Nobody will remember the outfit from that party. They’ll remember whether you were fun to be around.

People retain impressions rather than details. A week later nobody can describe what you wore, but they can tell you whether talking to you was easy, whether you seemed glad to be there, whether you asked them anything. Appearance gets the attention beforehand because it is the part you can control in a mirror. What actually registers is how the evening felt near you.

Spend a little less of your preparation on the clothes and a little more on arriving in a decent mood. Make a point of talking to one person who looks stranded. You will leave remembering it differently as well.