On the occasion of the 76th Festa della Repubblica (the Italian National Day and Republic Day), the Consul General of Italy Andrea De Felip and Mrs Joy De Felip organised a reception on Friday the 3rd of June, at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Foundation Hall in Sydney. Kent and I were looking forward to attending this event the moment we received our invitations, not even the winter chill could put off our excitement.

The dress code for the event was ‘lounge suit’. According to Marie Claire Australia, ‘Lounge suit is a loose term for women, but it generally means that a formal dress or outfit is required. However, it isn’t quite as formal as black tie, so something like a pantsuit or floral pattern could be acceptable.’ So, what to wear?

It’s wintery in Sydney, I knew I needed an outfit with long sleeves. Something that doesn’t show much skin… I ended up choosing a MaxMara navy gown that meets all my needs! And of course, it’d be a perfect occasion to show my support for an Italian fashion house. Long sleeves, tick! Sophisticated, tick! Made in Italy, tick! I put on my silver fashion jewellery, silver watch, and silver heels. I picked a purple envelope clutch just to add some vivid colour to my ensemble. I was pretty happy with my Outfit-of-the-Night. Feeling good about myself is very important when attending an event to me. If I were proud of my look, it gives me confidence when facing a room of strangers. How about you? What gives you confidence when attending a party?

Thank you to the Consulate General of Italy – Sydney for your kind invitation. Italy’s National Day Reception gave us a chance to dress up and socialise while enjoying Italian fine wine. Please head to the White Caviar Life event post to find out more about the reception. ‘Happy birthday Italy!’ We look forward to seeing you again next year. Ciao for now!

Photography by Kent Johnson.