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A retirement party isn’t about parting with your colleagues. In fact, it’s the time to show your gratitude for them and your classy flash of fashion and style. Hence, you have to choose what to wear to a retirement party very carefully.

Depending on the type of retirement party, you can go with different styles, from a formal look to casual beach wears. And the party attire for the retirement celebration is both important for hosts and guests alike.

You have to fit yourself with the occasion while showing your jolly mode and gratitude for the co-workers with a charming smile. However, in this article we are going to share initially the most common dress codes considering retirement party celebration.

In addition to that, we will also point out what other attire ideas you can check based on situational demand. Let’s start with few common ideas regarding what to wear to a retirement party:

• White Tie

This is the most formal type of dress code and usually this is the combination of a black tails jacket/coat matched with pants for men. Floor-length gowns are considered for women when thinking about White Tie.

• Smart or Business Casual

For man Smart or Business Casual is the combination of a trousers (or jeans), a long-sleeve shirt, a tie (optional), a pair of loafer, patterned socks, a tilted belt (better to match with loafer) and/or a sport coat. These can complete your Smart or Business Casual category.

For women this category is the combination of slacks, crisp jeans, or a skirt (long or short), a blouse or neckline, a smart belt, a coat, a vest coordinated to your dress, socks with boots, flats or semi-heel shoes. One can add various stylish jewelry, including earrings, bracelet, chain etc.

• Dressy Casual or Casual Chic

For females, this dressy casual suggests a pant suit, a costume, or matched separates in semi-dressy fabrics. Dressy Casual or Casual Chic requires that the outfit be well-harmonized and ornamented. 

For males, this category specifies dress jeans, a turtleneck or mock-turtle version, a cotton or a silk sport shirt (long-sleeved), a jacket/sport coat and a tie (which is optional) if feels comfortable.

• Sporty Casual or Casual

When you will think about the sporty casual or just casual in that case you can try cotton pants or jeans, a lightweight T-shirt or a button-down, polo-style shirt, a belt, and cads/ shoes. If you really think about what to wear to a retirement party, in that case you can select this Sporty Casual style which is widely accepted.

In addition to above options you can also consider many other dress code options including Black Tie, Black Tie Optional, Semiformal, Creative Black Tie or Beach/ Island formal or Tropic Casual.

The attire etiquette will vary for guests, hosts, ladies, and gents. If you want to be at the center of attraction of these parties, you need to concentrate on below points and keep reading the tips thoroughly.

Retirement Party Attire for Guest

If you are an invitee and going to attend your colleagues’ retirement party, you should abide by a few rules. Firstly, check the invitation card and see whether the party has a definite theme or not. For oral invitation, do the same.

For formal parties, men may go with tuxedos and women with cocktail dresses and long gowns. This dressing etiquette is known as the ‘black tie’ formula. Some occasions demand you go with the white tie formula, which is ultra-formal. Men have to wear three-piece suits with a white tie, vest, and a white cummerbund. Women have to wear long and elegant gowns.

In cities like Los Angles, New York, London, going formal means, you can still match your outfit with style and grace. You may leave out the tie and try out darker colors such as black for shirts. Some even go with pink shirts. Women will usually wear fashionable evening separates.

For casual retirement parties, just wear a tee-shirt. It should be worn-in and not sports-affiliated. Match it with a navy or navy-blue or dark blazer and washed-out jeans. Always wear darker semi-formal shoes instead of sneakers. Otherwise, your look may become too casual and inappropriate. Let’s separate Gents & Ladies to be more specific regarding what to wear to a retirement party:

*  For Gents

The party attire will depend on the party type mainly. Thus, be informed about the party and how it is planned ahead of the day to prepare your clothing and other accessories. You may follow these tips for the retirement party-

1. If it is a formal retirement party arranged by your office, you shouldn’t be too experimental. Instead, going formal will be your best bet with a decent shirt and a pair of formal trousers. Also, avoid too many colors. Instead, you may choose solid three-piece suiting with a black tie and white shirt. And for formal dresses, always use classic formal watches. You may choose from Oxford monk strap, brogue, or derby shoes to match the belt color.
2. Also, you should careful regarding what to wear to a retirement party based on the weather condition. If it is too hot, you may choose only a decent pair of formal trousers with a solid-colored shirt. If you wear a suit anyway, make sure you wear it with cufflinks.
3. If the party is thrown at home with only close people invited, you won’t have to be too formal there. You may wear a pair of jeans or twill pants and match them with polo-shirts or tee-shirts. Pair it with a sporty watch (if you wear watches) and flat sandals or sneakers.
4. Always make sure you look elegant and classy. Wearing solid colors instantly gives you a positive vibe. You should choose the accessories carefully too. You may choose cufflinks, tie pins, leather belts, and stylish watches.

*  For Ladies

Ladies, unlike men, have more options to choose for retirement parties. The key is to unleash your beauty elegantly and classically that everyone cannot but admire.

1. If it is a formal evening or dinner party for celebrating colleagues’ retirement, going for it is your best bet. Thus, you choose from a long classy gown or full-length skirt. Pair it with a decent shirt and wrap a scarf around the neck. Again, solid colors such as black, white, or blue go perfectly well for these parties. Many women would choose pink, violet, sky-blue, etc. too.
2. If it an informal party, choose a dress that you are comfortable with and also looks trendy. Consider the season and get the clothing accordingly. During winter, you may get a pair of sweatpants with a warm dress. During summer, you may choose a shirt or polo shirt and pair it with boots and bold pants as well.
3. Don’t forget to add some jewelry too. But you shouldn’t overdo it. A pair of earrings and a simple necklace will work perfectly.
4. The pantsuit has become a trendy and fashion icon for strong and independent women. You may also wear a beautiful pantsuit too.

Retirement Party Attire for Hosts

If you are the host or retiree, make sure you look the best and you should think about the retirement party attire. It is the time to show your colleagues that you have a style and fashion sense class apart from others. If it is a formal occasion, you should go formal with trousers and shirts. For a woman host, you may choose gowns and skirts that look trendy and cool.

The key is to grab everyone’s attraction to you. Also, you may set different themes for the parties, but retirement parties are mostly formal. But you can still choose the color as a specific theme. In this case, choose an outfit that highlights the color while giving you a nice look.

Also, as a host, you would already know the decorations and lighting of the party venue. Thus, you have the luxury to choose the outfit color that best suits the decoration. Since it is all about collecting good memories, therefore photographs are a must.

You may go with bright and pastels but set aside the deep colors.

Retirement parties don’t have to be gloomy. In fact, modern-day corporate ideas have changed dramatically, and thus, workers and officers see retirement as the celebration of their long working life. Therefore, to make the event colorful, participants should be passionate about what to wear to a retirement party.

Hence, the retirement party attire should look festive instead of melancholic. Whatever you wear, make sure it looks trendy and suits the occasion. Always consider the season and choose the right outfit. Also, as a guest, you should be careful not to over-do the dressing to look the host dull.

And whatever dress you wear, take your smile with it. A smiling face will always look better and more attractive, no matter what your attire is.

FAQs 

Whatever outfit you decide to wear, make sure it makes you feel comfortable and confident as you celebrate this important milestone. Retirement is a time to be proud of your accomplishments and look ahead to the future. With the right outfit, you can show off your personal style and enjoy the party with confidence!

Good luck!

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