Semi Formal Men Outfit

Choosing the perfect men’s watch can be a daunting task, but it’s also an exciting one. A well-chosen watch not only serves as a functional tool but also as an expression of your personal style. Whether you're attending a casual outing or a formal event, the right timepiece can elevate your look and make a lasting impression. Here’s a guide on how to choose the perfect men's watch for every occasion. 1. Consider the Occasion The first thing to consider when choosing a watch is the occasion. For everyday use, a versatile watch that blends well with both casual and semi-formal outfits is ideal. Look for a simple design with a durable strap, like leather or stainless steel, that can withstand daily wear. If you're attending a formal event, a more sophisticated watch with a sleek design and high-quality materials, such as polished metal or ceramic, can add an elegant touch to your attire. 2. Match Your Personal Style Your watch should reflect your personal style. If you prefer a minimalist look, opt for a watch with a clean dial and a subtle color scheme. A classic timepiece with Roman numerals and a leather strap might be more in line with your preferences. On the other hand, if you’re someone who enjoys bold, statement pieces, a watch with a unique design and eye-catching details can help express your personality. 3. Orologi da uomo for the Perfect Balance When it comes to combining style and function, Breil offers a range of excellent orologi da uomo that cater to both casual and formal occasions. Whether you're looking for a refined watch for a night out or a rugged piece for daily use, Breil provides timeless designs that exude sophistication without compromising on practicality. The collection of men’s watches is designed to meet various needs, from the sleek and stylish to the durable and functional. Finally, always opt for quality. A well-made watch can last for years, even decades. Look for timepieces with durable movements, scratch-resistant glass, and solid construction. A good quality watch not only elevates your outfit but also ensures that you’re making a wise investment that will stand the test of time. By keeping these factors in mind, you can easily find the perfect men’s watch for every occasion, from casual outings to formal events. The right watch is more than just a tool to tell time; it’s an accessory that adds character to your ensemble and showcases your personal style. submitted by /u/erepresent to r/TheCreativeContent [link] [comments]

I'm a basically female presenting female (albeit with really short hair). I was recently invited to a May wedding that requested "polished semi-formal attire": knee-length to midi dresses for women, suits or blazer (with optional tie) for men. I'm not really a dress/skirt person (I'm wildly self-conscious about my legs, for one thing). I'm just wondering: if I were to show up in an outfit that aligned with the male dress code, would I risk attracting undue attention to myself? submitted by /u/Dapper_Object8239 to r/Weddingattireapproval [link] [comments]

Is this outfit too dressy for MOG for 5:00 p.m. outdoor wedding ceremony/indoor reception in North Alabama at a wedding venue in later September? This navy dress will be a little longer on me than the model, as I am shorter. Swipe to see dress back, sparkly shoes, and purse I plan to wear only wedding bands for jewelry and to carry a small, silver beaded vintage purse. Swipe to see. Dad of the Groom will be in his new mid-gray suit with traditional long-sleeve white dress shirt, classic black men’s dress shoes, tie, and white pocket square. Other mom’s dresses are less dressy-one shorter and one longer. No wedding attendants and no knowledge of bride’s dress. We live in a city, so are probably prone to traditional choices, which might be overdressing. 🤷‍♀️ Bride says ‘Most important is be comfortable; semi-formal.’ Navy is not near colors of bride’s moms’ dresses or her best friend/non-attendant. Truly seeking feedback. Much appreciated! 👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️❤️ submitted by /u/Alarmed-Argument-951 to r/Weddingattireapproval [link] [comments]

I came here from r/weddingattireapproval because I was so irritated by some of the dress codes I’m seeing like this one here.I feel like I’m losing my mind. Men can’t wear white? I’m all for “beach cocktail” or “barn semi-formal”…that’s helpful, not insane. But when it starts to feel like the guests are just props or accessories, it’s too much. Anything hyper-specific that reads more like ‘match your outfit to our Pinterest board’… makes my blood boil. Not everyone has the money, time, or even physical ability to pull that off. What about people with real limitations? Mee-maw is 73 and has a bad hip. She’s now supposed to waddle into a store, find a soft, breathable lavender dress, and top it off with heels? Lmao, absolutely not. If the couple says something simple like “avoid fuchsia,” I love that!! it’s reasonable and helps me avoid matching with the bridesmaids. But when it gets to “please embody Venetian romance in soothing lavenders and pops of sunshine yellow”… come on. Guests are already taking time off work, buying plane tickets, paying for hotels, sitters, and gifts…now their outfits have to be curated to perfection too? It just feels tone-deaf when the world is on fire. People can’t afford houses, governments are making absurd decisions, and we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water. I can’t imagine demanding that level of control from my own guests. Is it just me? Anyone else feel this way? submitted by /u/retrozebra to r/weddingshaming [link] [comments]

I am not the OOP. The OOP is u/RiverPixyStyx posting in r/Weddingattireapproval Concluded as per OOP 2 updates - Short Original - 23rd July 2025 Update - 24th July 2025 Update - 24th July 2025 This is the dress code on my wedding website. Any feedback or advice? Hi everyone! My save the dates are being sent out today so in a few days, my wedding site is about to be (finally) viewed and used! Before it becomes official, what do you all think of my dress code? Is it too much or confusing in any way? I’m also considering getting rid of the “gentlemen” and “ladies” distinction to make it NB inclusive and just having a general paragraph; would that wall of text be too much to look at? The wedding is in September in Ireland and held indoors at a 5-star hotel, with a potential indoor/outdoor cocktail hour, weather dependent. That information is provided in the next FAQ below this one! We want the vibes to be upscale, but not stuffy. I’d love it if people went whimsical and really went for it with having fun with their outfit choice, so that’s why I included the last paragraph. Thanks all! Invite Text from invite WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? We'd love to see our family and friends dress with us! The dress code is cocktail to formal attire. Gentlemen - We kindly ask that you wear a suit (with or without a tie) or a dress shirt with trousers. Ladies - Evening gowns, dressy separates, or midi- to knee-length cocktail dresses are all great options. Don't be afraid to have fun with colour, pattern, and texture! If you've been waiting for an excuse to wear a fairytale ballgown or a floral suit, this is your moment. If classic and understated is more your vibe, that's perfect too. Dress to impress and have fun with it, in your own way! Comments annedroiid You say cocktail to formal but then in the description go anything from semi-formal to black tie. You’ve added so much conflicting information it’s made it confusing and effectively given men and women different dress codes. I would have no idea which end of the spectrum I’m meant to be at. If you’re worried that people won’t want to wear a tie then just make it semi-formal to cocktail and drop the bits about ball gowns or floor length dresses. If you think they might dress up more then drop the stuff about not needing a tie or jacket. When guests are this varied you’re going to have people feeling uncomfortably over or under dressed (or both). itsveryupsetting I hate when dress codes are like “Women…you absolutely must buy something new and fancy! Guys… please show up.” Just say cocktail or formal attire for everyone and leave it at that. No ties+evening gowns doesn’t make sense to me. Update - 1 day later Hi everyone! Wow did I not expect my original post to get so many views and comments! Just about as soon as I had posted it, my cousin dropped by so my phone was away, then I checked it to see it had so many comments and was locked! So unfortunately I wasn’t able to reply to anyone really. I was genuinely expecting like ten comments max. Because it was locked before I could reply to anyone, I wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who commented! It helped me see clearly just how confusing I was being. My intention was to be so broad it would ease people’s minds; that they could wear what they had or have fun with it, buy something new, and get super dressy if they wanted! But it ended up being so broad it was just plain confusing. Also, thank you to those who pointed out it wasn’t fair that men could go more casual while women weren’t. You’re absolutely right and I should have noticed that and seen how that would look :/ To answer a question from many people, I am from the U.S. and my fiancé is from the U.K.! It is a destination wedding for both of us but Ireland ended up being sort of a middle ground equivalent for us because it was one of the few direct flights both our families could take. He did in fact think it was odd to put a dress code, but my side of the family (knowing them) would absolutely all be calling or texting me wanting to know what to wear. So thank you all again for your helpful advice! I wanted to post this and assure you all I changed it! I combined two helpful comments into something that’s hopefully clearer, so extra thank you to those two!! Updated Invite Text from invite WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? The dress code is formal. We invite our guests to wear floor-length dresses, formal cocktail dresses, pantsuits, suits, or tuxes. We love to see our family and friends express their unique personalities, so feel free to dress colourfully and whimsically if you wish! Comments onedayillfeelok I mean this in the nicest way. You are still listing too many attire options. Formal, cocktail, and black tie (tux is black tie) are all different dress codes. Pick one. sealegs87 it got shorter, and somehow worse. 🤣 OP, please consider just this: formal. it’s one succinct word. Chances are you may get some cocktail dresses anyway. mrs-poocasso69 “Formal attire preferred/requested, color encouraged” You still have too many words and options. Make it simple! Update - a few hours later Hi everyone (again!) My new one was still too contradictory and I’m just doing too much still lol. Thanks for everyone’s feedback again! I kept it nice and simple and will stick with this one. Simple Invite Text from Invite WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? The dress code is formal. We look forward to our friends and family dressing up with us! Comments Bearbearblues Very nice. I appreciate what you were going for with the other versions. But the truth is, most people aren’t going to follow “formal” with the same fervor as this sub. They will just know to dress up. I hope you have a beautiful day and delightful years to come with the one you love. Jerry_A_Trick Hey, I just wanted to say that you take criticism very well. Edit: you take criticism well. 🙈. OOP: Aw thank you so much!! It helps that I know everyone has kind intentions and are trying to help me and my guests :) It was much needed and very appreciated! I am not the OOP. Please do not harass the OOP. Please remember the No Brigading Rule and to be civil in the comments submitted by /u/SharkEva to r/BORUpdates [link] [comments]

Garden party attire is whimsical, dressy, and designed to be worn outdoors. It typically falls somewhere between a semi-formal dress code and cocktail attire, with breezy silhouettes and pastel colors that take inspiration from the surrounding blooms. This isn’t the time for dark hues or heavy fabrics! And since you’re dressing for an outdoor event, a garden party outfit should be just as comfortable as it is cute. For women, this means flowy dresses, breathable fabrics (such as chiffon or cotton), and shoes that are made for navigating uneven terrains. For men, you can’t go wrong with a lightweight suit in soft colors (like tan or light blue) paired with a crisp white button-down. When it comes to the best colors and fabrics for garden party attire, we suggest using the natural surroundings as your inspiration for this dress code. For colors, channel a blossoming garden with pastel shades and bright hues — perennial favorites like lilac purple, rosy pink, and mint green will always be in style. Can’t choose just one color? Embrace the garden theme with a delicate floral print or a whimsical botanical pattern. It may not be ~groundbreaking~, but it’s definitely on theme! As for materials, breathable fabrics are a must-have for garden party attire. Lightweight materials like cotton, linen, chiffon, and silk will keep you cool and comfortable under the sun, while also complementing the easy breezy vibe of a garden theme. Comfortable shoes: Since garden parties typically involve strolling along grass or gravel pathways, you’ll need comfortable footwear that won’t sink into the ground. Wedges, block heels, or stylish flats are perfect for navigating the garden terrain — bonus points if they feature pastel colors or floral details! https://greenweddingshoes.com/garden-party-attire-dress-code/ submitted by /u/Fragrant_Taro_211 to r/WeddingAttireHelp [link] [comments]

if your 2025 goal is to shop local or choose more sustainable options for clothing, then this is the post for you! i've started compiling a list of local clothing brands ranging from casual to formal to activewear, including categories for shoes and bags. after perusing this forum (and r/fashionph) and finding not much information on local brands to support, i decided to start this list by listing down the brands often mentioned in these posts and including a link where to find them, along with a short blurb about the brand or what they sell. as always, consuming less or secondhand is always better, but should you find the need to purchase, maybe try out something from this list! everyday clothes Bench, Penshoppe, Bayo, Juana, Unica Hija, For Me, Kamiseta, Plains & Prints, Onesimus, Paperdolls, Lily & James, Peppermint - irl stores available. not listing these out since i’m hoping they’re quite well-known! Tayo Studios - irl stores available. ethical and inclusive clothing Candid Clothing - my personal first venture to sustainable clothing! relatively more affordable pieces Miu the Label - local everyday pieces Nin And Yang - multi-wear pieces (close to buying the Double Trouble jacket if the sizing is good Riotaso Clothing - repurposed clothing Vault 330 - handmade sustainable clothing with very cool designs Muni Muni Studio - ethical local fashion Wear Sundays Clothing - also available irl in Frankie General Store Beyond Collective Linya Linya - silly shirts Calle Lily - linen pieces Shop Nita PH - locally-made, produced in small batches, so cute! La Oceann - uses materials like bamboo, linen, and hemp. designed in the PH, not sure about production though Hanap Habi - woven clothes, currently on 2025 planning break tho HTP Clothing - locally made, relatively affordable!! June 12 The Label - custom-made clothing Laure By Roma - handmade and designed in the Philippines, mostly linen and silk Better Basics - uses deadstock fabrics, supports The Learning Lab (which trains seamstresses and tailors for livelihood) La Cocobabe - Davao-based Wear Laya - linen pieces Wanhiyan PH - linen pieces for under 1K (side note: i’m confused and fascinated with this brand as they only seem to sell one size of the design pero parang mejo malaki naman siya? like a more inclusive free size kasi bagay din naman ung oversized look sa model nila) BOCU - minimalist clothes, also has men’s clothing! Looks really nice and clean Project.ph - known for their katsa pieces! Also has events such as clothes swap parties, based in Tagaytay Lazy Fare - has physical stores, made with upcycled fabrics, mostly comfy and casual clothes Lambod - bespoke macrame clothes Owa Sylvia - made in a small factory in marikina Maligaya Clothing - repurposed linens and vintage fabrics Anyo Manila - promotes sustainability and has customizable options Anthill Fabric - one of the OG local and sustainable brands! Based in Cebu Sunki Label - sewn by Telastory, made by partner seamstresses. very transparent about their labor and sourcing practices!! Wear Anika - promotes slow fashion Suot Natin - oversized, genderless clothing !!! Proudrace - advocates for sustainability Syala Collections - sizes XS to 4XL available, wide variation in clothing, can provide your own size Dear Agatha - recommended for their corsets Nikocia - size inclusive (XS to 4XL) Zoie - sister company of Lily & James Strangemercy Bagasao formal wear/pricier Tygie PH - filipiniana pieces, available through Kultura of SM Department stores Yong Studios - ethereal pieces Rose and Bettys Creations - filipinana Balik Batik - woven pieces; occasionally available in pop-up stores Patis Tesoro - filipiniana and other handicrafts Abel Fiesta - filipinianas Yana's Woven Textile - handwoven textiles, makes formal wear, boleros, blazers etc. Suzy Clothing - so pretty, very fairytale-like pieces Details - modern Filipinana clothes, also has some unique office-appropriate pieces MarRo Studio - classic formal clothes, available in Landmark Alabang, Makati, and Trinoma Label Manila - classic and versatile pieces, runs a bit pricier but looks really nice! Unif0rm - unique pieces, ganda ng silhouettes Mosaic - has nine physical locations in Metro Manila but also available online Aer - claims to be made to last!! Monica Madrigal - made in the Philippines with handwoven fabrics Kawes by Manag Adjie - products made with Philippine weaves Ka_suotan_ - Filipiniana tops and dresses House of Enchante - Filipino version of Selkie, a brand known for their use of tulle and fluffy outfits Glorious Dias - vintage and reworked pieces Anyo - also sells home items Jenny Dresses - cocktail, formal, and semi-formal dresses, based in Rizal Apara - small-batch clothing Halo halo swimwear/exercise clothes Oja Wear - athleisure, free shipping nationwide Shop Easy Active - exercise clothes, swimwear Eighth Mermaid - modest swimwear, a personal fave

First (The math ain’t mathing, I’m writing but the word count is not going up!) Not Exactly Hidden “Androgynous ass Asians...” Immeghar mutters and the Koga scoff in unison at him. They don’t look like themselves. They look like two different secretaries, down to the horns, tails, feminine build and the slight mole that one of them has. It’s downright surreal. “Well, it doesn’t matter how pretty in pink our master ninja are. The only questions are, did they get the stuff and did anyone notice?” Dale asks and then catches the data chip tossed his way. “Technically not an answer, there could be anything from a local restaurants menu to hardcore Slohb porn on this.” “Wait, Slohbs are basically just living protoplasm around a hyperdense organ core... they reproduce by budding how would you... why would you...” “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.” Dale says. “I know the mechanics of how and I know why, I just can’t see it being particularly enjoyable!” Immeghar states. “Don’t knock another man’s fetishes, it’s bad form.” Daiju says still looking like a dainty Apuk woman but forcing his voice down as low as it can go to just add to the surreality of the statement. “Ex-fucking-scuze me? You know what? No. We’re not going down that path. Both of you get out of your disguises, you both pull off dresses far too well for me to be comfortable with you.” Immeghar states and there’s some laughter before Immeghar throws down a smokebomb, and to his relief both other men are dressed ‘normally’ and just look like stereotypical ninjas. With glasses. Because why the hell not? “Alright, time for the boring part! Aren’t you looking forward to it!” One of the two ninja asks in an excited tone and Immeghar immediately pegs that one as the elder. The younger is more responsible unless he’s already been corrupted. “Right, now you also...” Dale begins and they all pause as they hear something through the forest. “Well then...” Both Koga are gone in wood walks. Both Immeghar and Dale quickly change into their own Ninja outfits and follow. •×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×• “Ah good you’re... doubled.” Hart’Ghuran notes as two Koga arrive. “Ah, here with grandfather and...” Two more people dressed identically show up. Except with sunglasses instead of normal glasses and a clearly different size and skin tone on the hands. “Are more to come?” “Eventually. You know me, my grandson and these are our apprentices. Any questions?” “Sorcerers all?” “Yes.” “Terrifying.” Hart’Ghuran notes. “So have you found more than a list of potential troublemakers?” “We suspect that one or more of the investigative organizations that looked into the ills surrounding your family may have been paid off. We’ve just freshly gathered the last decade of reports and financial data from all of them and were about to go over them when you called us.” Daiju states and Hart’Ghuran nods. “Good, if you could help me in instructing my children how to find methods of escape and secret passages? I’ve managed to impart the importance of their survival to them.” “Yes, and after... they can help us all sift through the files of the organizations we plundered. It IS important to learn how to properly evaluate documents and read through financial data.” Immeghar offers and both Koga turn to look at him. “Is it a bad idea?” “No, but a bit much for children.” “Then we the adults best not make mistakes. It is a good idea.” Hart’Ghuran says. “We must come together after all, and if we are all working towards each other’s survival then it shall help.” •×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×• The training had gone well and they had progressed into getting the kids to help out reading through the files. Which was a struggle as this is a dry topic at the best of times. More than half bow out and start a quiet argument over what to watch on the holo-projector until Dale grabs the remote and puts on a popular movie. Having something actually playing beats out what may be playing and they watch. “Here we go... look here. Every single one of our suspects received a regular payments from the same source at monthly intervals. It started... the same month you put the bounty on the pirates and continues now. We’re going to have to check, but I’m willing to bet that someone saw opportunity and through this company... heh, a shell company literally called Hard Shell Construction, they’ve been paying off all investigators to let them move in your area with ease.” “I see it here too.” Hart’Ghuran says. “It’s for continued service in this period and the first is... appropriate discretion.” “So that makes Hard Shell Construction the next target.” Daiki notes. “You get started on that junior. I’m going to double and triple check things here, see if anyone let something slip.” Daiju says and Daiki nods as he rises up. ‘Why the masks?” One of Hart’s daughters, Dalla’Ghuran, asks. “Tradition mostly. But traditions are important, they remind you where you came from.” “Where did it start?” She asks. “Ninjas are about sneaking around and moving without being spotted. This makes us good messengers and spies during wars. Which is why a lot of people liked us. But skin doesn’t blend in well with shadows or with grass or leaves, so you need to cover it up. That’s one reason why we have masks.” “Oh. Okay. What’s another?” Dalla asks. “Well it’s a mask. If they don’t know who’s running around and spying for the other guy then they catch you so easily.” Dale says before pointing to Immeghar and then Daiju. “I mean, it’s clear that I’m not him or him, but beyond that do you know anything about me?” “Uh... you’re a man, a sorcerer and not an Apuk?” “And since you can’t check for a sorcerer easily, how do you tell me apart from any non-apuk man in the galaxy?” Dale asks. “Uhh.... I don’t know.” “Exactly.” Dale says. “Make sense?” “I guess.” Dalla’Ghuran notes in a baffled tone. Considering she’s barely into her double digits it’s understandable confusion. “Hmm... well well well this is interesting.” Daiki’s voice wafts over from where he’s researching. “If you’re not going to say it then keep the baited hooks to yourself.” Immeghar cuts off Daiki who sighs as Daiju chuckles. “There are numerous remarks already about Hard Shell Construction being a front or a money laundering operations and several people noting that they never seem to actually construct anything.” “What? That’s definitely something I need to see. Excuse me.” Hart’Ghuran says before joining Daiki in his studies. “Hmm... not good. I think I will be helping you gentlemen on your next infiltration.” “As distraction I hope.” Daiju says. “Correct. Although a low profile bodyguard nearby would be useful.” “Me and Dale got that, no problem.” Immeghar says. “Well, that seems to be everything then. Why will you be visiting them though?” “Simple, if there are already rumours running around and I want to be seen as a respectable and responsible heir to The Duchy then it behooves me to check won’t it? Whether there’s substance to them or not, they’re going to give me the runaround, but that will put their eyes on me. Leaving you two with the run of the base.” “Yes, but a Duke showing up with two random Tret looking fools for bodyguards? Kinda suspicious.” Dale says and Hart’Ghuran nods before smiling. “The Barlis?” “The Barlis. They are after all joining the local police force as we speak.” Hart’Ghuran notes. “We move tomorrow, that will give The Barlis the prep time they need and time enough to go over what we already have again and find any details that we failed to notice the first time through.” “Agreed.” Daiju says. “Grandson, that was not your sign to stop researching earlier, I want to know everything about Hard Shell Construction up to and including their political opinion on coffee being an intoxicant to many species.” •×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×• Hart’Ghuran nods as Jayt’Barlis and three of her clan members arrive with him. All of them dressed semi-formally and with openly carried laser rifles and an ornamental, but functional, sword with the crest of the Ghuran strapped to their sides. Time for the show. Dale gets the door as Immeghar holds a briefcase, both are formally dressed, Dale with gloves and a cap, Immeghar with a suit pressed so precisely a laser would be needed to find a crease. Tret driver and lawyer, Apuk bodyguards for public appearance. He is every inch the non-combat Duke. Hard Shell Construction’s main office looks like an area typical to a construction company’s office. Built into a stripmall and unassuming if not for the numerous large vehicles in the out back parking lot and several motor homes that no doubt serve as mobile offices. Which is why his arriving causes a big splash. One big enough that it completely conceals the shadow slipping in the backdoor and the other checking the containers and mobile offices. Two Barlis step through the doorway first and ensure that Hart’Ghuran is flanked as he walks up to the front desk. His face as stoic as a mountain. “Can I... can I help you My Lord?” The fact the receptionist looks ready to run is telling. Hart’Ghuran holds out his left hand and Immeghar opens his briefcase and brings out a device. Hart’Ghuran activates it and places it on the counter. “You are under ducal inspection. There are numerous concerns about your business and it is my business to ensure that the laws in my land are respected if they are not being precisely followed. The concerns about this being a money laundering operation are numerous and varied, leading to my being... concerned.” “Of course My Lord, the head of this office is currently...” “Unoccupied as far as I am concerned. Bring them here.” Hart’Ghuran orders. “But she’s on her lunch break.” “Then recall her, or do I need to have your General Education Diploma redacted as you clearly cheated?” Hart’Ghuran threatens and her jaw drops. “But that...” “Is within my power. Recall your employer from her lunch break. We need to talk.” Hart’Ghuran states and she gawks at him. “Must I send you BACK to public education in shame?” “No sir! I mean My Lord!” “Then summon her. Now.” He orders and she picks up a communicator. Meanwhile, in the back Daiki slowly edges his way around a vicious looking pet. It’s some kind of ground bird with a jagged beak he can’t identify off hand. But it’s currently napping very lightly and clearly is not to be toyed with. Killing the creature is out of the question and there’s a detector on the thing’s neck. Which will likely tell the owner if it’s been forced to sleep with Axiom. A very, very solid and intelligent defence. But... one he’s still inching his way around. Although inching is probably the wrong word, most people walk at this pace. He can sneak at it. While his grandson is dancing his way around the cross between a carnivorous toucan by way of a cassowary, Daiju is slipping into the main office of the leader of Hard Shell Construction and has already guessed the password. Honestly, line of sight passwords are stupid. It only took him two tries to guess that it was her daughters hatchday and name, both of which are clearly marked on the year calendar on the wall. What grabs his attention is an email that is signed at the end with the image of a hand drawn symbol. Two diamonds, side by side in a circle. All of it in yellow. The Darv. It also makes numerous references to allies and... His hairs stick up and he exits everything and puts it into sleep mode before ducking away and out of sight. A full three seconds later and a woman teleports into the room. Daiju’s heart is hammering as he mentally congratulates himself for getting to the level of borderline clairvoyance for his reflexes. His ancestors would be proud, if they could find him. She leaves the room instantly and he quickly gets back on her computer and copies the evidence, then shuts it off again and follows her out. He was quick, so he actually sees her leave the hallway and enter the main reception. Hart’Ghuran is ready for her. She outright flinches when his gaze shifts to her and she clearly contemplates running despite him having no reputation for battle nor a weapon. The story of what he did to the pirates responsible for the Ghuran massacre and his clearly pissed off but controlled state are enough to put her on edge. “Hello, I am Marl’Woor, current head of Hard Shell Construction. What is so important that I’m going to be working hungry the rest of the day?” “Your little organization has been accused, repeatedly and from a wide variety of sources, of being a front and money laundering operation. I am here to ensure that my Duchy is free of such taint.” “...?! You are investigating me and mine when there are numerous criminals and...” She stops as his eyes flick to something behind her. It’s impossible not to notice when his gaze feels like a blade held to the throat. Her heart nearly stops as she’s suddenly aware of a figure in black directly behind her. His eyes hidden behind glasses that reflect her own fear as he throws a data-chip around her and into the waiting hand of The Duke. He plugs it into the small projector on the table and she tries to step away, only for a strong hand on her shoulder to stop her. One of the bodyguards leans forward and begins to read it. “The following funds are to bribe all known investigative and detective agencies up to and including freelancers and local police in order to keep all reports relating to the following individuals to you first for editing and redaction. The Darv symbol follows and after that is...” “A long and exhaustive list of every branch of the Ghuran family still living in the Duchy.” Hart’Ghuran says icily. “This is treachery.” “No, this is clearly planted my lord! Please! This lunatic has me pinned and...” “Contain her in the forest.” Hart’Ghuran says. She starts to collapse like a puppet with her strings cut and then vanishes. The receptionist screams before Dale reaches over and grabs her. She fights the Axiom effect, but her focus is broken when vines grow out from under his sleeve to tie her up. She is then knocked out and sent to be right beside Marl’Woor in The Dark Forest. Hart’Ghuran takes a deep breath, his Axiom Presence screaming his fury as he outwardly looks calm. Then with only a slight frown he nods to the room. “I want all of them, and I want their secrets in a pretty little row in front of me.” The ninjas move, the Barlis follow and around an unmoving but utterly furious Hart’Ghuran, Hard Shell Construction is looted down to the flooring within the hour. First Last Next submitted by /u/KyleKKent to r/HFY [link] [comments]

I am attending a friend's two-day wedding event in Napa Valley in late September. The first day is a tea ceremony with a semi-formal dress code and the second day is black-tie wedding ceremony and reception. I have been to a black-tie wedding before, but have never been to a traditional tea ceremony. The bride's family is wealthy and still lives in Hong Kong; the groom has a middle-class Chinese-American immigrant family. First day dress code: "Semiformal attire, but traditional Chinese cultural clothing encouraged! (Tang Suit / Qipao). Other cultural attire is also welcome, but please do not wear all white or all black outfits." Second day dress code: "The event is black-tie (men - tuxes/dinner jackets with black neckties or bowties, women - full length gowns or formal cocktail dresses, color is encouraged, eg Napa formal)". I feel confident in my outfit for this day -- a floor-length ballgown in emerald that I look great in. https://preview.redd.it/uw50d5zo2wod1.png?width=624&format=png&auto=webp&s=119d04143dde08202aa686c919d4ac1413c9c45e submitted by /u/fizzik12 to r/Weddingattireapproval [link] [comments]

I had this same question a few months back when I relocated to the city for a new job. I always looked for minimal accessories to add to outfits and eyewear plays a major role. So, during any office party or vacation, it felt troublesome to decide which eyeglasses would best complement each occasion.Then a friend of mine suggested checking out the latest trends in men’s eyewear collection, which don’t have many experiments with vibrant colours. After many searches, I selected some frames so that I could choose from them while buying. Here are the frames of eyeglasses and also the reason why I chose them- Tortoiseshell Glasses- Men’s tortoiseshell glasses always give a stylish and sophisticated look because of their design. With sharp dressing like well-fitted outfits or any classic piece of clothing and casual pants, these glasses can elevate your style. Clear Glasses- The invisible look of these glasses helps achieve a minimal look. They are not just stylish but also versatile. They look good on every face shape, and skin tone and blend with all outfits for different occasions. Browline Glasses- The old-school charm and modern flair have maintained the popularity of these glasses. You can pull a sophisticated style effortlessly with these glasses. Your casual co-ord set and the well-fitted party suit will get the perfect touch-up with these frames Rimless Glasses- Rimless glasses are a great choice for those who’re looking for a lightweight and stylish frame for formal or semi-formal attires. Metal glasses- Metal frames are known for their durability and premium appeal. No matter the frame shape, metal frames are a great way to add to your look without being too flashy. Rectangle glasses- The all-time popular glasses in men’s eyewear. The rectangular shape helps to give a nice appearance by providing the right proportion to the forehead and cheeks. These frames are versatile enough that any one pair from the list can go well with multiple outfits and occasions. However, in the long run, it’s suggested that you have different pairs for different needs. You can refer to brands like Specscart that give you premium quality frames at 70% lower prices than traditional brands. It makes it easier for you to own multiple pairs of glasses at the cost of one frame from the high street opticians. They also offer a free home trial service to make the glasses-buying experience even better and more predictable. submitted by /u/halinspecscart to r/TrendyEyeGlasses [link] [comments]

I have 2 weddings coming up (semi-formal and black tie optional) and I'm coming up empty on what to wear. I haven't really been to any formal events since starting to figure out my gender identity and how I want to express that part of myself via clothing. I've been poking around online but probably 90% of results are really masc, mainly suits/tuxes or similar, which is not really my vibe. I guess I'm not really sure what I'm asking here, inspo pics, ideas, search terms, brands, idk. My personal style definitely leans more towards the masc side of the spectrum, but in an androgynous/non-binary kinda way. Suits/tuxes for formal wear feel *too* masc for me, I feel like I want something that isn't identical to what cis men would be wearing, something that's more interesting, dynamic, and agender than a suit. I hope that makes sense? I'd love to hear some ideas from yall, google results are feeling very stilted and binary. submitted by /u/illegal_mongoose to r/NonBinary [link] [comments]

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, elegance remains a timeless and sought-after quality. For men looking to make a lasting impression, cultivating an elegant wardrobe is essential. Whether it's for a formal event, a business meeting, or simply daily life, choosing sophisticated and tasteful outfits can elevate your style. Let's delve into the elements that contribute to an elegant look for men. Tailoring Matters: The foundation of an elegant outfit lies in well-tailored clothing. Invest in suits, blazers, and trousers that fit impeccably. Tailoring enhances the overall appearance, giving a polished and refined look. Remember, the devil is in the details, so pay attention to the fit of your shirts, jackets, and pants. Classic Suiting: A classic suit is a wardrobe staple for any elegant man. Opt for timeless colors like navy, charcoal, or black. Single-breasted suits are versatile and work well for various occasions. Pair them with a crisp white shirt and a silk tie for a sophisticated ensemble. Accessorize with Care: Accessories can make or break an outfit. Choose quality over quantity, and opt for subtle and refined pieces. A well-crafted leather belt, a classic watch, and understated cufflinks can add a touch of sophistication without being overpowering. The Power of Neutrals: Neutrals exude sophistication and are easy to mix and match. Incorporate shades like beige, camel, and gray into your wardrobe. These colors not only convey elegance but also allow for versatile styling options. Luxurious Fabrics: Elevate your wardrobe with luxurious fabrics such as wool, cashmere, and silk. These materials not only feel exquisite but also drape well, contributing to a polished appearance. Invest in quality, and you'll notice the difference in both comfort and style. Footwear Elegance: Shoes are a crucial component of an elegant outfit. Invest in well-crafted leather shoes that complement your ensemble. Classic styles like oxfords and loafers are timeless choices that can seamlessly transition from formal to semi-formal occasions. Grooming and Personal Care: Personal grooming is an integral part of maintaining an elegant look. Keep your hair well-groomed, maintain a neat beard or shave, and pay attention to skincare. A well-groomed appearance enhances your overall elegance. Attention to Detail: Details matter in the world of elegance. Pay attention to buttoning your jacket, ensuring your tie is properly knotted, and your shirt is well-pressed. These small details contribute to an overall polished look. Conclusion: Achieving an elegant look is not just about following fashion trends; it's about cultivating a refined and timeless style. By focusing on tailored fits, classic suiting, quality accessories, and attention to detail, men can effortlessly exude elegance in every aspect of their wardrobe. Remember, true elegance is a reflection of personal style and confidence, so wear your outfits with pride and poise. submitted by /u/BlueCoin93 to r/mensfashion93 [link] [comments]

For William, there was at least one notable upside to living in this new world. His younger sister. He’d been an only child in his last life, and in many ways perhaps that had been for the best. But in this one, he found that the role of ‘older brother’ was one he quite rightly cherished. Possibly because it’s one of the few times I actually get to feel like the grown-ass man I am, he thought as he daintily sipped from his tea. He watched from across the table as his much beloved sibling bit down on a small cake, before letting out a small hum of delight, her long elfin-ears fluttering slightly as she did so. Amusingly, that motion alone marked her as half-elf. Full elves had slightly longer ears, but couldn’t actually move them for whatever reason. “You like it then, Olivia?” he chuckled. The thirteen year old paused in her appreciation of his culinary masterwork, a small piece of icing marring her cheek as she recalled where she was and who was watching. Cheeks coloring slightly, she huffed as she once more resumed the ‘regal’ posture she’d held when he’d first been invited into her room. Though, once more, it was only slightly marred by the dash of white icing smeared across her cheek. Chuckling, William ignored her mumbled complaints as he reached over with a napkin to wipe it away. Kids who thought they were grown-ups were adorable. As he sat back down in his seat, the blonde continued to glare at him for a moment longer before sighing. “Would it kill you to be this pleasant with mother? She would be delighted by these…” “Cupcakes.” He specified as she trailed off. “Cupcakes,” she murmured. “An apt name for a novel concept. Small individual iced cakes that are not too heavy for mid-morning brunch.” William just sat back with a smile as his younger sibling undoubtedly schemed on how best to unveil this latest culinary innovation at one of her tea parties. Apparently, it was a decent way for her to build up the prestige of her burgeoning court, but William was pretty sure she just liked to brag about her older brother. As needlessly arrogant as that presumption was on his part. Though to be fair, said emphasis on his cooking ability was likely just about the only positive thing his sibling could say about him. Well, that and the fact that she even had an older brother, given the relative rarity of men in this world. Slowly, he reached over to pick up one of the cakes in question, the exterior still warm from the oven. He’d hardly been much of a chef in last life, seeing food as more of a means to an end than anything else, but it was a skillset he’d been expected to cultivate in this one. And he had. To great success. Because even if he’d hardly held much interest in the concept back on Earth, he’d still been born in a time of plenty unlike any other time in human history. To that end, he held in his mind knowledge of meals and recipes from across the planet to pull upon. Asian. European. African. Mexican. North American. Indian. He knew he was quietly considered something of a culinary visionary in local circles, a fact his family likely would have been lauded across the land if his poor behaviour didn’t so neatly overshadow it. After all, he thought as he placed down his latest ‘invention’. It’s hard to brag to your neighbours about your prodigiously talented chef son when he insinuates that said neighbours should stick to the salad the moment he actually serves the food. He did know it was one of his selling points regarding his betrothal. Indeed, his fiancée made a point of mentioning it in her semi-frequent letters to him. …Not a single one of which he’d replied to. Still, to give the girl credit, she hadn’t stopped sending them. He frowned at the thought as, naturally, he felt a bit guilty about that. Unfortunately, that was simply the way things had to be. Yet another small sacrifice for the greater good, he thought. “And I’m always perfectly pleasant,” he said, finally answering his half-elven sibling’s opening question. “You’re insufferable. I’m pretty sure you’ve nearly driven Aunt Sophina to drink.” He reclined in his seat dramatically. “Olivia, you wound me, casting such aspersions about your sweet older brother’s character. Oh, woe is me, it seems my dearly beloved younger sister has finally entered her rebellious phase.” “Hardly,” the girl in question scoffed. “You, brother, are quite rebellious enough for the both of us.” William just smiled in amusement. Amusement that only grew as he eyed the maid standing at the back of the room watching them interact with confusion. There were good reasons indeed why it was assumed around the countship that his lapse into ‘villainy’ over the past few years was a direct result of his being passed over as heir due to his gender. Worse yet, in the eyes of many, passed over in favour of a bastard. Less amusingly, it was not lost on him that he was never allowed into Olivia’s presence unaccompanied. Not when she’d been a babe. And not now, after thirteen years of nothing but brotherly affection. There was always at least one maid or one of his aunts present. And while the idea of a ‘combat maid’ had been a laughable prospect back in his own world, in this one, they were a deadly reality. He often watched them train in the morning with the other guards. Indeed, the only real difference between them and the guards was that the maids were paid a bit more to act as servants as well as protectors. It was a highly coveted post. And the woman who was even now creasing her brows in confusion was certainly built for it. Sure, they were called maids, but beyond the gender of that moniker and their role as servants, they had little in common outfit wise with the role they’d had on Earth. The woman’s clothing held more in common with a plain sleeveless cheongsam and pants with an apron across the front. All in gray. Indeed, the only consideration to color in the woman’s outfit was the orange and purple headband that she wore to keep her hair out of her eyes. He’d place her in her late twenties to early thirties. A dark, vaguely middle eastern, complexion that suggested South-Western ancestry. Well-muscled, yet with a little feminine softness. Dark brown hair tied back into a no-nonsense ponytail. A slightly regal bearing, enforced by the sword at her waist. And he had little doubt she had calluses on her fingers to match. However, in the course of his observations he realized he’d missed whatever his sister had just said. “Sorry?” he said, turning his gaze back to her. “I said,” Olivia enunciated with a put-upon sigh. “Would you please stop ogling the help? You’re making them uncomfortable. She’s new and hardly familiar with your… predilections.” Sure enough though, as he looked up, he saw that maid’s face had turned a little red, even if she was quite admirably trying to hide it with a dutiful expression. It said a lot about the world they lived in that a little lingering gaze had such an effect on the woman. Women as a whole generally weren’t used to being ‘ogled’ by guys. Or complimented. Here it was the opposite that tended to be the case. “Predilections. With a word like that, you’d think it was a bad thing,” he hummed before inclining his head in the maid’s direction. “Do you think appreciation for an attractive woman is a bad thing, Serrel? He could see the surprise on the woman’s face, not just at being addressed, but that he knew her name. She needn’t be on the second account. He knew the names of all of his sister’s guards – even those that had just been promoted to the post. Though that knowledge was not unique just to his sister’s maids. He made a point of learning as many of the staff’s names as he could. It cost him nothing, and always both surprised and pleased them that he knew their names. Indeed, he suspected that was just about the only thing that kept his reputation on a relatively even keel with the servants – given that the shit he stirred up with his shenanigans had an unfortunate tendency to roll down hill, despite his best efforts to the contrary. “I… uh…” Ah, her voice was nice too. Strong and smoky, yet with a lyrical accented undertone. Unable to help himself, he continued. “I must say, I know it’s the same uniform everyone wears, but this one really brings out your eyes. Green is such a pretty color.” She was really flushed now, even as she desperately tried to hide it. “Ah, thank you, milord?” Oh, this was fun. He opened his mouth just in time for his sister to swat him on the arm. “Stop it,” she huffed as she sat back down again. “Honestly, why can’t you be this charming to girls your own age? I know you have a fiancée, but I’m sure she wouldn’t begrudge you making a few friends.” She gazed down at her tea. “I know for a fact that Katie still thinks you’re cute despite your horrendous behaviour towards her last year.” He laughed, reaching up to ruffle his adorable sibling’s hair. “Unfortunately for her, I have no interest in little girls.” “She’s your age!” The half-elf squawked as she batted away his hand. Hardly, he thought. I’m a grown man in a teenager’s body. The very thought of laying a hand on someone ‘my own age’ is… He shuddered. Katie was a sweet girl. A nice girl. But she was just that. A girl. Even at sixteen, she was still just a ‘girl’. Even now, the idea that she has a crush on me is only marginally less horrifying than when she had a crush on me when we were both eleven, he thought. It was small wonder he tended to push his ‘peers’ away. To that end, he’d quickly discovered that he had a fairly specific type in the ‘new world’. Mature. Capable. Women. Preferably older than thirty. …Though ironically that still often left him feeling like he was going after ‘younger women’. He’d lived a full life after all. Even with the heart attack, he was chronologically something like ninety-six when he combined both lives. “You’re ogling her again.” He smiled at his sibling’s dry remark. “Ah, my apologies, Serrel. As I said, you really do have lovely eyes. I keep finding myself lost in them.” And other features. Guard training did the most wonderful things to a woman’s figure after all. Especially when combined with good food. “Ah, that’s, uh, fine… sir!” The woman said quickly. Just as his sister was about to interrupt again, a loud knock came from the door. “Ah, that’s probably Aunt Karla,” he said as he stood up. “As I understand it, she’ll be my escort for this trip. Likely as punishment for ‘allowing’ me to steal a Shard from her airfield.” Still, he didn’t miss the way some of the life seemed to leave his sister’s eyes as he spoke. Leaning over, he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Don’t worry squirt, it’s just four years. And I’ll come back down for Winter-Fast.” It was rather telling that the half-elf didn’t bat him away this time. “Promise?” she asked in a remarkably small voice. “Promise,” he confirmed. Straightening up, he turned and opened the door to the hallway, revealing Karla. There was a rather pronounced frown on the usually jovial fighter pilot’s face. “The ship will be ready to depart soon.” Which meant they wanted him aboard now. Sophina had made it clear that he was not to be let out of sight for a moment lest he try to pull an actual runner. Which was why there’d been two guards standing outside Olivia’s room the entire time he’d been inside – and why Serrel had been standing near the window. “It’s a good thing I’m ready to go then.” He smiled beamingly back at the annoyed woman. “I’ve got my travel bag right here.” He lifted the oversized rucksack with one arm, the many items inside jingling against each other as they did. He’d already sent all his other luggage on ahead. His aunt looked less than impressed. “Give me the bag.” “What? You don’t trust me?” She snorted. “Not even a little.” “Hurtful,” he muttered as he handed over the bag. His aunt rifled through the contents, pulling out writing utensils, sketchbooks, journals and then the one thing he’d rather she hadn’t. “What’s this?” She asked as she gripped a small leather bag. One of several. Setting the rucksack down, she poured some of the content of one of them into her hand. “Mud? Sand? Dirt?” she asked, rolling the slightly damp grainy black substance around. Even as his heart skipped a beat as he glanced in the direction of a nearby torch, William kept a smile on his face. It’s damp, he repeated in his mind. Damp. “Exfoliation cream, actually. For my face,” he said with feigned calm. “Ex- what?” His aunt asked. “Skincare,” he said. “Given that I’m liable to meet my betrothed at the end of this trip.” The woman stared at the granules for a few moments more before shrugging and dropping it back into its leather container, before shoving that back into the rucksack. “Well, I suppose even a rebel like you is still a man in the end,” she murmured as she wiped her hand on her flight jacket. “Quite,” he grunted with feigned embarrassment. Smiling for the first time since they’d met, the woman clapped one of the nearby guards on the shoulder. “Alright you lot, let’s get this show on the road.” As William slung the rucksack over his shoulder and moved to follow after his aunt – while the guards fell in behind him - he found himself looking out a nearby window. The view was of the fields just beyond the Ashfield estate, with lush greenery trailing off all the way down to the bay. And above it all, in defiance of gravity and common sense, flew the Indomitable. Looking for all the world like a civil-war era ironclad rebuilt from the ground up to fly, even from this distance he could see dozens of portholes for its gas-powered cannons dotted across the things gleaming metal hull. To the rear of it, two powerful rear-mounted propellers pushed it through the blue skies above. Every now and then, small bursts of blue-green aether burst from the sides as its many aether ballasts corrected the ship’s altitude. And emblazoned proudly across the stern was the symbol of House Ashfield, a white raven over a field of darkness, purple and orange flecks spattered across the periphery. Despite himself, William could admit that it made for an intimidating sight. While all things had their place in the line of battle, it was an undeniable fact that airships stood at the apex. They were the ultimate expression of power in this world, able to destroy entire armies with impunity from the safety of the clouds. Able to cross an entire continent in a matter of days. In a world of swords and bows, the only thing that could realistically challenge an airship’s might was another airship. A fact of life that was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt nearly a thousand years ago when the first elven settlers subjugated the island nation of Lindway. His homeland. An airship was as much a seal of office as it was a weapon of war. A house without one could no longer be said to be able fulfill its military obligations and would soon find itself landless and disowned. And this might well be the last time for a long time that he’d get the opportunity to view it. Or even the time to luxuriate in a nice view of any kind. The coming days would be hard. He couldn’t simply attend the academy. He needed to excel. To dominate. His plan called for nothing less. For now though, for just a moment, he allowed himself to soak it all- “Hurry up, Will.” His aunt called after him. “We’ve got a deadline to keep.” “…The ship’s not leaving for hours yet woman,” he grunted under his breath, though not before adjusting the strap of his pack as he jogged slightly to catch up with her. --------------- Elves. Elves were complicated. Not as individuals. As individuals they were, in William’s unfortunately extensive experience, arrogant snobs who thought that they were God’s gift to the universe as a whole. …Though asking any of them ‘which god’ might well cause trouble. As evidenced by the ongoing holy war in their homeland and the balkanization of the once-united Elven Empire. Fortunately, the local brand of pointed-eared idiots that ruled over his homeland generally had a more cosmopolitan outlook on matters of religion. No, where they got complicated was in the social realities of race relations. For example, when a fourth in line daughter of a relatively small barony and captain of a maritime vessel invited the second in line son of a relatively large countship to dine with her, could the man decline? By rights, even with his gender, William should have held the higher rank. And by law he did. Indeed, even his aunt, as a sky-knight, was of equivalent rank to their host. As such, he should have been able to decline were he so inclined. And he was. Unfortunately, he was a human. And she was an elf. And given that the nation was run by elves, it was rarely wise to snub one of the long lived beings. Thus, his aunt had made the socially ‘correct’ decision and decided to err on the side of caution by accepting her dinner invitation. After all, ignoring everything else, this was a maritime ship rather than an airship – one that happened to be headed to the capital - which meant they’d be stuck with the woman for weeks at least. Something he grew less and less pleased about with each passing moment. “No, you idiot. The dessert fork goes on the furthest right of the placemat,” the captain of the ship they were traveling on lambasted her orcish servant, pitch black eyes flashing ominously as her elfin features twisted with wrath. The poor greenskin woman looked positively terrified as the much more diminutive elf glared at her, fingers frozen in the act of laying out the evening’s cutlery. “Ugh, just get out.” The elf finally snapped, allowing the poor deckhand to start to scarper in the direction of the exit. “And send Sally in! I don’t care if she’s sleeping, I need someone who’s not completely incompetent.” “Of course, ma’am.” The orcish sailor could only nod hastily as she darted out the door, though not before William’s eyes alighted on the thornlike tattoo about her throat. A slave, he thought, fist tightening under the table. He schooled his expression after a second, once more returning to the same sort of placid disinterest he usually wore at social events. And though he could see Karla wore the same, he could tell from long experience that she wasn’t exactly happy about the orc’s presence either. There were no slaves on the Ashfield estate, mercifully, what with them being positioned on the abolitionist side of the political landscape. More as a result of geography than anything else, but there was no denying that the house as a whole held a certain level of disdain for the practice of slavery as a result – seeing it as uncultured and backward. A sentiment much of the rest of Lindholm didn’t share, unfortunately. The captain glared after the fleeing slave for just a moment, before giving both William and his aunt a put upon smile. “I’m sorry you had to see that, young master. Some days it can feel almost impossible to find good help,” Captain Nemoa – as she’d introduced herself – apologized. William nodded absently. “Perhaps it might be easier if your workers were motivated more by remuneration and less by bondage.” The elf just chuckled. “Ah, an interesting perspective, but one I can’t help but feel stems just a little from Southern naiveté. Orcs are a violent sort by nature. If one wishes to motivate them, one must speak in a language they understand.” “Yet you have free orcs in your crew, in addition to slaves.” Karla pointed out. “Not many, admittedly, but I saw a few nestled amongst your other human workers.” Captain Nemoa shrugged. “An unfortunate reality of maritime trade. Skilled deckhands can be hard to come by, and thus sometimes one is forced to rely on less than perfect stock. Rest assured, the fact that those free orcs exist as a minority on my crew is no coincidence.” Not for the first time since he’d come aboard, William found himself wishing he’d been allowed to travel aboard the Indomitable rather than this, a contracted sea-ship. Unfortunately, he knew the Indomitable wouldn’t be allowed to stray beyond the borders of the Ashfield domain for anything short of a direct summons from the royal family. It was just too valuable to risk. Indeed, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the thing was more valuable to the family than every member of the family. Ignoring the not-insignificant cost in iron and wood that made up its construction, the mithril that powered the whole ensemble was in a very literal way priceless. There was a reason why maritime trade ships still existed despite much faster flying alternatives existing. That said ships were a convenient place for a family’s third, fourth and fifth daughters with no skill at arms to be placed was just a coincidence. “Still, let’s not sour the evening with politics,” said the woman, just as another figure arrived. A human woman who was dressed much more finely than the orc she’d just replaced. “Especially now that we have some decent serving staff.” Putting action to words, the newly arrived brunette wasted no time in promptly setting out the evening’s meal. A pork roast of some sort with accompanying green vegetables and roasted potatoes. A surprisingly rich dish for a ship at sea, but then this was the captain’s table, and they’d only just pulled away from port that morning. Still, as William cut into his food, he couldn’t help but muse about how many plants and animals from Earth also existed on this world. More to the point, that they were available to him here in Lindholm – given his homeland’s distinctly renaissance era European vibe. After all, potatoes had been a new world crop imported from the Americas back on Earth. Here, they were brought over from the Elven Homeland of Evgara by the first elven colonists. Or invaders, if you felt like being correct. Still, he could admit that thereafter the conversation flowed pleasantly enough, if one ignored that he was conversing with an unrepentant slaver. Despite her rather condescending demeanour, she was still a trader, and thus privy to a lot of information from across the continent. Of course, given that his aunt was a pilot by vocation, it didn’t take long until the conversation invariably shifted around to the topic of her interest. William listened quietly as his aunt talked quite animatedly about the North’s growing demands for more Shards over airships. Something she was quite certain was a tacit admittance that the occupation of the Sunland Marches had fully ground to a halt and that the Marcher Ladies had quietly resigned themselves to a war of attrition against the recalcitrant orcish tribes there. William had his own opinions of course, but he kept them to himself. There was nothing to be gained by speaking up. Not yet at least. Still, it was a topic he could tell the trader wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about or even interested in. Which was why he wasn’t too surprised when she finally changed the topic to him. He’d not missed the way she’d been eying him all evening – and though that was hardly unusual for a woman in this world, he had a feeling that she was after a little more than a few candid glances. “Still, I must say your Law-Son is a handsome young man.” Nemoa finally said. “I must admit, I was a little surprised to discover he was the passenger I’d be transporting to the capital.” William rather neatly ignored the way she was talking about him as if he wasn’t there. It was just one of things he’d learned to get used to. And it’d be coming to an end soon enough anyway. Until then though, he’d continue playing his part. Ignorant of his thoughts, the woman continued. “I mean, I’m aware that humans can afford to be a little more free with their men-folk, but sending him to the academy? It seems like a waste.” Karla simply smiled, catching the subtext immediately. “Oh, it’s nothing quite so scandalous as what you’re thinking. His betrothed is also attending the academy. This is as much a chance for them to have a proper courting period as anything else.” Sure, his aunt was carefree, but she was still nobility. And thus knew the best lies held a little truth. After all, she could hardly say that he was actually headed to the academy in an attempt to straighten him out and turn him into a proper noble. “Honestly, I’m not sure why more houses don’t do it,” she continued. “Girls get a chance to meet their future peers there and form valuable relationships for when they rule. Why not young men as well?” Indeed, that was honestly why most noble scions attended the academy. Not to learn how to fight, but to make connections. And act as hostages to the royal family, he thought. It was after all, no coincidence that the Royal Academy was located next to the national capital. Plus, a formalized and standardized education on war did actually provide significant dividends to the country’s military power. There was no term of service after training for noble scions, but still meant they returned home with at least some idea of how to command and fight during an actual war. Something that had been far from guaranteed with the nobility of Earth. It was a system that had already proven itself in clashes against both the Lunarin and Solites. Both of the balkanized states had suffered greatly in their last two attempts to reincorporate Lindholm into ‘their version’ of the old Elven Empire. Nemoa sniffed. “Useful or not, I imagine most consider it uncouth for a man to learn the arts of war, even if he has no intention of using them.” William tried not to smile at that. A feat made easier by an urge to frown at the unsubtle disdain in the woman’s voice. Still, she’d gotten the hint that he wasn’t on the market. Sure, a human male might have been a bit of a step down for an elf, but given that she was the fourth born daughter of a reasonably small noble house, a man of his stature – and age - would actually be quite a catch for her. “Yes, well I suppose we’ll have to wait and see how it all works out,” Karla murmured around her glass, rather neatly bringing an end to that topic of conversation. ---------------------- “Sorry about that,” Karla grunted as she practically stumbled across the deck towards their rooms. “I mean, we both knew she’d probably be scoping you out for some kind of match, but it was still probably annoying.” William was barely listening. Truth be told, he was rather irritated. Nemoa had spent the latter half of the evening playing footsie with him under the table. In a distinctly deniable manner of course, but she’d still managed to get him rather warmed up before they finally managed to leave. After all, just because he wasn’t officially on the market didn’t mean there weren’t other opportunities available for a woman who spent most of her time at sea and likely only laid eyes on a man in the flesh once every few months. Unfortunately for her, she was also a slaver, and he’d sooner fuck a sky-jelly than that elf. The scent of the sea breeze and the cool moonlight overhead did serve to cool his ire somewhat. The sun had set while they’d been in the captain’s cabin and the ship’s wooden deck was empty but for a few night watchwomen. Of course, just as the last hints of unwanted arousal were beginning to dip away from his thoughts, his eyes happened to alight on a nearby orc. The well-built greenskin woman looking out to sea, a slightly bored expression on her tusked features. Older than the one that had attended the captain, her skin was also a slightly darker shade of green from time likely spent under the sun. More importantly, she didn’t have a slave-mark about her throat. Which, as the captain had said, wasn’t totally uncommon. Just because all slaves were orcs, didn’t mean all orcs were slaves. Lindholm had plenty of ‘free orc’ villages down South. They were still second-class citizens relative to both humans and elves – there certainly weren’t any orc counts or above - but they weren’t universally born into servitude or inevitably taken as war-thralls like they’d be up North. That was why he felt quite comfortable enjoying the way her decidedly loose tunic was practically hanging on by a single button. The move, likely made out of consideration of the Southern heat, exposed a large swathe of viridian green cleavage and some mouth-wateringly tight washboard abs. Idly, she started to yawn, only to freeze in place as she noticed him looking. The sailor’s surprise lasted only a moment though, before she actually had the audacity to favour him with a saucy wink. Which, given the difference in their social status, was more than a little risky. Especially with his aunt and protector right next to him. And though she was slightly sauced, she also had a bolt-bow slung over her shoulder. Sure, Ashfield didn’t take orc slaves, but that didn’t exactly mean they were paragons of racial equality either. Quite far from it. Fortunately, the human woman hadn’t noticed her law-son being checked out by a base-born orc woman and William had no intention of informing her. Which was why he was alone in being able to savour the stunned surprise that came over the sailor’s face when he winked back. She’d clearly been expecting him to scowl or flush and look away in embarrassment, which was why she was so taken off guard. Then she flushed slightly, a hint of something hungry entering her gaze as her eyes continued to track him. Savoring his small victory after a particularly annoying evening, William continued to stride on. “You know,” he began. “If you wish to repay me for enduring a particularly unpleasant evening on behalf of House Ashfield’s reputation, you could do so by spending the remainder of it elsewhere.” “What?” “I mean, I’m tired and I want to catch some decent sleep. Something that will no doubt be quite impossible with your current… odour.” At his guardian’s affronted look, he continued. “I can smell the wine on your breath from here. And it was not a particularly good vintage.” “You can’t!” Karla hissed indignantly, though not before placing her hand over her mouth. “Plus, you snore.” He continued matter-of-factly, as if she hadn’t spoken, resisting the urge to chuckle at her expression. “What- I do not! How would you even know that!?” He shrugged. “I have my ways. And more to the point, I’m after a decent night’s sleep.” It seemed their short conversation was enough for Karla to sober up a little, as she moved to stand in front of him before he started descending below deck. “Jokes aside, you know I can’t agree to that, Will.” She gestured to the quietly watching night watchwomen around them before whispering. “I know this is your first time out in the world and it’s exciting, but I’m here for your protection. A ship full of lowborn women like this is not a safe place for an unaccompanied man. You understand that, right?” He nodded, which seemed to relieve her – until he continued. “I do. Though I’d point out that said danger is somewhat nullified by the fact that you, me and our dear captain are the only ones on the ship capable of flinging lightning bolts at will.” He waved his hand about. “Which makes the prospect of some degenerate overpowering me and dragging me into a dark alcove significantly less likely.” Never mind that he was a man and this theoretical assailant would be a woman. Which admittedly didn’t mean much where orcs were concerned, but he had about hundred pounds on just about every human woman aboard. And the only elf was the captain. His aunt still looked resolute though, so he continued. “Look, I’m not asking to roam the ship alone. Just some decent sleep. You can escort me to the door of our cabin yourself and then give me the key. So long as the door is locked no one is getting in without my say-so, or by waking up the entire ship trying to bash the door down.” It wasn’t lost on him that the ship’s guest quarters had a very heavy door. He watched the pilot mentally hum and haw for a few seconds before she sighed. “Fine. I suppose a young man deserves a little privacy. I’ll see about bunking in one of the spare officer’s quarters for the night.” And hopefully for a few nights to come, William thought excitedly. Outwardly though, he just gave his favorite aunt a beaming smile. “Thanks Aunt Karla.” Moments like these, it didn’t matter to him that they weren’t actually related by blood. The woman was ‘just’ a member of his dad’s harem when he’d been alive. It changed nothing. Awkwardness regarding her trying to ‘baby him’ aside, the woman across from him was family. “No problem kiddo,” she said with a smile. “I know you’re a giant pain in the ass, but… I get why you might be. Besides, you’ve got a good heart underneath it all. And while stealing that Shard was a damn fool thing to do, and nearly cost our house a lot, you did save those two women.” She reached over to ruffle his hair. “This old woman damn near died of pride seeing you flying the old thing – even if you did crash at the end.” His eyes dipped to the deck as he muttered, “there was sea-water in the right ballast.” His aunt just laughed. “Yeah, that tends to happen when you try to perform a sea-landing without floats. And no training. At some point in this trip you’re going to have to tell me how you learned to fly, because I know I sure as shit didn’t teach you.” He laughed in turn as he followed his aunt below deck. …Though not before turning back and to throw a small wave and a second wink in his still watching admirer’s direction. Previous / First / Next Another three chapters are also available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bluefishcake We also have a (surprisingly) active Discord where and I and a few other authors like to hang out: https://discord.gg/RctHFucHaq submitted by /u/BlueFishcake to r/HFY [link] [comments]

I’ve been invited to a morning wedding with a “beach semi-formal” dress code. It’s literally on a beach, and guests (including my toddler/kindergarten offspring) are supposed to stay on the beach and picnic/play for 3 hours afterwards. The average temperature range is 15-23°C and typically overcast, so it could be quite chilly. The water will be too cold for swimming, but paddling might be doable. The couple’s put together a Pinterest board to explain what they mean by “beach semi formal”, which is strappy ruffled floral midis for women and linen suits for men. My own aesthetic leans more menswear or COS, which tend to need proper tailoring or statement accessories for glamor, which I’m struggling to reconcile with hanging out on a cold beach with little kids for a few hours. Please help me think this through: Is a tailored linen suit I can roll the trousers legs up on and a windbreaker/sweater for after my best choice? Is there any way I can wear a linen or cupro dress that will still look fancy enough? (say https://www.birgittahelmersson.com/products/zero-waste-pdf-pattern-gather-dress or https://sewhouse7.com/products/the-tea-house-top-and-dress, but I’m not sure what I’d layer over the latter for warmth.) I own navy linen palazzo pants and a lace trimmed white sleeveless collared shirt. Is there any easier-to-match alternative to a blazer that could make this register as a suit? Alternatively, if I make a matching linen halter top for the palazzo pants so it looks like a fancy jumpsuit, what could I layer over it? The wedding couple have invited guests to dress in the wedding’s theme colors, literally none of which I have. Is this a typical request? Do people actually do this? I’m family, so presumably in some photos, but not in the wedding party. Any other outfit I should be considering? Long sleeve jumpsuit or sweater dress or…? submitted by /u/Planningtastic to r/fashionwomens35 [link] [comments]

I am NOT OP. Original post by u/insanepeopleonfb in r/ChoosingBeggars ​ Note - ORIGINAL POST + UPDATES made on Facebook and screenshots were posted on Reddit ​ ORIGINAL POST - Screenshot From FB - 5th Dec 2018 Hey everyone! Who's ready for Hawaii 2019? In anticipation of the wedding, and believe me, I know it's a longgg way away...but... I would still like to announce the dress code! I am giving you a long notice of a year and a half so that you will have time to find and pick out something nice. The dress code is very specific because it will be used to create an incredible visual effect. If done right, it will make our synchronized dancing along the [redacted] beach really pop. SO, without further adoo.. WOMEN (100-160 LBS) GREEN Velvet Sweater ORANGE Suede Pants Loubotin heels (the famous RED heeled shoes. when we spin and lift our feet, the effect will amaze you) Burberry Scarf MEN (100-200 LBS) PURPLE Fuzzy Jacket Soda Hat All White Trainers Plain Glow Sticks WOMEN (160 LBS +) All BLACK sweater and pants. Any material. BLACK heels MEN (200 LBS+) All CAMOFLAGE BLACK sneakers CHILDREN RED from head to toe. Remember the kids will form the shape of a heart, it needs to be true red not blood orange or some bullshit! Additionally, we will require that you wear formal attire after the dancing has ended. Please bring a change of clothing. Remember, the venue is extremely upscale, and we want to be looking our absolute BEST ladies and gents please, if you look like trash, so will we. All jokes aside, we want you to invest in an outfit valued at at least $1,000. This includes jewlery, accessories, makeup, and hair. Remember ladies and gents, this wedding is 24k themed for a reason. You have a year and a half to get working. No excuses! Mwah ​ Comment by u/RatherBeYachting - Has anyone considered how awful this color scheme is? I had a hard time picturing this shit in my head so I made a very low effort paint mock-up. Edit: I totally skipped over the Burberry scarf and the glow sticks. What kind of monster makes people wear a Burberry scarf in Hawaii? ​ UPDATE - Screenshot From FB -1 - 5th Dec 2018 ..Hello Invitees! .. A VERY Important Update. Please read. It has come to my attention that someone went all the way down in this groups creation to screenshot the dress code requirements. The screenshot was taken wildly out of context and has gone semi viral on Facebook and Reddit. I have seen MY POST twice on my regular Facebook account. I could not be more crushed, betrayed, or saddened. I trust each and every one of you so intimately. Knowing someone went behind my back and made fun of me is one of the worst feelings everywhere. And boy, will you be paying. Therefore, I am announcing one of the most unique parties you will ever be invited to in your life (besides my actual wedding.) In honor of the snitch who sold me out, I will be hosting the first ever Polygraph Party at my house, this Saturday at 8:00PM. Bring your inner Sherlock Holmes because we will be hunting out the snitch who put me on blast. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. We just bought a real polygraph test for $99 on Amazon. After the testing is over and we find the rat who did this, we will all celebrate with drinks and appetizers. If you can't make it to the Polygraph Party, you will be presumed guilty unless you can provide a valid excuse. We can make this party a unique and good one that will be told for years to come. I promise, as long as you're innocent, you have nothing to worry about. I highly suggest whoever did this just tell me. I won't retaliate, I will simply cut all ties and communication with you (and talk shit about you for a long, long, time.) If you have any information about who violated my trust and my wedding planning, I will give you $100. Next-- if any of you are unhappy with the dress code requirements, it's okay! You can come talk to me .. Instead of participating in the dance, you can help the crew clean up after dinner, volunteer to take videos of our dance, or even contribute to the honeymoon. Anything counts... Finally, I am outraged at the comments these internet trolls have made about the dress code. DO YOU FUCKING KNOW ME? DO YOU KNOW WHY WE ARE DOING THINGS THIS WAY? No??? Then shut up! Go back down to your scum basement and play video games and never fucking make comments about people you don't know. My husband and I are certified spiritual healers with over ten years of experience. You all know this. Our wedding colors, fabrics, and intimate synchronized dance are something we hold very dear to our hearts. The expensive clothing represents the riches we wish to come. The black and camouflage outfits represents the aura of the devil that we must shoo away. The soda hats represent our wishes for an abundance of life saving liquid. You get the picture. We met at a psychic's desensitization chamber over 12 years ago in Italy, as you all know. Why not bring our traditions and beliefs into our wedding? Would you show up at an Indian persons wedding and make fun of their culture and their tradition? If not, don't judge ours. Anyway, I am so tired having to explain myself over and over. Please keep me updated. ​ UPDATE - Screenshot From FB - 2 - 12th December 2018 Polygraph Party Results-- Many of y'all have been asking how Saturday's Polygraph Party went. It was fantastic. Attendance was 100%. The $99 Polygraph machine from Amazon was a bit shitty, but it did the job. I asked y'all simple questions such as "did you leak my dress code to the internet?" and "do you secretly hate me?" Friends, it is with only the deepest joy that I can announce the identification of the snitch. My former friend, Stephanie, was immediately removed from my property. She confessed to leaking my posts and ridiculing me online. My original dress code has gone viral because of her AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD WILL NEVER FUCKING UNDERSTAND THANKS TO STEPHANIE. Good riddance!! Now the Hawaii 2019 wedding can go on! Thank you to my best friends Lynn, Jackie, Kristie, and Jax. You were very helpful in allowing me to set up my Polygraph text and eliminate the snitch, Stephanie. Dress Code Update: PLEASE buy your soda hats ASAP. We will be hosting another event in a few weeks in which we will be modifying them. IF you would prefer a helicopter hat, by all means, go buy one. Time is of the essence. Ladies, let me be CLEAR. Your secondary outfit MUST total at least 1k. We are 24k themed after all. Please submit photos of your synchronized dancing outfits no later than ONE MONTH. I will be telling each and every one of you what is wrong and how to improve it. ​ ETA - u/CrushMyCamel added additional Info in the comments There is so much to love. EDIT: one of the guests responded lol EDIT 2: hahahaha here we go - Outfit Example EDIT: According to the same source this is the polygraph she ordered. ​ Reminder - I am not the original poster. submitted by /u/Mist0fCapricorn to r/BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]

I hate traditional western dress clothes for men. Choosing an outfit to wear to a formal/semi-formal wedding is always a struggle for me. I absolutely love the look of sherwani, though! I feel great wearing clothes like this—confident and cool and all the ways that stylish suits are supposedly meant to make you feel. But I’m a normal white guy. My wife thinks it would be tone-deaf and an act of cultural appropriation for me to wear an outfit like this to our friend’s wedding. The dress code for the wedding itself is something like “fashionably formal”… they’re cool people and I’m sure plenty of folks will show up strutting their stuff with a little more flare than you’d expect to see at a run-of-the-mill wedding. I have the utmost respect for Indian culture, and by no means seek to mock anyone. I don’t think of this as a “costume” or anything like that. I just think that westerners get a lot of things wrong, and men’s dress fashion is one of those areas. Sherwani look great, feel great, and are in my honest opinion just a superior look compared to a normal suit. But am I being tone-deaf and insensitive? Or, will I at best give the impression that I’m some dumb wannabe-enlightened tech bro who thinks he’s so evolved that he transcends cultural norms? Am I the a**hole? submitted by /u/ketchupaintreal to r/OUTFITS [link] [comments]

I am not the original poster. That was u/Uninvited_1011, but she has since deleted her account. She posted in r/AmItheAsshole. Another Florida Man story to cover up spoilers. On March 13, 2019, a Florida Man in a Spider-Man mask stole liquor from a liquor store. He was caught because he walked in first without the mask on, revealing his face. He left, went to a second hand store, bought the mask, and returned to steal. Trigger Warning: OOP mentions an eating disorder in her comments Mood Spoiler: honestly don't know what to put but nothing terrible happens Original Post: March 13, 2023 My (29F) friend Kate (28) has a boyfriend, Jamie (29), whom she has been with for nearly 3 years. We met Jamie on a night out, and I would say that although he's Kate's bf I consider him a friend. We share an interest in a particular sport that we text about sometimes and if I have a spare hospitality ticket to one of the sporting fixtures, I will sometimes invite Jamie to go. Jamie's 30th is coming up and Jamie and Kate planned a big party, and I peripherally helped out with logistics when asked. A few days ago, Kate texted me. She asked if I wouldn't mind "toning down" my look for the party, and if I could send her a picture of what I was planning to wear. I asked her what this meant and after asking several times if she "really had to say it" she asked if I could dress (verbatim) "basically what [I] would consider frumpy" because she really didn't want to be outshone at her own boyfriend's birthday party. When I didn't reply right away she went on to say that she wanted Jamie's full attention that night, which she wouldn't get if I showed up dressed properly. I was a bit annoyed by what she was implying so I said if I was going to be so much of a concern for her, I'd rather just politely decline the invitation. Kate freaked out saying I was being immature by not coming just because I couldn't steal the spotlight. I said it wasn't about that, it was about her making me responsible for whether or not I draw her boyfriend's attention, which is something I've never tried to do nor done as far as I'm aware. She then said it was really important to Jamie that she stand out because his friends and colleagues would be there. I just told her that again, if she was so worried I was going to be distracting everyone, I'd rather not come than feel humiliated from now until the event. I said I would send her Jamie's gift and she could tell him why I wasn't coming. I guess she didn't tell him the reason because Jamie messaged me saying he knows I'm "booked" the night of the party but he'd really like it if I could be there, and asked if I could reorganise so I could come. I hadn't replied, but I got a message from Kate saying she knows Jamie is trying to get me to come and please could I just put my pride aside and come to the party. I asked if she was going to ditch the outfit policing, but she said no, so I said I would not be coming. She didn't reply, but I've since received a couple of texts from mutual friends saying that while her request is ridiculous, Kate is aware of that, she's just desperate to be seen a certain way and even if it's pathetic I would probably feel the same way in her shoes. Other friends I've told (who don't know Kate) say I should not bow to the pressure and that she's nuts for even asking, and I don't disagree, but also I feel bad skipping the party when it's Jamie's birthday and he asked specifically that I come. So, should I be going? Relevant Comments: Info: I know this is probably gonna sound bad but how good are you two looking compared to each other? OOP: "Lol this is the world's most uncomfortable and unfair question that absolutely needs to be answered really. I am considered more conventionally attractive than Kate, and have been since we were in school. I will say, over the years, I've had certain enhancements so the way I look now is not entirely natural so is probably not a fair comparison anyway, but of the two of us I've always received more male attention. I obviously don't think male attention is the goal or be all end all of life, but I can admit it might be a factor in Kate's thinking here." Are you and Jamie (the fiancé) actually friends? "Yeah, we're really friends. I'm married, so even if he was single, I wouldn't be. And even if we were both single, he wouldn't be my type, and I've known Kate long enough that she should know that." Is your husband going to the party? "He will be travelling for work. But even if he was home, he has an incredibly demanding job and after a 17 hour work day the last thing he wants to do is go to party, especially with people he doesn't really mesh with. I don't blame him haha it's not his vibe." Any chance Jamie is into you? "I really hope not. I was with my husband the night we met Jamie. He actually came over with his boss who was trying to hit on me lol. That was be crazy if he had liked me from then knowing I was taken." "I don't think he's into me, he's never given me reason to think he is. That said, I probably wouldn't know because why would he even hint at that if it were the case. Kate has never said he is, he's never said he is, so I'm going to presume that's not the case." Lots of questions about how OOP dresses, etc. "I don't generally wear overly revealing clothing if that's what you mean. I take a lot of pride in the way I look, which includes being dressed well and appropriately for every occasion. I was never planning on showing up to the party in a latex cut out dress lol." "Nobody has ever felt the need to discuss my outfits with me before. I attend/host one formal/semi formal event a week on average, often more in summer, I work with a stylist to make sure I'm always dressed appropriately, and no one has ever said anything negative about the way I present myself. Jamie's party is semi-formal. I know because I helped them book the venue." Why can't she wear something toned down? "It's not that it would kill me, but a) I don't know what "tone it down" means. I own the clothes I own, they fit how they fit, and thanks in no small part to a boatload of aestheticians, my face and body are what they are, I'm genuinely not sure what she wants me to do, and b) she didn't say "a little" she said "frumpy" which to me means she wants to pointedly underdress for the event, which is fundamentally embarrassing and in my opinion quite rude to show up to an event purposely not being mindful of how formal it is. So no, it wouldn't kill me, but it would make me stand out, just not in a positive way." People question why she texts Jamie and/or is his friend: "Why am I texting him? Because we have a mutual interest, and since we met we've talked about that interest. I invite Jamie (maybe twice a year, not often) because my husband buys me "all access" type tickets for sporting fixtures and sometimes ends up not being able to go, and Jamie is the only other person I know who enjoys the sport, and I know he doesn't get the opportunity to go. Kate really doesn't like the sport, and when I've asked her if it's okay to invite Jamie she's always been enthusiastic about it. For his birthday, I did give them a pair of passes for one of the events, and all she did when I told her I'd send them was to complain that I got him a nicer gift than her. If Kate or Jamie has an issue with the boundary then I think it's fair to say it's their responsibility to communicate that." OOP is voted NTA Update Post: March 21, 2023 (A week later) First of all, thank to everyone for the advice. Most responses were not what I was expecting and really gave me a lot to think about. As surprised as I was that so many people said to tell Jamie, I did realise it was the right thing to do. So, I texted him and told him that Kate was insisting I dressed a certain way. Jamie called and explained. A couple of months ago, Jamie and Kate were out with a few of his friends (these same friends that I mentioned in my comments are not fond of Kate), and everyone had had a lot to drink. They were talking about how they met their SOs, and the story of Jamie and Kate meeting came up. Apparently during the telling of the story Kate asked Jamie why he had decided to hit on her rather than me, and one of his friends joked that it was because he knew he didn't have a shot with "the hot one" - me. Kate asked if this was true, and Jamie having had WAY too much to drink, explained in a way that made it sound kind of true. He said he did notice me that night and thought I was attractive, just seeing me. He said he would never have approached me because he knew he would never have a chance with someone like me, so in that way, his friend was right. He said that speaking to Kate was the absolute best outcome because he loves her and plans on spending the rest of his life with her, but even knowing this, Kate has taken this extremely hard, and even though she says she is over it, he's noticed changes in her behaviour that seem to be related to that. He also admitted that he'd been planning to propose to Kate at the party and that is why he'd wanted me to be there, but after hearing this on top of the way she has been handling the situation previously, he won't be doing that anymore. After speaking to Jamie, I called Kate. She admitted that she had tied a lot of her self worth in the fact that she'd finally been picked over me and now it felt like that wasn't true. She apologised for trying to solve her insecurities through me, but also said she wasn't sure she would be able to have me in her life as much as I had been with the way she's been feeling. As hurt as I was, I said I understood. She said she still wanted me to come to the party, since I'd helped organise it and she obviously dropped the absurd dress code, so I will be going to the party. I trust that Kate will communicate her boundaries to Jamie but I don't plan on inviting him to any more events for the foreseeable future. I'm really sad that I've probably lost a longtime friend over the drunken awkwardness of other people, but I also get that Kate can't help how she feels, and frankly it's for the best not to be in a secret competition. So, yeah, I'm hurt, but I'm going to the party. Not a satisfying update, but an honest one. UPDATE: (Same Day, Same Post) Going through these comments has actually brought up a couple of memories that have, in hindsight, made me a bit uncomfortable, and I actually don’t think I will end up going to this party. As much as the mutual friends will have questions and I don’t know how much of the truth I will end up telling, I feel too weird right now to continue to be involved in this situation. Relevant Comments: (OOP had a lot of comments with lots of info, but I tried to keep it as concise as possible) More info on the boss hitting on her situation: "I don't know if he did, but his boss came over and paid for our drinks and was very full on with hitting on me, and he introduced Jamie in a very much "and this is my friend" type way. I don't know if he'd have come over to talk to Kate but he said point blank he would never have come over to talk to me." People comment that it comes across like she's thinking highly of her own beauty in comparison: "I'm pretty sure most people have been seen across a room by someone and that person has thought they were attractive. That happens to the vast majority of people at one point or another. My point is, you almost never end up with those people because in the end, that's not what matters." "I'm "the hot one" in the relative bubble of this group of people. I have a friend group where I'm not "the hot one". I am aware I'm generally considered good looking but I'm definitely not just "the hot one" in any given situation. And it is a shame people care so much about looks, especially where women are concerned. Just because I happen to acknowledge that I benefit from that, it doesn't mean I think it's a nice thing. Short of taking some kind of militant stance and disfiguring myself, I can't do anything about people thinking I'm attractive. But I also make it a point not to make my life about that, because I know how little being attractive feels like anything most of the time." Pretty privilege and having work done: "I had a boob job, because after 6 years of different eating disorders, the weight loss/gain cycle had done some not so nice things to my body that I wanted corrected. And I never liked my nose. And yeah, my life is better because of how I look. I wouldn't be married to my husband if this wasn't how I looked. I go backwards and forwards some days on whether I like these facts or not. It's not about having a cross to bear so much as not thinking it's fair to be made to feel like the way I look is an inconvenience to the people around me, which is how I felt through this whole thing. No one has to feel sorry for me for the way I look and as much as I feel bad for Kate that Jamie and his friends did a dick-ish thing, I don't feel sorry for how she looks either. I feel bad that a years long friendship has been ruined over something as petty as looks." Regarding her husband liking her for her looks originally: "And this is coming from someone whose husband did (or says he did anyway haha) see them across the room and have a "I have to meet her" moment. I love that for him, but he's not the only man who's seen me across the room and wanted to talk to me, but I didn't end up with any of them because lasting relationships go so far beyond that. And in the years since, he's seen hotter women, it doesn't tarnish our relationship." People asked why it mattered to her so much that her friend asked, because it doesn't hurt to ask: "Well, I sort of used ask and demand interchangeably there, but fundamentally, asking someone to dress "frumpy" (which would have been inappropriate for the style of the event because it is a formal party) because you don't want people to look at them (again, debatable how much this even would have happened) is pretty crappy, in my opinion. I like to see my friends being their best selves all the time. I've celebrated every achievement and milestone in my friends' lives whether or not that's something I could achieve or would have wanted to in another life. That's just what friendship means to me. And as much as people would like to make out that I don't ever suffer from insecurity or jealousy, of course I do, but I will never make that. friend's problem to solve, and make them feel like something that only has to do with me has to do with them because it doesn't. That's not being a friend, to me. Especially because Kate knows that how I dress is as much a part of who I am as my sense of humour, and I have always done it to alleviate social anxiety, not as some ploy to draw people's attention. If Kate had asked everyone to dress down for whatever reason, that's one thing, but asking only me (and then telling our other friends about it) is making me directly responsible for the feelings she is dealing when I'm not. For me, friendship is enjoying each other as you are, not bartering for "first" position on an imaginary podium. And if you don't enjoy being around that person anymore, just don't be friends with them, don't ask them to pander to you, because what's going to be left of an authentic friendship in the end?" A few people criticize her for not being sadder for Kate: "I already said what Jamie said was shitty, and what his friends said is shitty. I've met them multiple times, they're kind of shitty people in general, I'm just not surprised one of them pulled that kind of crap, frankly. And no, Jamie and I would not have hit it off. I was dating my now-husband at the time, and even if it I wasn't, never in a million years would I have hit it off with Jamie, I don't like him like that, we are very different people, we do not vibe on that level. I am absolutely sad for Kate that this is how things played out, and I'm sad that years of friendship has to go down the drain over Jamie because my God is he not worth it. But, I have realised over the course of this whole incident that Jamie is not the beginning and end of the issues between me and Kate. Her self esteem being partially dependent on "winning" over me in a competition I didn't know we were in isn't the way you think about a friend, and it was never how I thought about her. And for her to try to embarrass me, or pull me up for some imagined slight based on something that never had anything to do with me in the first place isn't being a good friend either. And I would have worked on it, honestly I would have, because I love her, but she doesn't want to, which is fine, but I won't be pretending she was in the right for how she's handled this in regard to me because she isn't." One more surprise: someone asks if Jamie thought of himself as better looking, would he have gone for her? "In an uncomfortable twist, I've worked out it's actually not because of his looks. It's because he's not richer." "This is super weird, because I've literally only been putting the pieces together in the last few hours since this all happened. But yeah, looking back on it, Jamie has always teased me (in group situations, not over text or in any inappropriate way) about dating successful men (this is a running joke amongst my friends hence how he knows about it). He's also said a lot of things in the vein of "if you're a guy it's not about looks, it's about money". OMG. It's all coming back to me now. One time him and Kate were out with me and my husband and Kate and I were in the loo, and my husband and Jamie were talking about cars and he mentioned my new car and (jokingly) how he spoils me and Jamie said something like "well yeah, girls like her, you have to, don't you". And me and my husband laughed about it at the time because we thought it was him making a dig at me but looking back on it, now I'm like... Ugh, this is getting gross." Annnnd some people criticize her for not staying friends with Kate: "I don't plan on being friends with Jamie after this, so I have dropped him. As I said in the update, Kate doesn't feel she wants to be my friend right now. That's totally fine, but I'm also not going to run after Kate and beg her to be my friend because honestly she didn't handle this right. For someone who has been my friend for more than a decade to take her issues with her admittedly crappy boyfriend out on me when I had no part in it, and then attempting to use me to rectify a slight I didn't even know about and certainly didn't commit, that's not her being a good friend either. I was her friend long before Jamie's. Long enough to deserve honesty and better from her." Edit because people are wondering where she works: Someone asks if she is a sugar baby: "Stay at home wife, actually." ​ submitted by /u/LucyAriaRose to r/BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]

Random useless (?) knowledge i have from growing up female (remember rules are for breaking, but its good to know them first…) Please note that these are probably culturally influenced and might not be useful, but its all living in my head and i wanted to get it out of there! Clothing, makeup, fashion…. - It’s illegal (in most countries) to require makeup/heels for a job, but its a socially accepted part of “formal wear” not wearing them is becoming more common now, but that’s not always been the case and some older people might find it weird. - The most important item of clothing is the underwear, everything else can fit perfectly, but it’ll still look a bit off if the underwear doesn’t fit right… - shaving, the reason there’s not a lot of decent female branded shaving foams/creams is because most use conditioner! It moisturises and protects the skin well…. - if you don’t feel comfortable without makeup but want to look natural: bb cream…. (It’s a tinted moisturiser that covers blemishes, has sunscreen and still looks beach ready) - when trying on clothing, try sitting down in them on the stool/ chair int he proving room, it will help see if a skirt rides up, or if clothing dig in at the tummy - tanning…. If the bottle says wear gloves…. Wear gloves! Bottled tan is hard to get right, its better to use a tinted moisturiser, but remember that it builds colour over time….. (or go without because you’re beautiful as you are!) - its totally normal to ask a friend/colleague what they’re wearing to an event. Most will boil down to “a nice dress” (formal), “jeans and a nice top” (semi formal - note that a T-shirt is never in that category..) or some sort of shorts/skirt and vest/tee combo for summer, beach etc. if going to nightclubs/pubs bring clothes and get ready together, that way you set a tone together for how much/little clothing your group has. You don’t really want to be the person with the least clothing on, because that can get uncomfortable as the night goes on…..(some people can be really creepy when out!) (tip for clubbing, bring flats!) - if a skirt feels short, you can wear tights, but its a good idea to practice getting out of the car….. (though this is why cycle shorts were invented!) - unless you have amazing skin, its not worth buying the cheaper face masks… - if your work expects formal wear, have a separate pair of black flats/pumps that you keep at the office, then you can travel in whatever…. - there’s a weird stigma around pooping in a public toilet/ a friends house… Social - a coffee place is a great place to meet friends (and you can often check the website to see what drinks they order if its intimidating, or ask friends what they recommend…) - always bring wine/ some sort of potted plant/flowers to a dinner party, especially if you don’t know the hosts well…. (Red/white is best) - acting dumb is often a defence mechanism, but it can backfire. A lot of guys (and even girls) can be intimidated if you have strong opinions and state them bluntly, though many are working against this now! - if a date pays for your meal you don’t owe them anything more than a thank you (not even a second date) - if you’re at a dinner party and don’t feel comfortable/want some time away from people then you can always do the dishes o move over to the kids table (they have better conversations!) - job interviews - wear some light makeup(even if you don’t normally wear makeup) and try to match something in your outfit to the companies colours (if you know their logo is a certain colour maybe have a scarf of shirt that colour, then they already can picture you working there!) - many guys get intimidated if a girl can change her own tyre/ put up her own shelf, you can decide if that’s a red flag or not - when out, many guys get asked if they have a lighter…. Many girls get asked if they have an aspirin As i said, this is just for fun (though id totally appreciate if anyone adds to it or does a “guys rules” one :) submitted by /u/Outrageous_Garlic746 to r/trans [link] [comments]

My husband and I are guests at my cousins wedding in June and we got the invite today and it says semi formal attire. My husband is a farmer and I WFH and wear leggings and t shirts daily. We both were going to buy a new outfit for this wedding since we really don’t have any nice clothes but I’m unsure of what semi formal is exactly since we are causal dress people lol. Can someone let me know what is considered semi formal for both men and women for a wedding? I just want to make sure I get us both outfits that are appropriate for the wedding. Thanks! ☺️ submitted by /u/kelstay207 to r/wedding [link] [comments]

My wife and I have 3 daughters (19, 24, & 28). Our youngest, Jill, just started community college this year while our 2 oldest have moved away to start their careers. Jill still lives with my wife and I as she is attending college locally and this saves her money. This past weekend we were invited to my niece's (and goddaughter) wedding a couple hours away. The dress code was semi-formal so men were expected to wear suits and women in dresses. As we were getting ready to leave, Jill was taking her sweet time getting ready and I was kind of nagging at her to get going. She had been out late the night before with friends and I'm sure she was feeling the effects of that. When she was finally ready to go, she was wearing some kind of black, spaghetti strap halter-top thing with leggings. I told her that was not an appropriate outfit for her cousin's wedding and that she needs to change into something else. She told me she doesn't have anything else to wear and that I don't get to police what she's wearing. I told her that judging by the amount of dirty clothes on her floor and in her closet, she clearly has other options, she just didn't plan ahead enough to figure something out. I told her it was disrespectful to her cousin, the bride, to wear something to revealing and tacky to their wedding. Jill called me a jerk and said no one is going to care what she's wearing and if people focus on her clothes more than the bride, that's their problem, not hers. I told her in that case, how she is getting to the wedding is her problem, not mine. She asked what that meant and I told her that if that's what she wants to wear, she is going to have to find her own way to the wedding because I am not going to arrive with my daughter looking like she is about to hit a club at 2am instead of attend her cousin's wedding. My wife chimed in at this point and told us both to calm down. She told me I was being over-bearing, but also told Jill that she did not agree with her choice of attire either and reminded her this is a semi-formal event. She told Jill she would help her find a different option that would be better suited for this. Jill scoffed at that and went to her room and closed the door. I went and knocked and told her she has 15-minutes to be ready or we are leaving without her. She yelled at me that I was being an asshole so I went outside to wait and after 20 minutes I went inside and Jill was still in her room. I told my wife that I am leaving and she can either come with me now, or her and Jill can figure out their own plans. My wife asked what Jill is supposed to do and I said she can take an Uber for all I care at this point. My wife reluctantly left with me and I could tell she felt guilty about the whole thing. Jill ended up not coming to the wedding and both her and my wife blame me for it. I don't think I was the asshole here though. submitted by /u/papabearaita to r/AmItheAsshole [link] [comments]

This story takes place almost eight years after my brother married one of Huggy Holly's daughters and inadvertently dragged us all into the kraken-like grasp of her clutching arms. See Bitchbot for the tale of how Li'l GeneralBystander punched her in the tits to enforce the concept of bodily autonomy. A quick dash of backstory. My uncles (Mom's brothers) were both involved in an independent business, along with two other business partners, a father and son pair. They and their family were primarily of Italian descent and, consequently, varying degrees of Catholic. The younger of my uncles' business partners had decided to tie the knot, and Huggy Holly had somehow gotten an invitation to the wedding. I think it was because she was my brother's mother-in-law and Italian Catholic weddings are apparently not complete without the attendance of absolutely everyone with whom the happy couple's families may be even vaguely acquainted, and the older of my uncles' business partners had been at my brother's wedding to Holly's daughter. My Navy brother was at sea and his wife was in Florida, but Huggy Holly flew up specifically to go to the wedding of someone she didn't actually know because she "loves weddings". I think that's Holly-code for "I enjoy opportunities to dress in eye-searing colors and behave inappropriately." Her husband, incidentally, did not attend. He rarely went anywhere with his ray-of-confused-and-confusing-sunshine wife. He was a perpetually silent man whose permanent expression was a milk-souring, mirror-fracturing scowl, enhanced by unusually thick eyebrows that looked like a pair of caterpillars in love, yearning constantly towards each other. I can only chalk up his and Holly's marriage to "opposites attract", though it honestly seemed more like matter and antimatter. My mother, my uncles, and I had zero warning that Holly would be there until the day of the event, when she popped up like a terrible jack-in-the-box to greet us with dolphin-enraging ulutations of delight. The uncle who'd met her previously suddenly saw someone on the far side of the church grounds that he absolutely had to talk to right now, leaving the three of us to deal with her as she swept down upon us. Rather than cerise, as she'd worn at my brother's wedding, she was wearing a shade I can only describe as "violent electric purple", and it displayed a gratuitous amount of boob. No shame intended to women who are proud of their bodies, nor to women with prodigious racks, but seriously, the front of this dress was open halfway to her navel and had glittery purple rhinestone clips doing a heroic job of holding it semi-closed over a cleavage that had its own echo, and the skirt was the length of a placemat. It was a club outfit, not church-appropriate formal dress. Five seconds into talking to Holly--or, rather, being happily screeched at by her--my other uncle, who'd been a Marine, decided that he really needed to go do a thing in a place and pulled off a fast fade. (What would Chesty Puller say about staging a retreat like that, uncle mine? WHAT WOULD HE SAY?!) My mother also needed, urgently, to powder her nose or do confession or find the sacramental wine and chug it all or whatever, and evaporated. Basically, my family deserted me in the face of danger, is what I'm saying, and you can believe that I drag that fact out now and then when it's Family Banter Time. Holly eyed me. I stared back. She scrunched up her plum-purple lips into hemorrhoid-pillow configuration. I shifted to a Kubrick Stare. She flung her arms open. I said, loudly, "No." She took a step forward. I glared directly at her ta-tas and warned, "I will lay you out right here in God's house and explain it to Him later." Miraculously (ha ha), she got the message. She then turned her cuddle-predator gaze on a couple of the younger guests, but they were fast-moving targets. The parental units present were no doubt optimistically hoping that the kids would wear themselves out long enough to sit quietly during the ceremony. Hope springs eternal, I suppose. One of the groom's cousins, a stupid-makingly adorable four-year-old girl with thick curly dark hair and big blue eyes, had an inexplicable attachment to me; I didn't much like small children even when I was one, but I guess children are like cats and gravitate to the people who would rather they didn't. This little girl popped out of the leg-forest of the crowd and ran over to hug me. Holly's eyes flashed "TARGET ACQUIRED" in her snuggle-Terminator HUD, and she attempted an intercept, but the kid juked neatly to avoid her and dove behind my legs. "Ooooh, ooooh, oooooh! What a pretty little princess!" Holly cooed. "I'M NOT A PINSISS. IMMA DINERSAUR. RAAAWRRR," said the kid, giving her an impressive stink-eye and making claw-hands like a teeny tyrannosaur. There was a reason I kind of liked this one. "But you're in such a pretty princess dress!" Holly tried to point out, indicating the kid's ruffle-bedecked deep-green dress, which made her look kind of like she was being slowly devoured by some kind of sea slug. (Go look up sea slugs in Google Image Search. You'll get the idea.) "IT'S CAMERFLOG FOR THE JUMGLE." There was more than one reason I kind of liked this one, now that I think of it. She looked up at me, visibly dismissing Holly, and held her arms up. "CAN HAVE HUG PEEZE?" Yes, a four-year-old had grasped the concept of requesting physical contact, and Holly hadn't. Goddamn, kid, well done. I crouched down and hugged her, because I was mean enough to rub a nice handful of salt into Holly's hug-denied wound, and Holly let out a sudden gasp. "What are you wearing under your dress?" she asked me loudly, which strikes me to this day as an inappropriate thing to say in a church. Or anywhere else. I ignored her, because I didn't want to discuss the classy set of short black bloomers I had on under my vaguely Gothy knee-length dress. Fifteen-year-olds can be terminally embarrassed by anything, and public discussion of one's undergarments falls into the category of "anything". The kid, having obtained her hug, zoomed off to stalk her dad, who thought it was adorable to have his four-year-old try to gnaw his leg off from ambush. "Did you hear me?" Holly asked. "I said, what are you wearing under your dress?" "More dress," I said, my eyes trying to wheel independently like a chameleon in search of an escape route. My mother rescued me before I felt the need to set something (or someone) on fire as a distraction. She swept up and dragged Holly off to meet some of the other ladies from both families. This was fun to watch from a safe distance, if only because they were all dressed much more appropriately than Holly was, and there was a subtle undercurrent of disapproval in their body language. She slipped my mom's leash, though, and kept popping up in various places around the church to inflict herself on total strangers. I'm not sure what-all she said during these intrusions, but I know that she kept asking about the bride's gown. All anyone would say was that it was beautiful, but I don't know if that was from lack of information or out of a totally reasonable reluctance to talk to the weird lady. She also kept commenting on how good-looking the men in the groom's family were (they really are, but further info on that will be relevant later). She commented on this a lot. Way, way, way too much, in fact. Eventually, my mother tracked her down again and rode herd on her until it was time for everyone to take their seats. The ceremony was very long and classy, disrupted only in very minor ways by Holly, who'd managed to snag a seat near us and would not stop sniffling about how wonderful it all was and what a lovely couple they made and how much the bride looked like Princess Grace. I mean, it WAS wonderful, and they DID make a lovely couple, but lady? If their ACTUAL PARENTS are maintaining their dignity, your unrelated ass can stop burbling. And, yes, the gown did actually resemble Grace Kelly's wedding gown, but for fuck's sake, Holly, stop babbling about princesses. After roughly one geologic epoch, the ceremony ended. Everyone but the very oldest and slowest guests rose first and went back down the aisle to stand on the steps with little mesh bags of rice, while the parents of the bride and groom stopped to wait at the doors. The plan was for the bride and groom to come down the aisle together and get hugs/kisses/high fives/fist bumps/elaborate Masonic handshakes/whatever from the parents before stepping outside and getting showered with uncooked grain. (Side note: No, uncooked rice won't hurt birds. That's an urban legend. It's complete nonsense. And even if it did, this was A Major Midwestern City on the Edge of a Really Big Lake and the pigeon population could use some culling; the peregrine falcons can only do so much before they end up too fat to fly.) As my mother and I took up our stations on the steps and the bride and groom began their graceful recessional, I looked around and failed to see an obnoxious purple dress. A sense of foreboding came over me, and I looked at my mom and asked if she knew where Huggy Holly was. She shook her head, then looked suddenly alarmed, and we peered reflexively into the church. An instant later, as if summoned by my dread, Huggy Holly lurched out of the pew where she'd been lurking and glommed the bride and groom--who, I wish to emphasize, didn't even know her personally--in a big weepy happy embrace. Solemnity? Gone. Parents' formal welcoming of their child's spouse into the family? Disrupted. Also, that beautiful wedding dress? Holly managed to step on the front hem. The bride stumbled, the groom tried to steady her, the bride continued to sort of buckle forward to avoid having her skirt torn, the groom went off-balance, and they both toppled into Holly's consuming embrace. The groom came within an inch of lodging his face in the crevasse of her bosom, and she laughed out loud and started saying things about how handsome he was and what a lucky girl the bride was and how he was already getting keyed up for the wedding night and I threw up in my mouth a little just recalling this shit. The best man and maid of honor shot into somewhat belated action to (a) get Holly the fuck away (b) get her off the damn skirt (c) pry the poor groom's face out of the aboobyss (d) get the newlyweds upright and steady again. The couple resumed their trip down the aisle to meet their parents while one of the bridesmaids, the bride's sister in fact, herded Holly back into the pews and lit into her in an undertone. The tirade lasted long enough that the newlyweds and their parents made it all the way to their limousines well before the bridesmaid ever came out of the church, and Holly was at least thirty seconds behind her, wary of getting into close proximity. She whined to my mother about how "that girl was very rude to me, she said some very mean things, why would she be so coarse when I was just so happy for the bride and groom". I stared blankly, because I was young and innocent and had budding social anxiety issues and couldn't fathom the thought process of someone who obliviously hurled themselves headlong into a carefully-planned ceremony the way she'd just done. My mother, however, had an expression that indicated she was contemplating what kind of penance she'd have to do if she choked a bitch out on the steps of a church. The uncle who'd met her before was eyeing the cemetery wistfully, while my other uncle, the Marine, stared stoically into the distance like R. Lee Ermey was shouting enthusiastically into his face on the parade ground and the slightest twitch of expression would result in him doing push-ups until the heat-death of the universe. I didn't hear the full extent of her whine party, because I got dragged off by the four-year-old princess dinosaur, who wanted to show me off to her cousins. I don't know why, as I wasn't very interesting. Maybe she wanted to see just how uncomfortable I could get when surrounded by hyperactive primates who averaged three feet in height. (The answer is "very", incidentally.) She was quite a gracious hostess in the making, though. Her idea of introducing me to her peers was to march up with me in tow and announce, "DIS IS GENERALBYSTANDER. SHE'S FROWNY. I WUB HER." My interlude among the small people came to an end, however, because it was time to go to the reception... where Huggy Holly ramped up her efforts to earn her JustNo badge. Oh yeah, there's going to be a follow-up to this. submitted by /u/GeneralBystander to r/JUSTNOMIL [link] [comments]

THE BASIC WARDROBE by Renalan PREFACE With over 50,000 subscribers, it was high time for another update. Now with reduced vulgarity and expanded options and ideas for the introductory wardrobe. This guide applies to all ages, body types, social standings, or self-perceived personal archetypes. This guide lists the basics and fundamentals of the mens wardrobe and will point to some budget-minded options for this. Read this guide understanding that a lot of noobs can't afford $150 shirts. Remember though, generally, you get what you pay for. Fit is king, nothing can make cheap clothes look better like a good fit, and conversely, nothing can make expensive clothes look cheap like a bad fit. Tagged clothing size varies widely by manufacturer, a small isn't always a small and a large might be a medium. Check out the guide to 'How Clothes Should Fit' for more info. SECTION I – PANTS Jeans - The blue jean is a classic part of American workwear and a staple to any man’s wardrobe you can imagine. Anyone can wear these. Stick with a dark indigo wash. Avoid bootcut jeans, nobody has calves that flare out larger than their thighs. Levi’s 511 – Clean Dark - $39.99 – Slim fitting, tapered leg for the skinnier guy. Levi’s 508 – Rigid Envy - $39.99 – Very similar to the 511, but with more room through the thigh, but still retaining the taper past the knee. Recommended for athletic guys. Levi’s 501 – Clean Rigid - $42.99 – The 'original' denim cut, the cut has grown larger throughout the years. The original 501 fit closer to what the 511 is today. These are more suited for guys with bigger legs. Chinos - Colloquially known as 'khakis', khaki is the color and chino was the material originally used. Levi's makes trousers in most of their jean cuts in varying colors. As a beginner, avoid cargo pockets and pleats. Flat front pants are much more flattering. Dockers Alpha Khaki - $39.99 – These fit slim, close to the 511, black is less versatile than you think, consider navy or the earth tones. Dockers D1 Slim Fit - $39.99 - These fit like 514s, a bit tight in the seat and straight past the knee. Black is less versatile than you think, consider navy or the earth tones. Cords - AKA Corduroy pants. Lots of people wear these as kids. Again, the fit rules that apply to jeans also apply here. Make sure the wales (the thin strips) are small. Levi's makes a lot of these in their jean cuts for similar prices. Shorts - Avoid cargo pockets. Slim, plain front shorts work well during the summer and hotter months. Check out J. Crew Factory and Land's End Canvas for some budget options. SECTION II – THE SHIRT Someone said that a shirt’s collar frames the face, which is important because people look at your face. For this reason I prefer V-necks over crew necks. Graphic tees you ask? Wear them at your own risk, they generally give off an air of immaturity. Mossimo V-Neck Tees - $7.99 – Multiple colors – you can find these at target, they’re slim fitting and v-necked. Similar Tees from LEC: Crew and V There are however other shirts available too, collared button down shirts. Learn to like collared shirts, they can really make your image more mature. LEC Polos - $9.99 – Multiple colors, another basic, less versatile than collared button downs. Button Ups – Stick with long sleeved versions for now. Keep em’ close to the body, off the rack shirts will typically need tailoring. Thicker and heavier weaves are more casual (oxford and twill) and lighter weaves more formal (poplin and broadcloth). There are exceptions to these rules, but this is just a guideline. Make sure your undershirt doesn't show. Lands End Canvas - $20-30 – They have sales on all the time, the shirts aren’t the slimmest, but safe. Alfani Red “Dress Shirts” - $20-$30 - “Sport Shirts” - $20-$30 – These are decent slim shirts on a budget, dress shirts are usually longer and have to be tucked in. Prices vary between $20-$30 and a lot of sales go on. Bar III “Dress Shirts” - $30-60 – More from Macy's, higher quality than Alfani. H&M - $15-30 - H&M doesn't do e-commerce, but they are a very prevalent mall store and carry many different types of button downs. They typically range from $15-30, they are generally slim fitting. J. Crew Factory Button-Ups - $15-40 - J. Crew's outlet store, 30% off sales are relatively frequent. Quality is supposed to be below J. Crew's mainline. Fits are typically a bit boxy, consider sizing down. SECTION III – THE LAYERS “Winter is coming.” So what do you wear? I like sweaters and cardigans, maybe a hoodie here or there. Check out the Fall or Winter Wardrobe guides if you want more info. Merona V-Neck - $22.99 – Collars frame the face, same thing from t-shirts applies to sweaters. LEC Sweaters, Cardigans - $20-35 - Cardigans are very versatile for layering. They definitely give off a more mature vibe than other sweaters. American Apparel Cardigans - $20-30 – Simple and basic, what is said above applies. American Apparel Hoodies - $20-30 – Some people say hoodies are immature, but a slim fitting solid hoodie doesn’t really look that bad. These are for you college kids and youngsters. J. Crew Factory Knits - $25-50 - Again, sales are frequent. Check here for cardigans, v-neck and crew neck sweaters. SECTION IV – THE SHOES Before I learned how to dress myself, I had a pair of ratty ass athletic Nikes, some flip flops and some bulky ass dress shoes. What you want to look for is a slim, rounded toebox that accentuates the shape of the feet. Avoid clunky soles, bulky toeboxes, square/pointed toes and pointless/gaudy stitching. Shoes are often the most expensive part of an outfit, so I’m only going over some cheap basics. Canvas Sneakers - Converse Chuck Taylor All Star - $45 - Vans Authentic - $45 – These are basic low-top canvas sneakers, they usually look good with jeans and other casual outfits. I recommend Optical White for Chucks and True White for Vans. Desert Boots - Clarks - $60-80 – I have developed a loathing for these boots now, but they actually do look decent and I’ll recommend them again. Beeswax is a good color. They go well with jeans and chinos. Brown Boots -LL Bean Katahdin Engineer Boots - $159 - A solid, made in USA no-frills boots. It doesn't have the sleekest toebox, but it is supposed to be built rugged. Can stand up to some weather by adding snoseal, but the soles aren't lugged. Would go great matched with jeans. Wingtips 'Dress Shoes' - Florsheim - $100+ - The perforations or broguing on these 'dress' shoes make them more casual, allowing them to be suitable for smart casual or upscale casual wear. They go great with jeans or chinos. Go for a shade of brown to get the most mileage out of your shoes. SECTION V – ACCESSORIES Accessories, the little details, sometimes these make an outfit, but leave that to the pros. Two basic accessories that can work for any man are a belt and a watch. The Timex Weekender - $40 – Ah, the NATO-strapped Timex. The hardest circlejerk that MFA has ever experienced, but for good reason. It’s a good looking watch, with a lot of options for being you in the strap. Just please don’t post a picture of it when you get one. Black faces are more casual than white watch faces. 4 STR / 4 STA Leather Belt - $35 – I got a decent leather belt from this store on ebay. The wider the belt the more casual, brown is generally more versatile than black, if you wear leather shoes, try to match the color with your belt. CLOSING THOUGHTS Here are a few brick and mortar/mall stores which you can easily find some reasonably priced basics in person. H&M - Cheap, fast fashion, clothing is touted to last only one season. Gap - I feel like the design of Gap clothing isn't as nice as some other retailers, but the quality is decent and sales are frequent. Zara - Cheap, fast fashion, higher quality than H&M. J. Crew Factiory - J. Crew’s factory line. Uniqlo - Only available in New York, much more availability outside of the US. Take it slow, check out the guide to How to Build A Wardrobe for some more pointers. If you're looking for inspiration or ideas, check out how MFA's 'Consistent Contributors' dress or check out how MFA's general readership dresses in our semi-weekly What Are You Wearing Today threads. That’s it for now. These are just some basics, something to point you towards dressing better. The initial cost of dressing better might be high, but there’s a high return on investment here. Dressing well gives you confidence and with confidence, the world is your oyster. submitted by /u/Renalan to r/malefashionadvice [link] [comments]