Why do people change after dinner on formal nights?

[toxicfairy]

We "dress" for dinner every night on a cruise. On formal night I wear a full length gown and heels and We do not change after dinner . I feel like a princess and I like that feeling to last as long as possible :D Not to mention my husband looks HOT in a suit and I like to keep that look as long as possible too :D:D

[calliopecruiser]

I didn't say anything about clothes.:)

But, as long as we're talking clothes.......check the red.;)

 

Somehow, this thread morphed into one of the Dress to Impress threads.:D

 

This thread has always been about clothes, and why some people change out of their formal clothes into casual clothes after dinner. I think it's always been kind of like the Dress to Impress thread.

[iheartbda]

This thread has always been about clothes, and why some people change out of their formal clothes into casual clothes after dinner. I think it's always been kind of like the Dress to Impress thread.

 

Yes, but a number have said it doesn't, or shouldn't, matter what clothes one is wearing.:)

[Skywench]

I always change into something else after dinner on "formal" nights. Personally, I would never even bother with the main dining room, but the person/people I cruise with like it, especially on formal night, so I go along with them. LOL, we compromise and don't eat in there every night. I don't mind getting dressed up in nice dresses, both cocktail dresses and long dresses, but I find casual clothes more comfortable. They're also warmer, as the ships are usually cool and just a wrap with a dress doesn't cut it for me!

[GORDONCHICK]

Yes, but a number have said it doesn't, or shouldn't, matter what clothes one is wearing.:)

 

Actually, what is at issue on thi thread is when there is a dress code (and it is rude to disregard such), the argument here is that it should be for the evening. The problem for many is that while complying for MDR dinner, our after dinner activities don't go well with the MDR dress code.

 

For those who don't like sharing an elevator with those who have changed clothes, do you feel the same when staying at a hotel that happens to be hosting a couple of formal events (that you were neither invited to or are attending)? I don't. I'll dress appropriately for my venue/activities.

[laurspag]

I often change after dinner. There are two reasons for this.

 

One, I get cold pretty easily. A little shawl isn't always enough, and I really don't want to ruin the outfit by putting on a sweater that doesn't look right.

 

The main thing is, we often wander out on the deck, and like to sit down. Wearing a full length gown and getting in out of those deck chairs, not to mention worrying about getting someone on the dress....well, I think you get the picture.

 

We opt for the later dinner seating. We get dressed up early, and spend plenty of time before dinner in our finery, as well as through dinner and for a short time after.

[calliopecruiser]

.... not to mention worrying about getting someone on the dress....well, I think you get the picture.

 

LOL! I know it's a typo, but what a picture I got ;) What is that someone doing on your dress?!?

[laurspag]

Lol, never type when tired!!!!:eek: Yes, that should read something....

[Beejay4016]

LOL! I know it's a typo, but what a picture I got ;) What is that someone doing on your dress?!?

 

I'm with you - sometimes those little typos are the best ever, and no wonder Laura (or is it Laurie - I bump into you so often I should remember) likes to slip into something a "little more comfortable". :D

[calliopecruiser]

Would you be willing to post pictures of outfits befitting a Paul Gaugin or Regent cruise? I'm thinking of daily wear. This subject really fascinates me.

 

What I did was look at a bunch of people's vacation pictures on the web......lots of people post them on Flikr and other sites, and they're searchable by keyword. So when I looked up Regent cruises on Flickr, I got shots like these

 

or

 

 

That way you can look at what real people are wearing on actual cruises, not what press photos show you or what cruise companies think you should be wearing. Choose your favourite photo sharing site and a couple of cruise ships/companies, and take a look.

[KansasTexan]

So...I find this thread kind of fascinating. (And probably shouldn't.)

 

I'm one who doesn't change after formal night dinner. My standard go-to is a black cocktail dress with blingy jewelry and shoes that are already dance-proven at home. After dinner I gravitate toward those who are also still dressed up. (at the shows, at the clubs)

 

I learned early on that if I go out to the Lido deck (in cocktail attire), my hair and clothes aren't going to work out there. So I stay inside. I always find fun people to hang out with on formal nights. We're all kind of carrying on the "dress up" through the evening and it's a blast. It works for me.

[LParente]

As the others have said, I believe people change for comfort or they do not even go to the dining room that night. My DH hates to dress up and only does it because I make him. He immediately changes after dinner, but I keep my clothes on because I love dressing up any way and look for any occasion to do it.

 

Ditto!!

[LittleMissMagic]

Yikes!! $300 for a pair of shoes I'll only wear once or twice? I'm sure they feel great but I'm not willing spend more than $35-50 for a pair of shoes I won't wear often. :)

 

I also find more expensive shoes to be more comfortable when it comes to heels... as do many people who try them on or purchase. Of course, you have to compare apples to apples. But $40 pumps compared to $100+ pumps... the more expensive are almost always more comfortable.

 

People can spend their money however they want. Some people have more to spend, and some people choose to spend money on different things. But investing in quality shoes is something I have personally found worthwhile (and a necessity, considering I wear a ladies' size 4 which is not standard... thank goodness for Enzo Angiolini, Stuart Weitzman, and Ivanka Trump). And I wear my heels quite often... definitely not on a daily or even weekly basis, but often enough for me to justify the cost in my mind.

[sherilyn70]

I'm not bashing CWC or you--regardless of what you seem to think, just saying that it's a step down from what you're likely to see.

 

I've seen the dresses in the pictures for dinners... very similar to the items I own. I also wouldn't be going on a cruise that had formal dinners since we can only manage 7 day vacations. But even if they were all formal, I have at least 4 dresses that meet that requirement. Are you seriously saying that dresses such as these would not be acceptable for dinner on a 7 day cruise with them? If you are then lets post this to the Regent boards and see what the regulars think.

 

 

*yes, they're all from Coldwater Creek.

[susie8862]

Love the royal blue/purple one. Cannot believe that Coldwater Creek has dresses like this and I will check out their website. I do think they are fancy enough for formal night. (well, maybe not the suit). Although I like it, it would be something I would wear to my office.

[5326jan]

I can't believe I'm getting involved in this discussion, but here goes nothing.

 

My mother, the one who loved going to formal parties and events, would have never worn a short dress for the occasion. The short dress would have been reserved for cocktail hour. This, to me, is how things have changed in modern times vs. life in the '50s and '60s. More women see a short dress as formal, whereas our mothers would have had a different opinion on the matter.

 

They also wore suits to travel and women would "do up" their hair and make up for when the husbands came home from work. They grocery shopped in dresses, heels and gloves. Women wore hats and stockings. I'm not making a judgement about what's right or wrong, maybe we've become lazy and less interested in looking our best.... or maybe because life moves too fast and in too many different directions now for there to be a "one standard fits all" mentality! :)

[calliopecruiser]

They also wore suits to travel and women would "do up" their hair and make up for when the husbands came home from work. They grocery shopped in dresses, heels and gloves. Women wore hats and stockings. I'm not making a judgement about what's right or wrong, maybe we've become lazy and less interested in looking our best.... or maybe because life moves too fast and in too many different directions now for there to be a "one standard fits all" mentality! :)

 

Our entire lives have changed, so it's not fair to look at one component and try to come up with a reason for it. One size never fit all, and those for whom it didn't fit were forced to try and make it fit.......and that's not good for anyone (or the people who cared about them). I think it's wonderful that there are so many acceptable options for people today - in what they wear, in how the look (hair, etc), and in how they interact with others. It's great that we can have different priorities and not worry too much if they don't match what others expect.

 

Why don't people dress up in suits to travel these days? It's less to do with attitude or busyness, and more to do with mega-airports that require us to walk a mile to our boarding gate, airline fees that encourage people to lug their personal belongings with them for that mile, and cut-rate fares that squeeze more and more people into smaller and smaller seats. Travel isn't what it was, so there's no reason that travel attire should be what it was. The same can be said for getting dressed up to go shopping, or getting made up and a drink made for when your husband comes home from work.........if life were the same, it wouldn't all be different ;) Self service (do you want to pump your own gas in heels and gloves?), mega-sizes (large parking lots, large stores), and double income families (by choice, if not also by necessity) have required that we all change our lives, our look, and our priorities.

[Laurie S.]

They also wore suits to travel and women would "do up" their hair and make up for when the husbands came home from work. They grocery shopped in dresses, heels and gloves. Women wore hats and stockings. I'm not making a judgement about what's right or wrong, maybe we've become lazy and less interested in looking our best.... or maybe because life moves too fast and in too many different directions now for there to be a "one standard fits all" mentality! :)

 

Not my mother, she never wore heels and gloves to grocery shop any or any other type of shopping, didn't wear pearls when she vacuumed, and never wore a hat. She did wear hose and makeup when she went out, and usually a dress, but sometimes pants. That's in both the 1950s and 1960s.

[sherilyn70]

Our entire lives have changed, so it's not fair to look at one component and try to come up with a reason for it. One size never fit all, and those for whom it didn't fit were forced to try and make it fit.......and that's not good for anyone (or the people who cared about them). I think it's wonderful that there are so many acceptable options for people today - in what they wear, in how the look (hair, etc), and in how they interact with others. It's great that we can have different priorities and not worry too much if they don't match what others expect.

 

For those that study history... remember when men used to wear lace and embroidered garments and thought that a white wig and powder were formal? Remember when women wore large filly collars, long hoop skirts and tightly corseted bodices? Why don't we hold anyone to those standards of the past anymore? It's simply because as times change, techonlogy changes so does what we wear. Each period of time was affected by multiple factors such as what was available locally to the general public, what type of activities they participated in and what accepted majority thought was considered "decent". Showing ones ankles or legs was definitely forbiden in many years past, as well as patent leather shoes (a man might see a reflection from under a woman's dress if she wore them!).

[5326jan]

For those that study history... remember when men used to wear lace and embroidered garments and thought that a white wig and powder were formal? Remember when women wore large filly collars, long hoop skirts and tightly corseted bodices? Why don't we hold anyone to those standards of the past anymore? It's simply because as times change, techonlogy changes so does what we wear. Each period of time was affected by multiple factors such as what was available locally to the general public, what type of activities they participated in and what accepted majority thought was considered "decent". Showing ones ankles or legs was definitely forbiden in many years past, as well as patent leather shoes (a man might see a reflection from under a woman's dress if she wore them!).

 

The story goes that the powder on the wigs was to disguise the grease, things weren't washed as they are now. If we're really looking at how far we've come, in the 1500's bridal bouquets were designed to over-power the odor of the bride! Men were allowed to bathe first and women had to use the same water, babies were last, when the water was so disgusting! Hence the saying, "Don't throw the babies out with the bathwater."

 

The point is ~directed as a general comment, not any particular poster~ that times change and in big cities they change faster than they do in small towns. Things that have been ingrained in you for your whole life hold more importance than they do to someone who's never experienced it. Even in my town, we've always had a "beachy" easy going attitude towards dress, but go into town (next town over where most offices/businesses are) and the people are much more "put together". It's not about right and wrong, it's about experience, tradition and habit. I believe that's why there's always such strong disagreement on this subject and always will be! :)

[PBC29]

I never understand why it is acceptable to change into shorts, T shirt and flip flops on formal night as soon as dinner is over. To my way of thinking, you don't see much of a person at a dining room table. If he is wearing jeans or shorts it is hidden by the table.

 

But after dinner I see people in tux or gown sitting next to some guy with hairy legs and torn T shirt. Some people wear their oldest (maybe most comfortable) stuff in the theater, lounges and casino on formal nights and I just don't get it.

 

So many people on this board make a big deal over dress in the dining room but don't seem to care what anyone wears after dinner.

 

I would love to see an answer to this

 

I change simply because I don't like getting all dressed up but am willing to deal with doing so for the 2-3hour dinner as my tablemates are usually into getting all dressed up for dinner.

 

However I don't change into shorts after its over, usually other long pants sometimes nice jeans and a solid color tee. Anyone has a problem with it sorry my outfit ruined your trip but I prefer comfort over style especially when dinner starts at 5pm and don't usually go to bed until 2-3am.

 

My next Cruise coming in Feb I'm considering not even doing a dinner jacket for formal night (caribbean cruise) because I've been on the cruiseline (MSC) before and its always been about 50/50 in regards to jackets at dinner. Saves alittle on packing and I have better ability to push my wheelchair around people who stop without warning.

[wrcjr98]

I changed after dinner on formal night on the Carnival Dream because it was so cold everywhere on the ship, I had to put on jeans and a sweater to make it thru a show!!