Dinner Dress

The people that know me well know that I am a very conservative, and perhaps, some would say ‘dull’ dresser. Last night I decided I would rather be the ‘dull’ dresser than the ‘middle-aged-woman-from-somewhere-in-the-southwestern-part-of-the-US’ who forgot to look in the mirror on the way to dinner.

There were roughly twenty couples at the small French restaurant where we met our Canadian friends for a dinner hosted by an American organization. We had a set menu that included a choice between sea bass and a chicken dish, berries or soufflé for dessert and included two demitasse-sized soups that were extraordinary. My friend brought a bottle of wine as the ticket had said that corkage was 10QAR. It turns out that was 10QAR per person who had even a sip of wine. Since the president of the hosting organization doesn’t drink and never has, she may not have understood the concept of a corkage fee being charged to open the bottle.

We sat down quickly as we arrived a few minutes late and the invitation said things would start promptly at 6:30 but that is not quite the way it played out. So while we waited for our food and sipped our wine – I watched the people - the entertainment was free.

The best outfit was by far a tight, very short polyester black dress with short cap sleeves that were sheer with an embroidered design. When she was facing away from me, I thought she was fairly young as the dress was short, she had long blonde hair and a nice figure. Then she turned around and I realized that she was way older than I had thought, had spent many years in the sun and a lot of money on her hair. On top of that when I heard a metallic noise as she walked by us – I glanced down just as my husband leaned over and whispered –“bondage boots” - black, shiny, knee-high with metal rings. AND a Christmas bell on a green silk string around her neck chiming in step with the sounds of the boots.

I loved Christmas sweaters when my kids were in school. Tonight may have forever ruined them for me. A woman wore red slacks, a black turtleneck and a Christmas sweater vest. The front was traditional colorful designs – a large stocking, a tree with little bells, but the coup d’ etat was the white fur around the sleeves – long fluffy white Persian cat hair. Add to that a large (really large) red flower in the short ponytail, big bright earrings and oversized glasses and it all made for a caricature of someone in a Tim Burton movie.

The standout for the younger table was interesting and maybe I am hopelessly out of date but a black suit with a peek-a-boo hot pink lace top and pants so tight I was embarrassed for her. Her husband had on a jacket with a tie that matched the lace so I think there was a plan.

On the flip side – a few women were beautifully dressed – one woman from Egypt who reminds me of an always impeccably dressed friend in Memphis – and who will be the new president of this organization after the current one returns to Texas in March. It makes an interesting side note - having a president of Egyptian descent who wears an abaya when she leaves the Hyatt after meetings.

Middle-aged dressing anywhere in the world is difficult but in this part of the world it is even a bigger challenge. I am not sure what the issue is for some of the younger members. I have to think that some of these women are very nice people who accepted the challenge of moving to a galaxy far away when their husbands were offered great jobs. Doha, Qatar had to have been so far outside of their comfort zone that being here and making it an adventure for their family makes them special regardless of what they wear.