It’s always advisable to err on the side of the more conservative if you’re meeting your significant other’s parents for the first time. You really don’t want people who might be your future in-laws to think that you’re a slob or worse, a tramp. Even if they had a reputation of being over the top flower children in the 1960s, they probably mellowed out to be suburbanite parents some time in the late 70s or 80s when they married and had your significant other. Besides, the grandparents, who are from a more conservative time, might be there.
The Weird OMG moment: This is NOT the kind of reaction you want your significant other’s family members to have!
If you are going to be going to dinner in their home, it’s okay to be a little more casual, but I would advise against wearing jeans or cords. I’d go for dressier pants (maybe dressier than what you might wear to a casual office) or even a skirt or dress. Keep the skirts no shorter than an inch above the knee, however. Spiff it up a little bit if you are going to be at a restaurant and even more if you are going to be at a country/city/social club and make sure your clothes are in accordance to dress code, if there is one.
Whether you are meeting them at home, at a restaurant or country club, make sure you keep your make-up and jewellery simple and lady-like. Avoid bright, drastic colours (definitely don’t go overboard with holiday colouring – you don’t want to look like a tree or a candy cane) and loud, chunky jewellery. The biggest faux pas would be what a head of my alma mater called, “shower curtain earrings” – you know, the big hoops that one often sees in music videos. Hide visible tattoos. Meeting the parents for the first time is like a job interview, after all.
Below are some ideal looks for different situations:
Meeting the Parents at Home (Look #1):
Meeting the Parents at Home (Look #2):
At the Restaurant/Country Club:
Make-up Tips:
Image credits: First image © Andrejs Pidjass/iStockphoto; all others from Shopstyle
