The one detail everyone seems to get wrong on invitations these days

OPINION -- Every time I receive an invitation to a wedding, birthday, baby shower or business event, a part of me starts to panic.

Opening the envelope or clicking into the email leaves me anxious, eyes darting over details like the date and time of the event to the one part people just keep getting wrong: the dress code.

Once upon a time, dress codes like 'formal' or 'cocktail' were clear-cut and easily defined things that dictated nothing more than the style of clothing expected of guests.

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Sure, sometimes there were added details like a colour palette to follow, or a request that guests avoid certain styles for logistical or cultural reasons, but all in all dress codes were relatively simple to follow.

But with every new invitation I open, I grow more and more convinced those days are gone.

Instead, dress codes in the 2020s seemed to have turned into vague, intangible things that evoke 'vibes' rather than actually telling guests what they're expected to wear.

Think 'Barbiecore chic'. Think 'brat girl summer'. Think 'slay the house down'.

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These are all real dress codes I've seen on invitations to events in the last few years, and while I love that people are embracing new, fun fashion trends, I have no idea what to wear when the dress code for a party is 'serving see-you-next-Tuesday'.

Am I just unfashionable? Am I, at 28, simply too old to understand these hip new dress codes? Or have dress codes become too loosey-goosey lately?

Common dress codes typically include casual, smart casual, business attire, cocktail, formal and black tie, all of which have clearly defined rules about what is and isn't acceptable dress.

Black tie means gowns and tuxedos, cocktail means party frocks and sports jackets, and so on and so forth.

If a guest isn't already familiar with those rules, it's easy to Google the specific dress code and quickly figure out what to wear to a formal wedding or smart casual party.

But the same can't be said for vague, vibes-based dress codes like "fabulous", "slay" or even, dare I say it, "dress to impress".

Though they sound fun on an invitation, none of these so-called dress codes actually mean anything concrete and without a style guide attached to the invitation, guests who don't immediately 'get it' are doomed to struggle with what to wear.

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One person may interpret "fabulous" as a dramatic, over-the-top outfit complete with sequins and feathers, while another might turn up in an elegant evening gown.

"Slay" could have some guests arriving in clubbing attire, while others who either didn't understand or aren't as outgoing could end up feeling woefully underdressed.

Even "dress to impress" can be tricky - who am I impressing? In what context?

I miss being able to read an invitation and know exactly what is expected of me in the outfit department without having to decode the latest aesthetics or pop culture references.

Maybe it's just a sign of the times and the old-school dress codes are falling out of fashion, but I beg anyone sending out invitations to an upcoming wedding, birthday, or other event to please be specific with the dress code you include.

Failing that, at least send a printed out mood board or a link to your Pinterest account so I can figure out what on earth a 'fairycore' outfit is before I rock up to your party in the wrong outfit.

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