a container. Money is not really an object but I am a fairly practical person.

I decided to go with shoes that I have (probably what is called “ballet flats”) and scarf that I have a zillion of, jewelry I have a ton of. I would have continued shopping but I was running out of energy and decided I have tons of clothes in my closet.

Emily Post would have words with the person who put “chic/trendy” as the dress. Flesh coloured yoga pants worn as outerwear is trendy.

Haha true @Seek. I wish I could get away with that in this place.

Here’s where we’re going: http://www.themodernnyc.com/#the-modern

Wow! Good grief! The view must be beautiful also! (Order two desserts- one to toy with there… and one to savor at home, later! :)
Have fun!

Very nice! Put the extra desert in the freezer!

Ok, if I were going there, I’d go shopping/sewing. A Shindig in NYC deserves more effort than one in Tampa would. It’s a naturally more formal atmosphere.

There is nothing in the closet that would qualify as trendy enough to wear to a NYC fancy function. What can be rustled up is enough to get through the door, along with the invitation. I’m quite content with sitting in the back and chatting with the people at the same table.

I do have an outfit hanging in my closet perfect for NY chic, but as I said above, I can’t zip it up! Lol. Ten pounds overweight.

I do have one outfit that fits, that might be slightly underdressed, but would work, and it fits. I think I would wing it and wear it.

I’d skip it, now I see the venue. It looks very sterile. Can you wear a lab coat with flesh colored yoga pants?

Pretention makes me tired. I’d rather mix and mingle with people than wardrobes.

@ibstubro: At night, without the glaring sun, and with candles, art on the walls, flowers on the tables and lots of people, it looks very different than on that site. We had a private room. Service was great. Food was like art on the plate, I had beef which needed no knife. Lots of hors d’ouvre were passed before, lots of vino flowed and the dessert was birthday cake and a trio of desserts on a plate, plus more desserts passed. The room we were in overlooked sculpture garden, which was beautiful.

After that, we went to the rooftop bar at the top of the Strand Hotel. Only a few blocks from the Empire State Building. Wonderful view, cushy bar.

I get into NYC a few times a year, and when my family parties, it’s always a good time and incredible venues.

I can’t imagine not going to a party because of the venue they picked. Either I want to be present with those people or not.

I might understand not going because of the attire required, but that’s different. Even then, that would be rare as long as we can get buy without spending money. My husband has worn a black suit to black tie, there is almost always another man there doing the same thing. A simple black dress works for almost any event. When a costume is required, then that can be more tricky. I’m not just talking Halloween, I mean once my husband went to a Disney Ball type thing and you were supposed to dress like a Prince. He rented a typical day tux with tails and an ascot, but some people were to the hilt with what they wore. Probably, you still could get by with a suit in your closet, but there is more pressure with an unusual attire request.

@JLeslie: I agree about the venue. When I want to go to an event or support the guest of honor, the venue is not going to stop me.