So I'm going to show you a few options, with the pros and cons for each one, and I would love to hear your opinion. The bride is a collegue of my husband meaning that we aren't very close and I don't feel like buying a new dress for the occasion. I would like to "shop my closet", there must be something that I can wear in there, right? The only dress that I would have loved to buy with the pretext of the wedding is the Brynn primrose evening dress. I had the chance to find a 0 on sale last weekend but it really doesn't look good on me (it makes my torso look very short), so I let it go.
The first option is what I meant to wear in the first place, that I haven't completely excluded yet. It is possible that it's going to be one of those gorgeous indian summer days and if it's the case I would really like to wear the Havona with the soiree blazer:
Pro: I don't need to run out and buy something to complete the outfit. The Havona is the perfect top for a wedding.
Con: it looks summery, plus the fabric of the pants is cotton pique (not an "evening" fabric). Alternatives are the navy mica mini, which has a little bit more of an evening feeling or a pair of black pants (see Option #2).
The Option #2 features the sateen soiree blazer again but worn with evening black (or almost black):
I like how the ruffles of the Frances peak out of the jacket.
Pro: same as above and it feels like an evening outfit
Con: the Frances is dark slate and the pants are black (it is noticeable when not I'm wearing the jacket, which I guess will happen at some point). The pants need an alteration (I bought them when I was 4 months pregnant but they are Theory, not a maternity pair of pants, and I love them)
Option #3 is the only "dress" option that I have. It's an old Tara Jarmon (French brand) cocktail dress that I wore a couple of times. The color is very "fallish" (you can't see it in the pic but it has a delicate flower print) and the velver ribbon running across the corset gives it an evening flair:
Pro: feels right for the season and it's the occasion to wear a dress as I'm wearing pants all the time
Con: I don't have any jacket to wear with it. Also I don't have the "perfect" pair of shoes (the perfect shoes being a pair of Bettina velvet T-strap heels in black that I wouldn't consider buying FP)
Option #4 is my new deco silk skirt worn with an evening top (in heavy silk sateen). I'm wearing it without tights in the pic but I will do wear tights if I decide to go with this outfit:
Pro: it looks elegant/appropriate (to me) with the right accessories
Con: again, I don't have a jacket but it could be the occasion to buy a black evening jacket because it looks like I need one
Option #5 is the silk skirt that you have already seen in a previous post worn with the Frances:
Again, I don't have a jacket to complete this outfit but I was thinking that maybe a long cardigan would work in this case? Is it appropriate?
So, what do you think? What's your favorite option? BTW, you don't have to like any of these outfits, it is perfectly fine to say "You need to run outside now and buy something else"; that's why I'm asking you.
As I said at the beginning I would like to avoid buying a dress that I'm only going to wear in this occasion and who knows when again, but on the other side I'm not comfortable with the thought that everyone is going to show up in an evening dress but me. Do you think that this is what's going to happen? I mean it's not such a big deal but my husband's boss will attend and I don't want to embarass him.
I have shown my husband some of these outfits and I will let you know which one he prefers but I would like to hear your unbiased opinion first.
Also, I have a general question: do you wear sandals (like the Greer that I'm wearing in the first two pics) with stockings?
Thank you in advance for your help!
I vote for option 4 with the deco skirt. Perfect!
ReplyDeletewhat type of venue is the wedding going to be held at? I think Option #3, the dress, with a sweater/wrap. The combo of fall, new york, and timeframe lead me to think the other options will be too underdressed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with jcbellemarie. Either option #3 or #5. The last few weddings I have been to have been fairly formal(evening receptions). If it were in the middle of nowhere the other outfits would be fine but for a wedding in a large city I believe you need to "dress" for it. Usually if they're casual dress it's stated on the invite or it's a afternoon reception.
ReplyDeletei agree w/julie...unless informal dress is stated in the invitation, nyc weddings tend to be a fashion show! i was married here in nyc on a saturday night almost 5 yrs ago-we stated black tie optional on the invitation..about 70% of the men were in tuxes but nearly every woman was dressed to the nines in some sort of dress be it floor length or cocktail.
ReplyDeletei'd go with #3 or #5 and grab a wrap to keep you from getting a chill! i think you could even get away with the beaded ribbon top you bought last week w/#5 skirt--that looked fantastic together in your photos! throw on a pair of silver heels/sandals and i think you have a great evening outfit!
I love #5 - that skirt is fab.
ReplyDeletei say 3 or 5.
ReplyDelete3 or 5. Get a wrap instead of a jacket. 3 is such an amazing dress and those shoes would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do, be sure to post a final out the door picture!
I agree with stefmsquared: the beaded ribbon top with that gorgeous skirt in #5 would be really beautiful. I just think that outfit looks great on you, and the top is definitely dressy enough for the occasion IMO. You will need some kind of really dressy shoe, I think. Do you have an evening coat or silk trench? A wrap? I know the pressure of dressing up on an occasion with colleagues of your husband's, the good news is it's a good opportunity to buy some classic evening things like fancy shoes and coat or wrap.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what you decide to do! Keep us posted, and good luck!
I agree w/ the others! #1 & #2 just look a bit too 'casual'! I love the dress in #3, the deco skirt outifit (#4), and the skirt in #5! The beaded ribbon-front top would be wonderful as well! :)
ReplyDeleteMake sure you share your choice! Oh, and remember to just have fun and don't worry about it too much (as hard as that is sometimes!)! :-P
I like the dress, but with a cardigan, not a jacket. Buy new shoes!
ReplyDeleteDeco skirt, all the way. Perfect and even with no jacket it is still dressy enough. Another option is to pull out a dressy cardigan and see if any of them work with the outfit. :)
ReplyDeleteLet us know what you choose.
The DRESS does it for me! Elegant and flattering and less likely that someone else will be wearing a duplicate (like the Deco skirt)
ReplyDeleteI'd bee ticked off if some other JC fan/guest was wearing that skirt which seems to be very popular!
Again the dress with your figure, some red lipstick and you'll knock the socks off everyone else! But what ever you end up wearing enjoy yourself.
P.S.(maybe a shawl or nice bolero if the weather requires)
Best
Ibi
Option 3-----with wrap/shawl and yes, buy new shoes!
ReplyDeleteI love number 3 with a wrap or shawl. It's beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst choice: #3 dress.
ReplyDeleteSecond choice: #5 skirt with beaded ribbon top. :-)
Definitely the dress. With cardi or wrap and new fab shoes - it's not like buying a new dress and you will get a lot of use out of them.
ReplyDeleteI am assuming the wedding is in evening. If so, i would go with option 3 with a beautiful ornate wrap, possibly with embroidery or metallic threads. You could pair the outfit with some silver shoes that would make it festive.
ReplyDeleteThe dress looks fabulous on you btw. Please take a photo of your final selection. Buon divertimento! :)
#4 or #5 - love the ruffles. (though I DO like the dress option!) You look great.
ReplyDeleteI think 3 is the only appropriate option. It looks fantastic on you!
ReplyDeleteI think for an evening wedding reception, #3 would be best. I would wear pashmina/cashmere wrap with a black trench coat over it if it's cold.
ReplyDeleteI'd say 3 or the skirt in 5 with another top as other readers have suggested. With an evening, city wedding better to be a bit dressed up versus under-dressed. Invest in new heels if needed and a wrap, which you'll probably get more use out of than a new party dress. And I'd say no on the stockings with sandals (even very sheer), nice pedicure instead.
ReplyDeleteThank you soooo much to everyone for stopping by and taking the time of helping me out.
ReplyDeleteI got it, I need to dress up ;-).
The option that the most of you have chosen, the dress, is not my husband's favorite (he thinks that it's a little simple, or under-dressed, go figure why). He likes #2 the best and #5. However, yesterday night we went out for dinner in a nice restaurant and I wore the deco skirt (that I hadn't shown him yet) and he was like "You look so nice, why don't you wear this for the wedding?", so I think that I'm going to decide between #5 and #4. And yes, I will buy shoes and maybe a wrap.
I will keep you posted and tahnk you so much again!
Option #4- you look like a million bucks!
ReplyDelete