Dresses Formal/Casual

[iostream]

I'm not sure if this is the right board.

I was shopping for clothing for RLE today. I'm not planning on buying a dress for a few days but I tried a few that I liked and I ran into an issue: I can't tell the difference between a formal and casual dress. I tried a really smooth gold and black one and I almost bought it, but it just seemed a bit fancy for wearing around town or to school. I tried a red one with a pattern, it seemed more casual but I just couldn't tell where would be appropriate to wear it.

I'm assuming I'd get strange looks for wearing a fancy dress to school just like somebody wearing a suit and tie to school, so is there a way to tell if a dress is formal or casual? I couldn't tell by price since it was a second hand store and everything costs about the same price.

If it helps, both dresses were strapless.

[Danielle Emmalee]

You could post something like this in the Fashion board.  Now I'm not sure how much of a rule this is but generally formal dresses are one solid color and casual dresses often are multiple colors/have prints.  There are obvious exceptions to both parts of the rule but it might help.  I don't know.

[Lyric]

Well, if you can't distinguish formal wear from casual, you are a newbie, for sure. I'd say if you can't tell the difference, you don't need to wear either of them just yet. You could use a fair bit fashion education. The good news is you're on the Internet and the web is choke full of fashion websites. Google some things like "formal wear" and "casual look" and you'll find some. Here's a few to start you off: http://www.fashionising.com/, http://outfitidentifier.com/, http://www.fashiongrail.com/, http://www.instyle.com/instyle/, http://www.becomegorgeous.com/fashion/.

Formal wear usually incorporates more expensive fabrics and processes and has aspects that are not as practical as what you'd wear all day. For instance, 5" heels are not particularly practical for someone who stands at a cash register all day. There are also different subcategories. There's dressy formal, conservative formal, business formal, business casual, casual and, I'm sure others. You'll get a feel for it after looking around, though. Just don't do all your fashion watching at Wal-Mart. Those people seem to have a category of their own (and a website).

~ Lyric ~

[barbie]

Those people seem to have a category of their own (and a website).

~ Lyric ~

Lyric, you mean walmart-people.com?
Sometimes I enjoy that site with my little daughter.

barbie~~

[Danielle Emmalee]

Better site -> http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/photos/

[Lyric]

Alice got the link right. That "People of Wal-Mart" is well known for poking fun at the less than fashion minded shoppers there. I think it's a bit unfair, actually. These stores are often the only shopping option for people with low incomes who tend to be the less sophisticated folks in a community. Laughing at them can be bit snobbish, really, I suppose.

[barbie]

Lyric,

Surprisingly there are a lot of nice quality clothes and shoes in Wal-mart. I still wear some clothes that I purchased at Wal-mart about 10 years ago. I liked clothes for teens there.

Whenever I visit the U.S., I try hard to stop at a nearby Wal-mart store. The last time was a store in San Francisco. In October, I am going to Vancouver area of Canada, and not certain whether Wal-mart stores are also there.

barbie~~

[Lyric]

I've bought a few clothing items at Wal-Mart, but I do most of that sort of shopping online or at smaller discount chains such as Marshall's. It looks like you're in luck in Vancouver, though. Here's the address:

Walmart Supercenter
430 Se 192Nd Ave
Vancouver, WA 98683

[barbie]

I've bought a few clothing items at Wal-Mart, but I do most of that sort of shopping online or at smaller discount chains such as Marshall's. It looks like you're in luck in Vancouver, though. Here's the address:

Walmart Supercenter
430 Se 192Nd Ave
Vancouver, WA 98683

Lyric,

Thanks! I guessed that Wal-mart and Payless Shoes have stores in Canada.
I may stop at the following one:

6801 N Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N8

It is located about 10 miles from the hotel. And near it, there is
Payless ShoeSource #5885
6631 N Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC V9T 4T7

I may need to rent a car.

barbie~~