URGENT help with what to wear for formal dinner!
 

I've been invited to a formal dinner tonight as a pre-recruitment event and I have NO idea what to wear. Am I safe with nice, dark jeans, a cute cardigan and ballet flats? Or is that too casual?

Help ASAP would be fantastic! Thanks everyone!

jeans =/= formal

Why would you contemplate wearing jeans to what you describe as a FORMAL dinner???

Do you own a dress? Dress pants and top?

If you join a sorority and have formal events, you won't be able to wear jeans. You can't go wrong with a cute dress, or nice pants/skirt and a nice top/cardigan. You want to impress these girls, you don't want to look like you just came from class. It's always better to OVERdress than to underdress.

Yes, you do need help.

Do NOT wear jeans! Definitely a dress or nice pants with a blouse or sweater.

Sigh. I feel old. In my day, formal, in terms of a social event, meant black tie (at the least) and an evening gown.

I think college age is certainly an appropriate time to learn the value of the LBD (little black dress)

What they said!

Sororities have what is known as, "pin attire" or "dressing to pin", in other words, clothes that are suitable for wearing with your pin. (actually, as I type this, I am wearing my pin at work--dressed in a black business suit, pink scoop neck shell, black dress boots). At the event you describe, I suspect a lot of women will be wearing their pins, which means they will be in dresses, slacks or skirts w/ nice sweaters. If it is a formal dinner, I would wear a skirt/slacks and nice top or the LBD, little black dress someone suggested above. Not cocktail wear, but church/business meeting wear. Jeans are not always your friend.

Have a great time!

Am I the only one who thinks formal dinner as PRE-recruitment is a little odd, and that her terminology might be flawed? I mean, formal dinners are usually something that happens at pref, not before they've even gotten started meeting sisters.

Is this group NPC, NPHC, or other?

Agree with what everyone else has said. I would also lean toward something conservative/professional rather than a "going out" outfit, if that helps guide you. Have fun!

Old South Terminology = Sunday Dress....

That was my thinking too...I have a feeling that A) like 33 said, her terminology is flawed, or B) the sorority uses "formal dinner" a bit losely. Or maybe a combination of the both.

I know that when we have to wear "badge attire" to chapter, we call it "formal chapter". Obviously, we don't have to wear evening gown or anything like that, but I guess we just use that term so that we can get the point across that you better not show up in jeans or sweats!!

For my Chapter the term "formal dinner" means a structured sit down dinner with family style passing of platters/bowls as opposed to come-and-go buffet style.

we had formal dinners twice a week at my house, and those were usually the meals most people invited guests to, because everyone was dressed nicely(business/church attire) and we had the best/fanciest food. our other dinners, we still dressed nicely, just a little more casually. meals were served at the table;i.e. sit down, and food passed (to the right, please).on fridays our dinner was served buffet style and we could wear jeans.

please wear a dress(not too short), skirt/blouse(not too short) or dress pants/dressy blouse and heels. please do not wear jeans, shorts, sweats or an outfit/dress/skirt you would wear to go out to a club. remember, you are dressing to impress women, not men. think conservative.

Also, and I'm sorry for the cliche, but never underestimate the power of a strand of pearls. You can borrow them, they can be a nice faux set if need be.

Have fun!

Black belt shopper here: Jeans are not formal wear except in Hollywood. If you are talking black tie formal a black dress in a better fabric (NOT a knit) is appropriate and can be changed up to go to more than one event. For a wrap a pashmina or a fancy sweater is good. PLEASE remember that a daytime black leather bag is not your best choice as an accessory.

If this is a "formal" event like business meeting a cute dress in a more casual fabric is good. (I call this country club casual). A clutch purse as opposed to a satchel is better. You can also wear nice (wool) slacks and a fancy sweater in some places, but in general a dress is preferable.

I would love to go shopping with you. :D

^^^ ditto!

Ladies, we can shop together anytime!!! For whatever perceived faults my children and husband may find in me (fools that they may be), I do shop extraordinarily well. :)

If it was "formal dinner" at my school, that would mean pin attire, because we do formal dinner before chapter meeting. LBD and pearls would be waaaaay over dressed. Dress pants and a nice sweater would be appropriate.

Perhaps this chapter is having a formal dinner in the true sense of the word formal, and the LBD would be appropriate.

In either case, nice jeans are probably not appropriate.

Since the OP hasn't let on any other information about what "formal dinner" means to the chapter in question, she is better off PMing someone from her campus. If she goes where I think she goes, there are plenty of posters from that school. Otherwise, I don't see a problem with asking the person who sent the invitation.