Et tu, husband?

"Don't worry, babe, no one is dressing up!"

I stared at the Christmas party e-vite again.

"...But it says casual or formal dress, what does that even mean?  How can you have both like that?"

"Seriously, the higher-ups are trying to get as many people there as possible. All the floor workers are going and they all said they aren't dressing up. You can totally wear that Christmas sweater and leggings. Hell, you might even be *too* dressy looking like that."  He winked. "This is going to be super casual."

A few hours later we were walking up to the venue.  I adjusted my bright red reindeer sweater and Christmas themed leggings as we approached the Quail Hallow Country Club. Our arrival was a half hour into cocktail hour, perfect to avoid too much small talk.  He had on dress jeans and a velvet blazer, which he meant to wear as a joke, though it fit him well and looked formal, all things considered.  I chuckled, imagining him standing out next to everyone else in hoodies and casuals clothes.

He held the door open for me and we entered the room set up for "Casino Night".  The staff, in suits, was putting some final touches on tables and adjusting chairs.  We were told the rest of the company was in the "Main Ballroom". I started to feel uneasy. "...Usually casino nights are dressy, isn't thi-"
I stopped short.  As we came to the top of the staircase, below us lay the ENTIRE Perkin-Harper Company, ENTIRELY dressed up.  CEOs, their wives, the employees of all levels, gathered around crystal glassware and formal table settings.  There were tuxedos and ballgowns and cocktail dresses, but not one hoodie or sneaker as previously promised.  There was, however, one Christmas sweater, and it had actual bells on it.  I gasped and instinctively took several steps backwards, my sweater jingled softly.  As realization slowly fell over me, and I turned to my betrayer.  He looked confused, and also a little frightened.

"Dude..."  I hissed.  "I thought you said this was CASUAL".

"Well it said so on the invi-

"THIS IS NOT CASUAL."   I crept to the edge of the staircase again.  "JESUS CHRIST, THEY ALL HAVE BALLGOWNS."

We started our descent.  Everyone turned to look at who had just arrived.  Smiles faded to confused looks, then away from us, quickly. Soon, I was being introduced to co-workers and their well appointed wives.

"Amanda, this is Greg, he's on that big project I was telling you about."

"Hey Amanda! Nice to meet you."  Greg's handshake was a little too enthusiastic.  The bells adorning my sweater jingled aggressively.

"This is my wife Charlotte -".

Charlotte extended her thin hand.  "SO nice to meet you!"  She was trying, but couldn't hide her judgmental "up-down" glance of the Christmas themed dumpster fire that stood before her.

After a few more awkward exchanges where Rudolf and the gang met major players on my husband's team, I went to the bar for a gin and tonic.  The bar tender, dressed more formal than myself, sent the rocks glass over.

Bless her, she made it strong and didn't even take my complimentary drink ticket.