Bar Mitzvah dress advice please

[DelinquentSnails]

We’ve been invited to DS’s best friend’s Bar Mitzvah in February and are really looking forward to it, there’s a great party planned. We are attending both the Synagogue and the party. I have not been to one before and some dress ideas would be really helpful, or an indication of what sort of thing would hit the right note. It’s a Masorti Synagogue and dinner in a posh kosher restaurant in London.

I normally dress pretty conventionally with a feint nod to fashion e.g Me and Em, Hobbs, Reiss. I’m a size 12, not very tall.

Any ideas would be appreciated 🙂

Is there a gap between the service and the dinner?

It’s sort of wedding level dressing, maybe half a step down. Nice dress for the day, Masorti
shuls are quite chill but I would plan shoulders covered and dress below knee. Or trousers would be fine. No need for hat. They will provide a kappel for any male guests.

Evening go glitzy! No dress code in terms of modesty but go glam if you can. There will be dancing I should think so shoes you can do that in!
Have fun. A cash gift is expected.

Thanks so much. That’s really helpful.
There is not really a break between the two- not enough time to get changed.
Would this dress perhaps work for both?

www.broraonline.com/uk/silk-velvet-keyhole-dress-claret-dd8523km8529?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23005779041&gbraid=0AAAAAD-xHFOAHoseSIVo44zbhb6YlcKCu&gclid=Cj0KCQiApfjKBhC0ARIsAMiR_IuLC3FILfn1zbFgwHVIbRPTRme4MlNqp4jkZgZt3T3nTRn92aH5ecoaAsAsEALw_wcB

I think this dress would be fine but might it be a bit hot in the evening if you dance?

That dress would be fine for a bat mitzvah.. your daughter will also get a chance to get her party dress on! I used to love getting dressed up for bar/ bat mitzvahs as a child! Enjoy

Looks suitable to me, been to a couple and they were quite different, but definitely think country house or smart hotel wedding rather than smart casual. The ones I attended were in summer so it was midi length summer dresses and wraps to cover shoulders in the synagogue

Yes the dress is lovely for both!

That dress is gorgeous! Enjoy the event.

Lovely dress….have a fab time xx

As far as I remember (haven't been to a bar mitzvah for a long time) the party is either in the evening of the same day as the morning ceremony in synagogue, or the day after, so your velvet dress would work perfectly for the party but not the synagogue service. In February I'd wear a nice coat to the service.

Thank you. I’ll put a wool coat on for the service 🙂 It’s a lunch and afternoon/evening party.

It's quite dressy for a Masorti service, but wouldn't look out of place.

Nice dress. Masorti shul was surprisingly casual last time I went with some in jeans (as a kid it was all dresses and skirts), but for a Bar mitzvah I'm sure people will dress up a bit and that one looks very suitable. Or any nice daytime dress.
Have fun!

I wore a Hadley dress from Libby London to the last BM I attended (orthodox). Libby have some lovely dresses. Have an amazing time!

Your Brora dress is lovely btw :)