Cotillion Attire

   When you decide what to wear, you are not just choosing clothes, you are deciding how to represent yourself to others. The clothes you wear are symbolic and tell others about your status, your attitudes, and how you feel about yourself. They might convey that you are trying to fit in or want to be noticed; that you take pride in your appearance or that you don’t care what you look like; even that you respect social traditions or don’t care what people think. Before you can say anything, your clothing has already told others quite a bit about you, and they will already be forming impressions about you. Although you have the freedom to dress however you want, understand that people cannot help but make judgments accordingly. Because clothes make such powerful impressions, it’s up to you to decide whether what you wear will benefit you or hinder you.

The importance of dressing appropriately for the occasion cannot be overstated. Learning what constitutes appropriate attire and dressing accordingly is an integral part of the Cotillion experience. The attire we choose reflects how important or worthwhile we consider an activity, and can indicate our respect for our hosts or detract from the atmosphere.

   Girls are required to wear simple and modest party dresses with covered shoulders and backs, white gloves, socks or nylons, and suitable dancing shoes with low heels. Leggings, slides, clogs  and flip-flops are inappropriate attire. Boys are required to wear a suit or sport coat and dress slacks, necktie, dark socks and conservative dress shoes (topsiders, tennis shoes and “fad” styles are not suitable for Cotillion).