<p>At least you have a romantic Valentine dinner with someone you like(love). Have a great time.</p>
<p>You know, your boyfriend can use black shoe polish on his shoes as long as they are leather. fwiw. </p>
<p>Don’t stress. Have fun. The most attractive thing in a woman, regardless of what she is wearing is confidence and being at ease and unselfconscious. :)</p>
<p>“Business casual” for a restaurant near a campus means they don’t want students showing up in tattered jeans and/or T-shirts, hence a dress code. Your apparel sounds fine- even the shoes. People sitting at tables aren’t going to see your feet during their dinners. Don’t obsess about the clothes and enjoy the meal.</p>
<p>Black jeans can definitely pass for black dress pants at night if they don’t have a lot of jeans like stitching on the pockets. You will look great. They don’t count as business casual for work but they are fine for a restaurant at night.</p>
<p>You might keep an eye out for a pair of black pants for future occasions like this or for school events where you want to look a bit dressed up. (You are likely to be able to find some that are fine for $16.99 at Marshalls or TJ Maxx.) I talked my D into bringing a pair of black pants to her dorm and I think she has worn them a couple of times - not often, but they don’t take up too much room. They “go” with almost everything.</p>
<p>Only old people wear khakis, yuck.
Wear whatever makes you feel good about yourselves.
Ignore the dress code, it is really sweet you even care.
In this economy, a restaurant will not serve you because of attire.
Have a great evening.</p>
<p>Twisted: is the restaurant in Ann Arbor? I lived there for years and years–if feel like PMing me with the name and location I’ll give you what advice I can.</p>
<p>We are looking at 2 things here, I think.
- what would one ideally have sitting in one’s closet for such an evening
- what, among the things already in the closets, will work.</p>
<p>I am going with #2, and I agree with midwest mom that you can inexpensively set yourself up for #1.</p>
<p>I think you are set. I think your BF is OK, too, given your ages. If the young man’s shoes are dark, so much the better.</p>
<p>I think that “business casual” is used here to say “no ripped jeans or shorts, not old T shirts or hats.”</p>
<p>I think in the winter, there is much more leeway with what’s allowed. I was in NYC a couple of days ago in a snowstorm and sturdy boots were definitely the order of the day on men and women. </p>
<p>I agree with the majority of the posters that say your original outfits are good but some shoes for the bf would be good if possible.</p>
<p>Seems like if you are old enough to go out on a Valentine’s dinner date, bf ought to buy some shoes other then tennies anyway. For job interviews, school interviews, dates, weddings, etc. He can hit the mall on Sunday afternoon… someplace like Penny’s, Kohls, Herbergers will have reasonably priced loafers or dress shoes. He might as well shop now, it will save him from repeatedly having this headache in the future. </p>
<p>I work with a lot of clients who use “business casual” to describe work attire. It pretty much always means no jeans and tennies, also nothing too sexy. Better to overdress a bit than underdress and be uncomfortable/get turned away. I don’t think it just means no ripped attire or old t-shirts or hats… It is a higher standard than that. The snow and salt should not ruin your pants if you take care of any spots immediately, and get them dry cleaned/wash them within a day or two. If they are so long they are dragging under your shoes, then they aren’t appropriate for job interviews anyway. And khakis are pretty much always acceptable under the “business casual” description.</p>
<p>For snowy places, women usually carry their shoes in a bag and leave the boots with their coats. Unless they are “fashion boots” - - then make sure you take a kleenex and wipe off any salt/snow when you come in so they are not damaged. Ideally men wear galoshes over their shoes (“rubbers” in old-fashioned parlance). Available at most shoe repair shops. Again, a good thing to own in the long term! Even if he can’t buy them right away, something he should have for the long term if you live in a snowy climate.</p>
<p>I’ll bet you could find black shoes for under $20 at WalMart, like these:
[Walmart.com:</a> Faded Glory - Men’s Canvas Slip-On Sneakers: Shoes](<a href=“http://www.walmart.com/ip/Faded-Glory-Men-s-Canvas-Slip-On-Sneakers/12544674]Walmart.com:”>http://www.walmart.com/ip/Faded-Glory-Men-s-Canvas-Slip-On-Sneakers/12544674)</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>Twisted, you are in Michigan, dear … business casual means no ball caps! And no one will care about the shoes.</p>
<p>For a restaurant, business casual is a suggested attire. You would not be denied access even if you were to wear blue jeans. The suggestion is simply a suggestion. Heck, we went to the Capitol Grille at Somerset Mall & a couple walked in wearing casual jeans … that surprised me, but no one blinked an eye.</p>
<p>Kelsmom, Michigan is not a backwater, in spite of whatever you may think… I lived there more than half my life, several years of that in Ann Arbor where I think possibly the OP is. YOU clearly blinked an eye at the couple in casual jeans, even if you didn’t show it externally. College students really need to acquire some basic pieces (shoes, slacks, etc.) for events like this. Better to figure it out before you don’t get the job, loan, date, good table, etc… some people never figure out that their appearance does matter in life. Of course there are more important things in life… but anyone who thinks it doesn’t affect their success in life is dreaming.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in Michigan ALL my life, so I certainly know about the state. I know for a fact that business casual includes polo shirts for guys at work around here … it’s not quite the same as NYC. I have dined in Ann Arbor many times. The OP is a college student, and she & her date may not have the resources to buy new clothing for a dinner. If that’s the case, there is no reason to rush out to do so (especially when the dinner itself may be a stretch for the young man to afford). It’s business casual suggested at a restaurant, for Pete’s sake. It’s not a job interview.</p>
<p>look your best…enjoy the evening. that’s my advice.</p>
<p>the fact that you appreciate the dress code and are doing your best to look your best is very thoughtful. </p>
<p>enjoy the night–</p>
<p>That is the key! Your outfit sounds very nice, and your date’s sounds fine. You will both feel as if you fit in nicely, I am sure. Relax, remember your manners (sorry, it’s the mom in me), and have a wonderful dinner! :)</p>
<p>Sure, this isn’t an interview… but it sounds like from what the OP said that her BF has been wearing his tennies to interviews, and maybe that has cost him something… Seems to me that it is a great opportunity to improve that situation. If not now, when?? Heck, she could buy him shoes for a Valentine’s gift 
</p>
<p>And who said no polo shirts for guys for business casual? I agree, they would be fine pretty much anywhere. Tennis shoes and jeans, nowhere. Not even Michigan…</p>
<p>As someone else mentioned, you might make a quick run to a thrift shop. My son had an unexpected need for some better clothes than he brought home at Christmas, and he did pretty well at a Goodwill.</p>
<p>But, how I remember being a very, very broke college undergraduate and never having the proper clothes for special invitations. It was always very stressful, but in retrospect, I am sure most people were as understanding of my situation as I am, now, of young people with limited funds and wardrobes.</p>
<p>Look neat, clean and confident, smile and be polite. Have fun.</p>
<p>Everyone is right here. The BF should invest in another pair of shoes for interviews and meetings. However, their clothing choices for dinner tonight will be fine - it always shows when someone makes effort to look good, and I’m sure this couple will look beautiful and happy when they arrive at the restaurant, even if their attire didn’t just come off the rack at Neiman Marcus. The restaurant management will not say anything to them - those days are long over, but I think the OP is partly concerned because SHE wants to feel appropriate and confident, which is wonderful. This attitude will ensure that she always looks her best as she enters adulthood.</p>
<p>I had dinner last night at a top restaurant in Boston, and I saw lots of jeans and flats. I don’t recall seeing any sneakers, but it was rather dark in there. The majority of people don’t like to dress for dinner, I guess. </p>
<p>I love to get dressed up, so I bemoan the fact that many people don’t, and it spoils the atmosphere of a fine restaurant. But I’d be happy to sit next to a couple who clearly put care into their appearance. It’s the just rolled out of bed and out to the restaurant look that is most objectionable.</p>
<p>If you don’t have black shoe polish for the shoes, a black Sharpie also works wonders!</p>
<p>Have a great evening.</p>
<p>Everything worked out great. The food was good and we loved the restaurant. I ended up wearing the black jeans and the sweater with tennis shoes (plus good jewelry and a dressy bag), boyfriend wore khakis and the sweater over a dress shirt. I was afraid we might be a little underdressed but it is extremely wet and cold outside and it was just too far to walk without destroying anything nice. As it turns out about a quarter of the people there were in blue jeans and tennis shoes, and I saw several people with dress pants or black jeans with tennis shoes. I think the people wearing blue jeans looked stupid. I feel like during the day you could maybe pull off blue jeans in that restaurant, but at night it was pushing it and most people were pretty dressed up. We were probably fine, it was dim enough that I bet nobody even knew I had black jeans on and our shoes were under the table. </p>
<p>SO, all in all, thanks for your help! I am going to make sure boyfriend gets a pair of shoes before our 2 year anniversary next month. Now I am off to the movie theater to demand the tickets that movietickets.com attempted to screw us out of. At least I am dressed like a lady. XD</p>
<p>How wonderful that you enjoyed yourselves!</p>