Help me figure out what to wear!

[Jewels305]

I am hoping you girls can help me out! I am going to a friend''s wedding on September 29th and I am trying to figure out what I should wear. I will be going shopping for a dress and I am hoping to get something that''s not too expensive. It''s just barely fall, so I don''t think I want to wear anything too dark colored. I look best in black and red, but I don''t think I want to wear black to a wedding, and I wouldn''t want to do like a fire truck red! I know that her colors are wine and champagne so I would like to stay away from those colors. AHH decisions decisions... I''m not good at this whole dress thing. haha

Any suggestions of length and color for the season?

 

[laine]

Personally, I tend to wear little black dresses to everything. Most hit at about the knee (shorter tends to look a little trashy, a little longer is an awkward length on most people, and long isn''t usually appropriate unless its super formal). I have a few halters, a few spaghetti straps, one or two strapless. I tend to buy them at places like Ross, TJMaxx, Target. You have to pick through and avoid the cheap looking ones, but they do have nice inexpensive dresses. Since lots of the weddings I''ve attended lately have been the same group of friends, I didn''t want to repeat. I typically pair the dress with a more colorful wrap or cardigan, or add a colored sash or something so its not quite so dark. The dresses are fun styles, so they don''t look somber at all.

Anyway, my point is, if you look good in black, its fine to wear it--its alot easier to find black dresses anyway, just try not to make it head to toe black. Of course, if you can find a color, thats great too! I''d vote against a fire engine red or a pastel, but pretty much anything else is fine--dark is ok too. I am assuming this is a standard evening reception deal,--if not, the little black dress may not be such a good option for a morning or early afternoon wedding.

For specific styles, I love pretty much all of the J Crew dresses, but the Sophia is my favorite--unfortunately, its out of my budget at the moment.

 

[Haven]

How formal will this wedding be? Black is absolutely acceptable at a formal wedding, in case you want to wear your basic black dress.

What did the invites look like? Where is the wedding taking place? What time? Do you know how many people they expect? Will they have a DJ? Just trying to help figure out how formal the affair will be, and these elements give the best clues.

 

[Jewels305]

Date: 8/30/2007 10:59:02 PM
Author: Haven
How formal will this wedding be? Black is absolutely acceptable at a formal wedding, in case you want to wear your basic black dress.

What did the invites look like? Where is the wedding taking place? What time? Do you know how many people they expect? Will they have a DJ? Just trying to help figure out how formal the affair will be, and these elements give the best clues.

Wow, I didn''t even think of all of these variables, I will answer what I know! It''s a pretty formal wedding; late afternoon ceremony and an evening reception. It is a Catholic ceremony at a church, and the reception will be at their local Sheraton. The invites were white with black caligraphy; pretty standard. I do not know how many people they are expecting, I would guess something around 100. They are going to have a DJ. My friend''s wedding that I was in last September was very formal, and I don''t think that this one will be as formal as hers was. I also went to a garden wedding once, and I feel that this wedding is going to be kind of in the middle of the garden wedding and last year''s in terms of how formal it is. I am thinking that the dress should maybe be tea length, but I am not a dress person so that''s why I am asking you all what you think!

 

[Haven]

Okay--it sounds like this is going to be a semiformal wedding. The invites sound indicative of formal, but it is in a hotel, smaller and there will be a DJ (as opposed to in a house of worship, garden, or personal home and over 200 guests and a large band or orchestra, which all indicate a formal affair.)

I consulted my Emily Post Etiquette book just to be sure I didn''t give you poor advice, so here goes:

The invite and time of the wedding are the best guides to the formality of the occasion. Based on your info, it sounds formal. However, it''s in a hotel, small, and has a DJ, so it''s really semiformal.

Here are Ms. Post''s guidelines for a Semiformal Evening affair:
Women: Cocktail dress, Gloves and head coverings optional unless required
Men: Dark suits

Also, be sure to cover your shoulders in the church, if necessary.

So, it sounds like a tea-length to ballerina length dress is perfectly acceptable. If you prefer to avoid black you can choose any season-appropriate fabric and color, as long as you don''t outshine the bride or her bridal party.

Good luck, and happy shopping!

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Ok I found these great dresses from Lily Pulitzer's fall line..


Lily Number 1

Lily Dress 2

Lily Dress 3

 

[Haven]

One can never go wrong with a Lilly dress. I love the Belinda.

If you're looking for something more affordable, White House Black Market has gorgeous cocktail dress, all black or white or black & white, and they are almost always having a sale! I bought the most adorable dresses earlier in the summer, two for $140 total.

Ann Taylor also carries some lovely cocktail dresses. In fact, I think all of the dresses I've worn to semiformal weddings and pre-wedding parties have come from these two places, and perhaps a few from Banana Republic. And Marshall Fields, may that wonderful store rest in peace. (tear)

 

[monarch64]

Jewels, what''s your best feature, the thing you love most about your body? Highlight that. Find a dress in a shade you''re comfortable with (apparently dark colors are out as well as wine and champagne, aka wedding colors), and find a cut from there, try on lots of things at a few different dept. stores and go from there. You should have plenty of time as of now to order something or buy it off the rack and have it altered. Shoes....that''s a different story, be on the lookout for something fabulous, as well as a bag and wrap if you so desire.

I just saw Hayden Pantierre (sp?)''s dress from her press in Paris and it was adorable, don''t know how old you are but she had this gorgeous gold sheath dress with the back cut out, and super high black peep toe heels with it...she looked amazing because the dress highlighted her very toned back, her calves, and her curves, ya know? If she''d worn something, say, with an empire waist and boring neckline she would''ve been mistaken for any other gal out on a date, etc.

The key is finding a color and cut that accentuates your best physical feature, it might just be your eye color, or it could be your glamazon legs, or your generous bustline...without pics of you there''s no way I can suggest anything so I''m just giving you some pointers. Oh! almost forgot, invest in a great shaper garment and/or bra to wear underneath, foundation garments make all the difference in the fit of a dress sometimes. (Hayden actually needed one, I thought, or if she was wearing one I thought it could''ve been stepped up a notch as far as holding her in, hee hee. And I''m not being bitchy, just making an observation, lol!)