The ultimate dining dress code

Dionna Young, Lifestyle Writer

It's not all about the food and the social, getting the dress code right is essential to making a good impression and to guarantee a great eating-out experience.

• The hen night

After tonight, your girl-friend will be a bachelorette no more and she is allowed to let her hair down and expects you to join in for the ride. You want to look super cute and super hot, but you also want to wear something that you can run around in and feel comfortable.

DC: Bin the sinful heels and bring the bling

You want to wear those six-inch heels but do you think you'll be standing by the end of the night after cocktails? Opt for some bling that will put comfort and style toe to toe. Your feet will thank you at the end of the night.

DC: Treat your hands and feet

Get a mani and a pedi, you'll feel spoilt and your fingers will look fabulous wrapped around a champagne flute.

DC: Wear something you can dance in

This brings me back to the first part of this section, ditch those sky-scraping heels and wear something you can dance the night away in. You have the moves, now show them off!

DC: Don't wear white on the night:

Cake: tick. Wine and cocktails: tick. Let's put it this way, it's a night that could get messy, so even though white can be intensely glamorous, you're better off wearing colours that won't reveal stains.

• The first date

Dress Code (DC): Wear something that speaks you

Nothing is worse then sitting tensely in a tight miniskirt if what you normally wear is a pair of comfy jeans. You'll be conscious of your skirt, which will leave you tugging at it all evening. Not the ideal look.

DC: Less is more seductive

Choose one - legs or cleavage, never both - and be cautious about a plunging décolletage for restraint is a part of great style.

DC: Wear an eye-catching accessory

Use your favourite accessory as a centrepiece and show off your dress sense. It will instantly amp up your outfit and if it catches your date's eyes, it will give you both something to talk about.

Recommendations

Wear black, white, and red and for materials wear lace or silk for that chic look.

• The high school reunion

Yes, you've blossomed over
the years and Mother Nature has really been kind to you and you want to
show that off when you meet your ex-classmates at a sparkly, fine
restaurant. But don't overdo it at your school reunion. You want to look
effortlessly chic, not mutton dressed up as
lamb.

DC: Remember that LBD is your
friend

The (slightly) little black dress is
slimming, hides the sweat patches and easy to number up with any
accessories and shoes.

DC:
Wear a smile

It's like your first day at
high school all over again and not knowing what to expect. Enter with a
smile, and you'll feel instantly confident and others will be drawn to
you.

DC: Put away the
BlackBerry

Oh, come on you are not 20
anymore, be social. Put away your BB shield and get out there and start
having conversations.

• Meeting the
  future in-laws

It's one of those dreaded moments -
meeting your prospective in-laws; regardless of whether it's for brunch,
lunch or dinner and whether you are meeting them for the first time,
impressing your in-laws is a desired
goal.

DC: No
jeans

It doesn't matter how relaxed and
unconventional your partner tells you his mother is, do not turn up in a
pair of jeans (and no, it doesn't matter if it's a fitted designer
pair), just don't!

DC: Go
polished in a cute cocktail dress

Make sure
it's not too fitted, the straps are not loose and just skims above the
knees (You may have nice legs but I don't think your potential
mother-in-law will appreciate seeing
them.)

DC: Do
sheer

If dresses aren't your thing, look for
a sheer silk fabric bonsoir blouse and team with
either a pair of white or black trousers and heels. This look says
you're a classy yet sexy girl.

• The
  not-so-formal job interview

This can get slightly
confusing. Yes, it's a job interview held in a restaurant, but just
because your potential boss wants the setting to be slightly less
daunting, doesn't mean you ought to be
complacent.

DC: No office
casual attire

Ditch the idea of 'office
casual' until you get the job. If you dress like you're going for
cocktails, you'll look unprofessional and no future boss wants a future
rebel.

DC: Modesty and
bag

Neckline should be an inch above your
cleavage; hemline a hand's width above your knee, no shorter. And do
carry an A4 folder-size bag or bigger (not a travel bag) that shows
you're a future employee that's
work-serious.