Etiquette of Proper Attire　著裝禮儀

黛比·梅恩　孟瑤

Have you ever shown up at an event and realized you arent dressed properly？ It could be a job interview， a party， or anything else where what you wear might possibly be evaluated. If youre dressed inappropriately， it can be embarrassing and awkward for you and others youre with.

Suitable for the occasion

For most events， what you should wear will be obvious. If you plan to go to your childs Little League game and out for pizza afterward， jeans， a T-shirt， and athletic shoes or boots are perfect. Job interviews call for business formal or business casual.

What to wear for the occasion

Sometimes when you ask about the dress code， youll get a phrase， such as “casual Friday” or “formal business，” but still be unsure how youre expected to dress. Here are some explanations and helpful tips for each style of dress：

Casual attire： Casual wear can mean anything from shorts and a T-shirt to khakis1 and a button front blouse. Youll need to find out a number of things before deciding， such as whether youll be indoors or outdoors and what others are wearing.

Casual Friday： What you would wear to the office on casual Friday2 is different from what youd wear to a Friday night football game at the local high school. Remember that when you go to work， you may run into supervisors who determine your future with the company.

Resort casual： Resort wear is typically a comfortable pair of shorts， slacks3， or skirt， a nice top or shirt that goes with the bottoms4， and sandals. As you put together your resort casual outfit， think about how you want to look in pictures that youll show your family and friends later.

Business casual： Business casual should always look neat and well pulled together. Avoid appearing as though you are on your way to a cocktail party. Never wear clothes that are too tight or oversized. A good fit is always in style.

Formal business： Formal business attire is worn by the ultra-professional who wants to be taken seriously and to get ahead. It should never be too flashy or appear cheap. A business suit doesnt have to cost a fortune to look expensive. If you arent sure what shoes are appropriate， women can be pretty safe with a pair of solid5， neutral pumps6. Men may wear dark dress shoes.

Semi-formal： Whether you are attending a cocktail party， dance， or other events that calls for semi-formal， youll be just fine in a dress made from satin or sparkling fabric. Men should wear a suit to a semi-formal event. Women who frequently attend semi-formal events should consider having a little black dress thats versatile and can be worn year-round， with or without a jacket or wrap7.

Formal wear： Formal wear can be tricky. Most of the time， long gowns are acceptable for women and a tuxedo or dark suit are fine for men. However， some designers have made short and mid-calf8 dresses that are classified as formal. Men need to find out if the event is black tie9， white tie10， or dark suit appropriate.

Weddings

Attire for wedding guests can run the full dress code spectrum11， from resort to formal. If the invitation doesnt state how to dress， let the time and location of the wedding be your guide. If youre still in doubt， call the bride or someone from the bridal party12 and ask.

Most of the time， it is perfectly fine to dress in resort semi-formal for a daytime beach wedding. For women， a sundress with a wrap to cover the shoulders and sandals are fine. Men may wear nice slacks， a polo shirt13 or button front shirt， and a lightweight jacket， with or without a tie.

A courtyard wedding calls for a little bit dressier look than resort semi-formal. For women， that means a nice dress， skirt， or pantsuit14. Men should wear slacks， a button-front shirt， a jacket， and a tie that can be removed later.

For a daytime church wedding， a knee-length or tea-length dress is appropriate for women. Men should wear a suit or nice pants， shirt， tie， and coordinating jacket.

An evening wedding is generally more formal， and the invitation should state how to dress. If not， ask someone from the bridal party if you are expected to dress in formal or semi-formal attire.

你是否有過這樣的經歷：去參加一項活動，到了現場卻發現自己穿著不得體？這可能是求職面試、派對聚會或著裝受人評點的其他場合。如果穿著不得體，可能會使自己和身邊人感到尷尬。

著裝得體

在大多數情況下，該穿什么顯而易見。如果打算去看孩子的“少年聯盟”棒球賽，再出去吃個披薩，那么牛仔褲、T恤、運動鞋或靴子是極佳選擇;參加求職面試則要求著商務正裝或商務休閑。

各種場合穿什么？

詢問著裝要求時，得到的回復可能是一個短語，如“休閑星期五”或“商務正裝”，而此時你仍然無法確定應如何著裝。以下是對各種服裝風格的解讀和小貼士：

休閑裝：休閑裝包羅萬象，可以T恤配短褲，也可以襯衣搭卡其布休閑褲。在決定穿什么之前，最好了解一下情況，比如活動在室內還是戶外，以及其他人如何著裝。

周五休閑：即便在休閑星期五穿去辦公室的衣服，也絕對不同于去當地高中參加周五晚足球賽的著裝。千萬記得，上班時你可是會遇到決定你在公司前途的上司。

度假休閑：度假休閑一般是舒服的短褲、休閑褲或裙裝，與下裝搭配的上衣或襯衫，以及涼鞋。搭配度假休閑裝時，要考慮到你在分享給親朋好友的美照中想要什么樣的效果。

商務休閑：商務休閑著裝講究干凈利落，不能看著像去參加雞尾酒會，也要避免過于緊身或過于肥大的服裝，合身最重要。

商務正裝：商務正裝備受超級專業人士青睞，他們想要被人重視，想要出人頭地。商務正裝既不可太過花哨，也不能顯得廉價。其實西裝未必要花大價錢，也可以看起來高檔。如果不確定哪種鞋子合適，女士穿一雙中規中矩的跟鞋準沒錯;男士可以穿深色正裝鞋。

半正式禮服：參加雞尾酒會、舞會或其他需要穿半正式禮服的活動，可以選擇緞面或亮面禮服。男士出席半正式場合應穿西服套裝。經常參加半正式活動的女士可以考慮入手一件黑色小禮服，百搭且四季可穿，視情況添件外套或披肩即可。

禮服：禮服的選擇有時比較棘手。大部分情況下，女士可以身著長禮服，男士可以選擇無尾禮服或深色西裝。設計師還針對女性設計了短款和中款連衣裙，這些也屬于禮服;而男士們則需事先了解這場活動宜著無尾禮服配黑色領結、燕尾服配白色領結，還是深色西服套裝。

參加婚禮

婚禮賓客著裝可以不拘一格，從度假休閑裝到正裝都是允許的。若請柬上未說明如何著裝，可以參考婚禮舉辦的時間和地點。若仍有疑問，可以打電話問新娘或新人的親友。

一般來說，度假風半正式服裝非常適合參加白天舉行的海邊沙灘婚禮。女士可以穿吊帶太陽裙，圍披肩，配涼鞋;男士可以穿好看的休閑褲、網球衫或襯衣，披輕便夾克，有無領帶均可。

庭院婚禮比度假半正式婚禮的著裝考究一些。對女士而言，意味著漂亮的禮服、裙子或套裝;男士則應穿休閑褲、襯衫、短外套，戴領帶，婚禮后領帶可以摘下。

出席白天舉行的教堂婚禮，女士宜穿及膝或腳踝的中長禮服，男士則應穿西服套裝，或穿帥氣的褲子、襯衫，配上領帶和相搭的夾克。

晚上舉行的婚禮通常更為正式，請柬上應寫明著裝要求。若未寫明，可詢問新人親友團，賓客應該穿正裝還是半正式著裝。

（譯者單位：北京林業大學）

1 khakis卡其布褲子。? 2 20世紀晚期西方國家興起的一種著裝規范。允許雇員在星期五穿便裝，保持心情放松，舒緩工作壓力。? 3 slack肥松的便褲;〈美國〉運動褲。? 4 bottom套裝的裙（或褲）。

5 solid相當不錯（但談不上出色或獨特）的。? 6 pumps女高跟鞋（heels）的一種，指腳趾、后跟都包起來的跟鞋，通常不帶扣帶。? 7 wrap披肩。? 8 mid-calf及小腿肚的。? 9 black tie打領結的正式晚禮服，通常為無尾禮服搭配黑色背心與領結。也稱小禮服。? 10 white tie男士最高規格的晚宴禮服，通常由黑色燕尾服、白色領結、白色馬甲、翼領白色禮服襯衫、黑色禮服西褲、黑色漆皮皮鞋以及白色口袋巾、禮服帽等一系列配飾組成。white tie的著裝規制要比black tie更高。也稱夜禮服、大禮服。? 11 spectrum范圍。

12 bridal party指幫助新人操辦和完成婚禮儀式的一群人，包括新人雙方父母、伴郎伴娘、花童、司儀等。? 13 19世紀末20世紀初，打網球需要穿著長袖襯衣并打領帶。1926年，法國著名網球冠軍勒內·拉科斯特（Rene Lacoste）設計了一款硬領短袖運動衫，采用輕薄透氣的小凹紋網眼面料，并創制了鱷魚（Lacoste）品牌標識。鱷魚衫因穿著舒適，牢固耐磨，在網球界迅速普及。1952年，時任美國總統艾森豪威爾穿了一件鱷魚牌網球衫參加高爾夫比賽，網球衫很快成了打高爾夫和鄉村俱樂部聚會的著裝規范。后來由拉爾夫·勞倫（Ralph Lauren）推出的流行款式將此衣型引介到馬球界乃至休閑穿著領域。polo shirt也因此稱為鱷魚衫、馬球衫、高爾夫球衫。? 14 pantsuit（女子的）衣褲套裝。