Photo: BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
Organized food events can be a fun way to experience new tastes and try out dishes you might never have experienced otherwise. Whether you're going to a food festival in the park or a formal restaurant event presenting a new menu or a visiting chef, you’ll want to ensure that you look just as delectable as the food on display. The right attire for a food event depends entirely on how formal or casual the event itself is, so get the lowdown on the when, where and how of the food event before you start putting together your ensemble.
Food Festival
Food festivals are typically casual, although some festivals may include special, separately priced events that take on a more formal tone, and tradition will tell you what's appropriate. For wandering booths at an outdoor festival, you’ll want to go casual yet pretty. A floral sundress with a pair of sturdy sandals that can hold up to hours of walking and standing will keep you looking lovely as you while away the day trying goodies from local restaurants.
Formal Food Events
Formal food events require a bit more dressy attire. If the invitation says casual dressy attire, you can stick with a cocktail-length dress or a dressy pantsuit. A semiformal tea-length dress is another option. Something in silk, chiffon, satin or charmeuse is likely to fit in just fine at a casual dressy food event. For a formal banquet, you can go a bit further and wear an elegant full-length gown, although you should avoid a full ball skirt, which can get in the way when mingling or seated. Think classy and sleek, instead of pouffy or frilly, and you’ll be on the right track.
Tasting Event
A tasting event can fall anywhere within the range of extremely casual to full-on formal, so you’ll want to check with the host or venue to find out the details. You’re always better off being a little overdressed than underdressed, so even if the event is considered casual you’ll never go wrong with a basic dress and a pair of ballet flats; or a button-up blouse with ruffled sleeves, a pencil skirt and a pair of basic low-heeled pumps. For a more formal event, such as a wine and cheese pairing, you can break out your favorite little black dress and accessorize with simple yet elegant jewelry and a pretty clutch.
Considerations
Whatever you do, don’t wear white or extremely light clothing to a food event. Even if you know you’ll be perfectly careful with that tomato-based concoction or glass of red wine, you never know who will bump into you from behind and create completely the wrong kind of splash. Patterns or dark-color clothing hide stains and spills much better. High heels are also not a good idea for most food events, since walking around, mingling and wandering from booth to booth or food station to food station is expected.
