Bat Mitzvah Party Attire
Dear Penelope-
We're invited to a Bat Mitzvah where the service is late Saturday afternoon, and the reception following. On the invitation the words "Party Attire" appear. What does that mean?
Via E-mail
In general, the terms that indicate attire on an invitation have relatively fluid definitions. The one notable exception to that rule is, of course, the good old “black tie” party. As for a definition for “party attire,” I’d say that women should wear simple, knee-length dresses (no loud prints or particularly vibrant colors) and men should stick to darker suits.
A good rule of thumb if you’re really not sure is to consider the event you’ll be attending. A Bat Mitzvah is a significant religious service and milestone event in the life of a teenaged Jewish girl, and I’d say it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed for an occasion such as this.
Remember, too, that most married women wear a head covering of some sort to Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and that all male guests are expected to wear yarmulkes, not as a sign of religious affiliation but as a sign of respect for the service in progress.
Check out these helpful Bat Mitzvah tips for other advice on Bat Mitzvah planning, or this very humorous take on the wording of Bat Mitzvah invitations (in case you needed proof that planning a Bat Mitzvah is even more stressful than dressing appropriately for one).
Once you’ve gotten your outfit chosen, the next important step is to start shopping for a Bat Mitzvah gift. Good luck!
Enjoy Planning.
Penelope