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Decoding The Dress Code

A guide to help you know what to wear
when b'nai mitzvah invitations are unclear.

by Sara Smoler

Cammy Swartz, 14, of

Bloomfield Hill and

Sam Pierce, 13, of

West Bloomfield model

dressy b'nai mitzvah attire.

pening the invitation,
with its glossy card
clasped in your hands,
you begin to scan the invitation
carefully until, finally, you reach
the end. What does it say in the
tiny script letters on the bottom of
the invite but the inevitable dress
code. To your dismay, you read
it and start thinking to yourself,
"What does that mean? And what
am I supposed to wear?"
Today's b'nai mitzvah invita-
tions are becoming extremely
clever with their updated lingo
on dress codes. Once invitations
simply stated either "casual" or
"cocktail" attire; now many invita-
tions claim utterly confusing dress
codes. With such phrases as "uber
chic" and "denim and diamonds"
or the ever-so-clever oxymoron
"dressy casual," many guests are
left confused about what is proper
to wear to these events.
I am sure, at some point, every
teen has felt unsure about the prop-
er attire for an important event, es-
pecially a bar or bat mitzvah. This
"go-to" guide on what the newest
and most confusing dress codes
REALLY mean should help:
• Cocktail and black-tie at-
tire. For women, this equates to a
nice or dressier evening dress, and
no cotton or casual fabrics. Heels
are always in fashion for such
dressy events. Because it is a b'nai
mitzvah, always remember the
dress hemlines must be an appro-
priate length. In the ever-chang-
ing world of fashion, cocktail and
black-tie formal dress codes re-
main the same. Keeping it simple
with a nice dress will always be in

fashion.
For men and boys, this attire
calls for a suit and tie. When wear-
ing a sport coat, this year it is more
fashionable to wear colored dress
shirts.
• Casual attire. Do not be
fooled by the new lingo of today's
modern b'nai mitzvah invitations
— casual attire also can be dis-
guised as "denim and diamonds,"
"no jeans, no jackets" and "snappy
casual."
For girls and women, these
various designations bring various
wardrobe options. For events that
call for "denim and diamonds"
or "jeans and jewels," any pair of
jeans and non-T-shirt top is per-
fectly acceptable. For nighttime
parties, darker jeans may be more
appropriate paired with stiletto
heels or pumps.
Simple "casual attire" or "dressy
casual" has limitless options for
appropriate dress. Casual clothing
materials, like linen (depending on
the season), cashmere and cotton
can be worn easily to these events.
From a simple cotton skirt or dress
to a pair of dark jeans or leggings
and a casual top, anything goes.
For boys at any type of casual
b'ani mitzvah, wearing a button-
up shirt, darker jeans and "fash-
ionable" gym shoes, such as Nike,
is perfectly acceptable and stylish.
• Themed attire. People are
getting more creative with their
themes and with the attire they
require. Clever ways to disguise
"Seventies-themed" attire is to call
it "Saturday Night Fever" or "disco
attire." "Pajama parties" are being
Dress Code on page TT4

teen2teen October 15 • 2009

TT1