Over the weekend, I attended my first official social engagement since the pandemic began. Not only was it an event — a rarity in itself these days — but one that requested “formal attire.” What does that mean in this post-COVID world where many days wearing shoes feels like dressing up?
The organizers joked that more people had asked about what to wear than any other detail about the event! And the answer was: however you defined it. There were women there in dresses that could have been worn to a garden party or to the Met Gala. Some had full-length sequin gowns while others wore flats with a career dress. One man came in “Zoom formal,” meaning a sport coat and tie — with shorts and sneakers. Other men donned tuxes and even tails.
Whether it be for a gala, an interview, a presentation, or a first date stressing over the proverbial “what to wear?” question is a waste of energy. The bottom line is that for most occasions, it’s not how you look, rather how you feel about your outfit selection. What’s in your head is far more relevant than what’s on your body. If you’ve got inner confidence, the outer threads are insignificant.
