<p>symphony - it seems you are set with the little black dress. For outerwear - if you can get your hands on a pashmina, real or fake, especially in a hot pink, fuschia or purple (whichever fits your skin tone), you will be set. It will dress up the outfit, and not leave any questions as to jacket/coat. In terms of hose - to get away with none and look “classy” you must have phenomenal shoes. If not, wear sheer black with black shoes, nude with light colored shoes. Bring an extra pair in case you rip.
Your lined dark blue dress sounds like it can work as either a formal day or another evening wear. The sweater and skirt will probably work as business casual during day. Sounds like you can wear your boots with that.
Take your leather jacket in case it’s nippy, shoulder pads are coming back for next season, believe it or not!
What your goal is to blend in with the crowd, not stand out, so err on the side of caution. Don’t wear your long gown, its too dressy for anything that you described. Good luck to your son and have fun on the weekend.</p>
<p>Okay, question for the no hose people. I find bare feet in dress shoes uncomfortable. I need the slippery slidey to keep them from rubbing my feet wrong. And I buy nice shoes! How do you handle bare feet in dress shoes? I also think it makes a dressed up outfit look unfinished. Am I hopelessly old fashioned?</p>
<p>Here in the NE, while women might get away with bare legs in the summer in office or evening settings, they sure don’t go bare-legged in the winter! Hose, tights, leggings, opaque, sheer, or nude, it doesn’t matter, but certainly not bare.</p>
<p>I don’t care if I am old-fashioned, it’s far too cold for me to go without hose. And if Kate Middleton can wear sheer hose so can I. :)</p>
<p>I’m in the northeast, and I don’t go bare-legged very often in the winter. I end up wearing pants most of the time, or a dress and high heeled boots. For formal events, I’ll wear a long gown with strappy evening sandals and bare legs - my legs don’t really show, and hose are never okay with sandals or slingbacks. The OP will look the most tailored/contemporary in black hose or tights. For the OPs evening event, a very dressy formal look is certainly not required. She could definitely get away with dressy pants/top for an academic function. This type of event tends to bring together a variety of people, so you’ll see outfits that run the gamut. I guarantee there will be people there who have no idea what “after five” is or won’t care, and a few folks will be quite casual. It will also be an opportunity for others to display all of their bling. I think the OP will feel most comfortable in the middle of the road, fashion wise. </p>
<p>I would stash the leather jacket with the shoulder pads away. Even though shoulder pads may appear on the radar every few years, they are much smaller and not the exaggerated shoulder of 25 years ago. This look, especially in leather, will stand out, and not in a good way. Perhaps a fashionista could pull off a retro ensemble incorporating the leather coat, but most of us would look like we dragged out an old coat because we didn’t have anything else to wear.</p>
<p>I have similar reservations about the suede boots. Are we talking Uggs, or are we talking thin, refined suede with no visible stitching and a heel? If they are more at the Ugg end of the scale, do not wear them, even during the day.</p>
<p>LBD with black opaque hose/tights and black flats would be simple way to go. As mhmm said, a pop of color with a large pashmina or pashmina-like could complete the look with minimal fuss.</p>
<p>Wow ladies, I woke up to all these great tips! I knew I came to the right spot.</p>
<p>To answer a few questions: This will be in Dallas. This week they had warm weather but a friend there tells me it will be in the low 60s during the day and low 40s at night. </p>
<p>I’m inclined to wear hose because I do get cold easily.</p>
<p>What I settled on for the symphony is my dark blue lined dress, sparkly blue wrap, and some diamond looking earrings and necklace that my mom gave me. I will probably buy some opaque hose today. (We leave tomorrow am!)</p>
<p>For the “after five”, I will probably go with the black sweater, red skirt and black pumps. Not sure about hose or jewelry. I’ll need to buy a cami as the top is a little too low. (Could I wear a different colored cami or should I blend it and wear black?)</p>
<p>I guess I need to buy some “slacks” today for the “professional” or business casual. Can’t afford a suit (unless I find one at the Goodwill Boutique). What, exactly, are slacks? Sorry for the lame question but seriously, I own “pants” (two pairs of jeans and one pair of tan rather tight fitting Dockers from JC Penney) and two pairs of capris and that’s it.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll have time to borrow anything, though I do have one friend I might ask.</p>
<p>Shoes are the other thing I am not sure of. For walking around the campus, they say you can switch into something comfortable. This would be great as I do have arthritis (sad that I may be moving of dance-I’ve overdone it!) and too much walking is murder on my hips.</p>
<p>I’m ok with the heels if there’s not too much walking. I have a pair of low heeled, ankle black lace boots. Could those go with black slacks? What shirt goes with black slacks? I don’t like collared shirts on me. I see a cardigan is mentioned. What color would go with black slacks?</p>
<p>My boots are the newer style suade (not Uggs) that can unfold and even go over the knee. I usually tuck my jeans in them and wear them like that but haven’t worn them any other way.</p>
<p>Appreciate all the help! I am usually about a decade behind in fashion! I know this is for my son but hey, dh gets to hold down the fort with the other two children while I go and have fun. :-)</p>
<p>Someone is free to correct me if I wrong or if things have changed, but Dallas is usually pretty dressy (women “do” their hair and nails), pretty conservative and people wear more color than east coast. I would try to err on the side of classic and simple but standard west coast and cali attire might be underdressed for Dallas. For daytime a print blouse (maybe big floral sort of unstructured if you don’t like a collar) with a coordinating color cardigan or little jacket would go with the slacks and be simple and put together enough. You could go with whatever spring color looks the best with your skin and hair tone as a theme. I will try to find a photo of what I’m thinking and send a link.</p>
<p>If you have a JC Penney handy - their Worthington modern fit slacks are inexpensive and will do the job. D has a pair for band, but has worn them for other events. She has “Modern Angle Pocket” they are about $25 when on sale.</p>
<p>In answer to your question, slacks are pants that are not made out of denim (or khaki, usually). Thus they are slightly dressier.</p>
<p>If you are wearing a red skirt, then the cami should be black like the top and the sweater.</p>
<p>Not a fan of that style boots, myself. And I would vote in favor of comfortable walking shoes for touring the campus.</p>
<p>I think you need to invest in some basics that should be part of any adult woman’s wardrobe. You need a great little black dress with black pumps or kitten heels or slingbacks, that you add a great piece of jewelry too (a costume necklace or great earrings, but not both at once). You also seem to need a really great pair of black pants that can be dressed up or down with a silk blouse or a cardigan. I confess, I wear jeans 98% of the time as my office is casual-casual, but I don’t get how people don’t have a few dressy basics in their wardrobes - for weddings, funerals, nice dinners out, things of that nature.</p>
<p>Get yourself to a Nordstrom’s or similar store and walk around and familiarize yourself with what’s out there. No need to be 10 years behind in terms of fashion! Have fun!</p>
<p>pizzagirl, You’re starting to sound just like Stacy London! 
in a good way</p>
<p>Well, Clinton and I went to the same school, so there you have it :-)</p>
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<p>I’d go with black hose and black cami. It’s dressier, for one thing. And you already have a red skirt. Sounds like you may need to dress it up a bit with some earrings and/or a necklace.</p>
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<p>Yes, it sounds as if those boots would go well with black pants. Any color cardigan goes with black pants. Almost any shirt.</p>
<p>Your Dockers would work for daytime business casual if they are in good shape and you can pair them with something like a nice, refined cotton cardigan, with or without a cami. Something like this would be classic:</p>
<p>[Asymmetrical</a> one-button cardigan | Banana Republic](<a href=“Banana Republic”>Banana Republic)</p>
<p>Only I would probably pick a spring color instead of black.</p>
<p>Have a great trip.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, you made me smile. :-)</p>
<p>I am kind of pathetic but I’d rather spend our extra money on things like violin lessons, classes, extras for the kids, rather than on me. </p>
<p>I’ve been a SAHM and dancer for 18 years and have rare occasion to wear anything nice. Dh and I don’t do much celebrating on our anniversary and the last time we went out, I believe I wore the lined dress. Most often, I will be in jeans, my long, black knit sweater, and a black tank top.</p>
<p>I am also a true winter and I have a difficult time finding clothes that I like. My wardrobe is mostly black, a little white, navy, and occasionally a jewel toned cami. No way could I wear prints. I really need to stick to black, white, icy and jewel tones.</p>
<p>I zipped out to Target this morning as my dh is on vacation this week and I had to take him to the doc to have a sigmoidoscopy (poor guy!). I found a pair of black slacks for $6! They are a little long so I will hem them today. I also got my black cami. I just need to find a top for the pants. The pants are relaxed fit (I’m use to more tailored or tight fit but they look pretty good).</p>
<p>Gosh, I’m getting a fashion education! :-)</p>
<p>I am always honored to be asked to loan anything for special events like this one. Also, as others have mentioned, there can be very nice things in some thrift stores, especially near colleges (especially if you’re fortunate enough to still wear college sized clothes).</p>