At the recent end of course event my work mates and I spent several happy hours analysing exactly what we felt was and was not suitable dress for both the day and evening events.
Worrying was the number of girls who felt that a see-thru chiffon style dress was a good idea for day wear, short skirts leaving nothing to the imagination or bold vivid colours which were teamed with pale skin and bleached blonde hair and about 6 inches of make up.....
But our favourite crap clothes were a pair of 'ladies' one short, dumpy and straw blonde, wearing a black minidress (far too tight) black ankle boots -cut off above the ankle making her legs look even shorter and fatter (seriously she made me look anorexic!), and a shapless black shiney fabric jacket which was actually longer than her skirt. And her companion an amazonian lady who must share a hairdresser as they had exactly the same shade of hair with its strawlike appearence, a bold purple dress which in all fairness was quite nice if a little tight, and scarlet platform shoes which again were quite nice - but as a combo looked utterly stupid.
These women in contrast to the fewer well dressed women, in pretty tea dresses, or as one was wearing a white shift dress with a green leaves and flowers pattern and a blue cropped jacket. Managing to look smart without looking over dressed, weather appropriate - no flying hems thanks to the invevitable wind or chicken skin arms from the cold.
Amusement in the evening was mainly from men in cheap suits thinking they looked the 'dogs' until one of the graduating group wandered by in their tailored uniforms, again girls in the strangest assortment of ball gowns - interesting cut out panels were the order of the evening it seemed, and shoes so high that you cannot actually walk in them waddling and shuffling are not ladylike and how on earth do you plan to dance?
So suggestions when dressing for military events think Kate Middleton not Katie Price, for outfits, make up, and attitude, because quite frankly when dealing with the civilian staff if you're not nice to us we won't be nice to you and we most certainly will remember you when you arrive in 6 weeks time to follow your partner in to the military....
