What is “colorful formal”? Where did it come from, and what does it mean I should wear? “Colorful formal” is yet another newish dress code term that, like “creative black tie” or “razzle-dazzle” or “mountain elegant,” actually makes the recipient of such an invitation want to rip it into little shreds and stomp on them. What is wrong, one wonders, with plain old “black tie” or “cocktail dress”? Those terms are generic enough to encompass a broad range of outfits (one person’s cocktail is another person’s lingerie), and the guardrails are relatively clear.

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Persons: Alice, Waban, Karl ”, Jared Leto, ”, Kim Kardashian, Marilyn Monroe’s