<p>D’s freshman class is having a semi-formal. They were told it is themed black and white and “think homecoming”? I haven’t got a clue what that means and she asked me to pick up something for her to wear (I’m visiting next weekend).
So what am I looking for? Could it also be a dressy outfit with slacks and jacket?
Thanks. BTW this is a socially low-key liberal lefty college in the Northeast ( not a Southern bigtime football college).</p>
<p>Well, according to online resources…Semi-Formal Attire
Every so often, you’ll find yourself being asked to wear semi formal attire to such events as weddings and award ceremonies, and every person should have at least one item in their closet that fits the description of Semi-Formal.
This form of attire gets the most attention, but often because of its universal use. Many associate other forms of dress such as cocktail attire, with semi-formal. However, Semi-formal attire is much more formal than cocktail attire.</p>
<p>Suitable Articles of Clothing:
Women:
Dresses (one inch above the knee to two inches above the ankle)
Pants Suits (ankle length)
Dress Suits (hem knee length to floor length</p>
<p>All that being said, for me, I’d love a very dressy black and white matte satin or crepe pants suit. Something that moved when I did, not stiff. Maybe the jacket would tie to the side. And maybe longer than a “normal” suit jacket.</p>
<p>But I’d be freaking out if I had to buy something for someone else to wear.</p>
<p>Last minute edit: something like this may be appropriate? <a href=“http://www.chadwicks.com/Product.aspx?PfId=99831&DeptId=8212&ProductTypeId=1&PurchaseType=0[/url]”>http://www.chadwicks.com/Product.aspx?PfId=99831&DeptId=8212&ProductTypeId=1&PurchaseType=0</a></p>
<p>This blazer with black (or white) trousers and some awesome heels: <a href=“http://www.smartbargains.com/go.sb?pagename=prod&fcloc=cat&deptid=9&catid=103&prodid=1058352832&t=cat.dept-9.cat-103.prod.11[/url]”>http://www.smartbargains.com/go.sb?pagename=prod&fcloc=cat&deptid=9&catid=103&prodid=1058352832&t=cat.dept-9.cat-103.prod.11</a></p>
<p>just a Mom, Thanks for the link .</p>
<p>My D is the extreme opposite of a “clothes horse” doesn’t care at all about what she wears as long as 1) it feels comfortable 2) other people think she looks OK for the occasion 3) it’s not overly feminine and fussy</p>
<p>pyewacket, I dropped in another link with a cute (Cute!) jacket (black & white).</p>
<p>Would look amazing with some trousers and some heels:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.smartbargains.com/go.sb?pagename=prod&fcloc=cat&deptid=9&catid=103&prodid=1058352832&t=cat.dept-9.cat-103.prod.11[/url]”>http://www.smartbargains.com/go.sb?pagename=prod&fcloc=cat&deptid=9&catid=103&prodid=1058352832&t=cat.dept-9.cat-103.prod.11</a></p>
<p>I’ve seen photos of the girls in semi-formal wear at DS’s low-key liberal lefty college in the Northeast. Think something in the little black dress catagory. </p>
<p>J. Crew has a whole department devoted to it:
<a href=“http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/category.jhtml?id=cat160412[/url]”>http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/category.jhtml?id=cat160412</a></p>
<p>You can have her look online and ship to her dorm.</p>
<p><a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2929151/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?origin=featureditemrows_styleThumbs&pbo=2378483[/url]”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2929151/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?origin=featureditemrows_styleThumbs&pbo=2378483</a></p>
<p>And not a bad price!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dillards.com/endeca/EndecaStartServlet?view=20&No=0&N=1601734+4294967282[/url]”>http://www.dillards.com/endeca/EndecaStartServlet?view=20&No=0&N=1601734+4294967282</a></p>
<p>Here’s black party dresses from Dillards–some are kinda weird I think–but then I’m not a college student;).</p>
<p>mkm56 some of those Dillard’s dresses are great.</p>
<p>If you have a Macy’s nearby–go to the BCBG section. They always have a sale rack. I was in today and there was a rack of dresses that were 70% off.</p>
<p>Most were around $65 to $90 on sale–and would work well for a semi formal.
They had some with spagetti staps and some wrap dresses with sleeves, if your daughter is not comfortable with bare shoulders.</p>
<p>I second the BCBG suggestion…it’s a popular brand with this age group and even if your d doesn’t care about labels, the cut and line of the clothes are youthful, but still elegant.</p>
<p>(And their sales rock!! Picked up a $250 sundress for under $90 recently.)</p>
<p>IMO, it is so much easier for male students. My son has been to several semi-formals at college already. He throws on a pair of Dockers, or washable trousers, no wrinkle button down shirt, tie and thats it. In the winter he can put a dressy sweater on, but has not yet. He avoids going to the dry cleaners. He has a suit, and a blazer, but does not want to deal with dry cleaners so has not put either on all year.</p>
<p>According to my school, semi-formals equal no slacks for girls. It usually elicits prom dresses.</p>
<p>If you know she will probably not wear it again, try Forever21. We got 2 for a total of $54, but I doubt they would stand up to a washing or drycleaning. I hate the store, but love the prices for one time wear dresses. Also Nordstrom online, for much better dresses.</p>
<p>Little black dress is something all girls who are going to have dress occassions need first.</p>
<p>I have tried many times to wear a strapless gown to this type of thing, but my wife won’t let me.</p>
<p>Semi Formal would mean a nice dress, definitely not long, more like mid-thigh to just below the knee length. Kind of like between cocktail–some prom dresses, but the short ones. </p>
<p>If you’re willing to spend $$, check out BCBG Max Azria, GORGEOUS dresses I tell you.
There are definitely alternatives for every budget though
Nordstroms usually has a lot of nice dresses</p>
<p>some that I like:
<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2935778/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1[/url]”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2935778/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1</a>
<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2924233/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1[/url]”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2924233/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1</a>
<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2924404/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1[/url]”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2924404/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1</a>
<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2919134/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1[/url]”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2919134/0~2378467~2378483~2377032~6008190?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008190&P=1</a></p>
<p>I also lovelovelove anthopologie’s dresses, but they are also on the more $$ side.
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14565&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14565&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=12923&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=12923&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14039&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14039&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13226&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13226&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13247&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13247&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=15090&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=15090&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13354&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13354&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13492&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13492&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13492&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13492&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=317&iMainCat=314</a>
[mind you, that was the sale section]</p>
<p>Short dress that shows shoulders. That is the norm for these things.</p>
<p>Thanks to you all for your very helpful advice. I have now found a dress at anthropologie that I think would suit her–she wouldn’t go for bare shoulders-- what do you think of this (with a long strand of faux pearls):
<a href=“http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE[/url]”>http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE</a>
item #630131 thistle dress ???</p>
<p>D is about 5’ 4" and has a slender young-girl figure and looks younger than her age.</p>
<p>(I see it’s one of your alamode!) Wow–all you guys are great --no problem too big or too smal for the CC parents.</p>
<p>Everygirl that goes to college should have some basic black items that can be dressed up or down…and no matter the girls personal style they can find pieces to suit them:</p>
<p>simple black dress
black skirt
black pants- from gap kind to dressier trousers
black sweater
black blazer
some basic black and white shirts- from tanks to dressier
black bra (a necessaity with black attire)
a pair of black dressy shoes (heals are of course the best, but flats are good as well)</p>
<p>with those pieces, you are ready for almost any event-from funeral, to job interview, to dissertation, to date, to dinner at a profs house</p>
<p>add accessories to fit personality and you are set</p>
<p>a black clutch
some scarves
a few necklaces
a larger bag
a leather (can be $11 from target) portfolio for papers, resumes</p>
<p>and if a girl says, well, I just don’t care so much about clothes and being girlie or whatever, these basics work for them and actually make life pretty easy</p>
<p>that is my mommy advice for the day</p>
<p>ps- you can add color with scarves, shawls, jewelry, sweaters, etc…</p>
<p>and some brown slacks are good for simpler occassions</p>
<p>oh yeah, a NICE pair of simple simple jeans, that have no obvious fading, are hemmed to the right length, no fraying, etc…saved for concerts, etc…one pair of decent jeans that you save for special stuff, not trudging in the snow, can last for years, if the cut is good, the style is classic and the fit is right</p>