Arwen has a question: “What is cocktail attire when the party (a wedding) is in the middle of the afternoon?”

Ooh, good one!

I am a firm believer in always dressing up for a wedding; it’s a simple way to show respect for the couple and the institution and the venue. It’s also a good excuse to wear that lovely frock that doesn’t work for your everyday life. And of course, weddings are a great option to have your picture taken, and why not look your best when the photographer comes your way?

The twist here, of course, is the combination of cocktail attire and a function that starts before the cocktail hour. The real key here is not just when the actual wedding is, but what the reception schedule looks like. If the event is the wedding and cocktails only, then Arwen can go more casual; if cocktails will be followed by dinner (and maybe dancing!) then a dressier look is more appropriate. Either way, it pays to get dressed up.

Let’s consider the options.

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Susan is looking for a cocktail dress — one designed for a real person, not a model. She writes, “I do NOT want something so short my crotch is going to show (seems to be popular). I do NOT want to wear something drapey/flowey/grandmotherly. I had my fifth baby 9 months ago and just got my body back (thank goodness!), so I want something that fits, but doesn’t squeeze.”

Done! Here are ten options, in various styles — none of which will expose Susan’s crotch or cause her to be mistaken for a grandmother. And all of them are available at Nordstrom.

Maggie London, $158

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It’s still a million degrees where I live (that would be on the face of the sun, by the way) but I’m dreaming of cooler temperatures, and waiting impatiently for the morning when I need to put a little cardi on over my dress. Soon. I hope.

I love a dress for fall; it’s the perfect transition piece. Wear it on the warm days with sandals or peep toe pumps; when the weather cools down, add leggings or tights and a cardi or jacket.

Curtain Call Dress, $128 at Anthropologie

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I’m on vacation this week, which means that I’m pretty much just wearing a swimsuit all day long. Not bad, really.

My kids are finally old enough that the idea of a “family vacation” isn’t as much of an eye-roller any more. You know what I mean — when they’re wee and tiny, any journey with them isn’t a vacation in the purest sense but a road trip, one that necessitates hauling the entire nursery to the beach or the mountains or wherever it is that you will be “vacationing.” And then, once you’re there, doing all the parent things you do at home, but on the fly in a strange place.

I do not miss those days.

Regatta-stripe knit dress, Talbot’s, $79.50 currently $62.99

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Welcome to the holidays! Tis the season to try and squeeze into that great dress you bought a few years (and a few pounds) ago and spend some time with friends. You know what would make the holidays even better? If you felt really super great in that dress.

I can help! Ho ho ho!

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I’m an online shopper through and through. I’m not really into crowded malls, and would much rather spend my time sitting on my couch drinking a latte while purchasing this season’s most darling [insert clothing item here]. Plus, with the majority of my favorite stores implementing easy and free returns, why not?

However, I’ve been stuck in an online retailer rut - not really venturing out into new online shopping territory. That is, until Lucky Magazine published their 100 under $100 online shopping guide in their July issue. Woohoo! More ways to spend my money!

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How do you know where your hem should hit? A simple rule of thumb is that skirts and dresses should fall just to the top of your knee, above the kneecap; if you are tall you can go a little longer. But if you’re petite, or if you have short legs, keep hemlines on the high side.

A skirt that hits in the wrong place will age you faster than those gray hairs you’re worrying about. A short skirt on a woman over 25 can look desperate, while a too-long skirt looks dowdy. Instead of hiking up your hemline to sexy up your look (or dropping the line of your skirt for modesty’s sake) think about the overall shape of your dress and your body.

Let’s look at some Don’ts.

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My favorite look for summer is the maxi dress; I can’t tell you how happy I am to see actual dresses cropping up as day wear. The maxi dress is great because it flatters a wide range of figures, and can be as casual, or as dramatic, as you like.

How can you make a maxi work for you? Simple!

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I have to be honest with you. It took everything in my power not to entitle this post, Absolutely Crazy Trend Watch (WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING?) - Neon. Let’s be serious for a second. Neon? Like the Day-Glo Eighties phenomenon? Who wants to re-hash that nightmare?

Well, apparently, W magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and many other fine publications are more than willing to shove neon right back in our faces.

(Looking for a rock to crawl under.)

Is it possible to alter this trend to make it work for the majority of women who would rather not be reminded of acid green Ray-Bans and jelly bracelets from our school days? Of course we can! This blog is called The Working Closet, isn’t it?

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You know what’s back for spring? Bare arms! We can thank Michelle Obama for this, with her fantastic wardrobe of sleeveless sheath dresses. We can also look to Jillian Michaels to get us ready for the sleeveless dress, although I’ve found that carrying a toddler around all day will do just as good a job as any thirty day exercise program.

Seriously.

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