What to wear to a Diner en Blanc

Diner en Blanc 2015

... in Cape Town it's on November 28 and I am still waiting to find out 2015's date in Johannesburg.

And already, Vince and I are busy making plans. Just as important as your choice of menu and table decorations is your choice of what to wear.

ostrich egg jewelry

Obviously you wear white. And they mean all white. But as a veteran now of two Diners en Blanc in Johannesburg, I can tell you it's not that simple. For instance women can get away with silver or nude shoes and men with a darker beige. You risk being turned away though with black shoes or a black belt. We've never risked it.

For the Diner en Blanc-Johannesburg in 2013 I went for comfort and wore pants. Ralph Lauren white eyelet trimmed pants and a floor length white crochet sweater, a Morgane Le Fay sleeveless blouse underneath and a Panama Hat from the Bryanston Organic Market on my head. Ostrich egg and silver jewelry and silver sequined straw wedges.

The only thing I bought especially for the DOB that year was my ostrich eggshell jewelry, purchased mostly from Avoova in Cape Town and Mambu Designs in the Bryanston Organic Market.

For our second Diner en Blanc-Johannesburg in 2014 I made more of an effort. I wore a white lace dress I found in a local Joburg boutique that has since closed, a Ralph Lauren Angora bolero that I already owned and I had a fascinator custom-made for me by The Little Hattery in Cape Town.

My sweater has a rhinestone clasp so I accessorized with Lulu Frost art deco rhinestone earrings and bought a pair of rhinestone embellished sandals. Sparkly!

  





These are some things to think about when deciding what to wear to Diner en Blanc in 2015.

The more elegant, the better. Save the white tee shirt, white pants and white flip flops for the beach. You will feel underdressed wearing them at DOB. People pull out all the stops! And there is usually a contest for best-dressed which makes people go even crazier with their fashion choices.

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hats make nice centerpieces too

Include headwear in your ensemble. That means hats of course, but headwear is more than just hats. Here is your chance to think outside the box.

People wear anything from tiaras and crowns to platinum blonde wigs. Have fun!

Individualize with accessories. White sunglasses. Ostrich boas. Bow ties for men. Folding fans. Gloves. An ascot. And masks for that Carnival feeling.

Prepare for rain. Unless you live in the desert or if there is an absolute 0% chance of rain, think about it. If you care about what you're wearing and it's not waterproof, bring a white umbrella and / or a clear or white rain coat

Think French. Since DOB started in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, anything French goes, both on the table and on your person. Inspiration can come from the Eiffel Tower and the other monuments of Paris to ...

... an homage to some of the more imitable French style icons such as Marie Antoinette, Jean Seberg and Brigitte Bardot.

Some cities even have a contest for the dress or tablescape with the most French flair.

For one of these Diners someday, I am going to wear a white Marie Antoinette ship on my head!

DOB Barcelona was held on the beach in front of the Gehry fish

All terrain shoes. You never know where you'll be walking and on what surface. Could be gravel, grass, sand or concrete. Stilettos are probably not a good idea for most locations - always a well-guarded secret until the last minute. It's best to just plan for all terrains.

As always, the guys have a much easier time of it. A white button down shirt paired with white linen pants. White boat shoes or bucks. White slip-on sneakers or lace-ups for a more casual look. Vince wore a white linen guayabera and Panama hat with white slip-on sneakers in 2013. He stepped it up with a custom-made white linen suit, white boat shoes and a white pith helmet in 2014.

Let's go shopping!