Recently in Weddings Category

Q. I am a stay at home Mom and would love some fashion advice as to what kind of dress to wear to a sunset beach wedding. We are going to Playa Del Carmen at the end of January for my sister-in-law's wedding. Can you give some ideas or where I should shop online for a fun dress that I can also wear for the summer in Iowa? I want it to be a classy but somewhat sexy dress to wear in the summer. I am slim and 5'7". Can you also tell me what shoes and jewelry to wear? I need all the help I can get.

A. How amazing, a beach wedding in the tropics in the middle of winter. Here's your chance to wear something fun, flirty and playful. Look for tropical prints, florals or pretty colors in softly flowing fabrics and swingy shapes. Avoid anything heavy, dark or too constricting. Be sure to wear flat or low-heeled sandals and be prepared to take them off in the sand (pretty toenails are a must!) Since the affair is at sunset, you should also bring along a lightweight wrap or cardigan in case it's chilly.

Here are a few looks to wear to the wedding and all summer long (click on each item for purchasing information):

start with a pretty dress

add a lightweight wrap or cardigan

add flat sandals

finish the look with flirty earrings and bangles

Q. I have an unusual situation (or maybe its more common than I think) - I'm eloping in Vegas but I will also be having a classy Cape Cod wedding in a year or two. So I will be wearing the whole "real" dress then. What I want to wear for the silly Chapel on the Strip thing is something fun, white and "Vegas". Any ideas? I was thinking short, sequined, help!!! I'm 5'4" petite 135, size 4-6.

A. Congrats on your upcoming elopement! Vegas weddings are meant to be fun and yes, just a little bit cheesy. Feel free to have fun with your Vegas dress, but make sure it's tasteful enough that you won't be embarrassed to look back at the photos 5, 10, 20 years from now. A white cocktail dress with or without sequins is perfect.

Here are a few suggestions we found for you in a variety of price ranges. Have fun and say hi to Elvis for us!

2008 has come to a close, so we're recapping our most popular, and in some cases, controversial, Q and A's of the year. Read on and happy holidays!

Some of our most-read and most-asked questions are "what to wear" questions for weddings and affairs. Here are some useful (and timeless) special-occasion questions:

Wearing White to a Wedding?

Can I Wear Red To A Wedding?

What To Wear To A Daytime Wedding

What To Wear To A Black Tie Optional Affair

What To Wear When The Invite Calls For "Festive Attire"

What To Wear When The Invite Calls For "Cocktail Chic"

Versatile Dresses To Wear To Multiple Weddings

Ideas For Dressing Up A Pencil Skirt For A Party

How Best to Cover Up a Cocktail Dress

Budget-Minded Dress Search For Hourglass Figure

How To Wear A Summer Dress In The Fall For Weddings

Dresses With Sleeves That Don't Look Too Mature

Here are some of our favorite style rules questions:

How Long Should Pant Hems Be?

Can You Wear White After Labor Day?

Avoiding the Gap in Back of Jeans

Strappy Shoes In The Winter?

Q. I will soon attend a dressy wedding for which a bought a knee-height black satin dress. Now I'm looking for a pair of proper shoes. One candidate is black suede high heel pumps with tiny gold lines on it, while the other is high heeled black patent. My best choice would have been black satin shoes, however can't find them in nearby stores. Is it ok to wear suede shoes with a satin dress? And what color hosiery alternatives would you recommend other than black, considering i don't wanna be "all-black"?

A. Black suede or patent would look lovely with your black satin dress. In fact, the mixture of textures adds richness to your look. Don't feel boxed in by having to match fabrics and luster.

As for hosiery, a dressy wedding might not be the time to take a risk with a contrasting pair of hosiery when you are wearing black shoes and a black dress. Instead, why not opt for hosiery with a texture or pattern to help avoid the all-black look. A pair with subtle gold shimmer might work also. (see options below) For a holiday party or festive affair, you can have fun with your hosiery color and opt for a rich purple or a silvery gray (though not if your shoes have gold lines in them).

Q. I am going to wear a tea-length black dress to a 6:00 p.m. wedding reception that calls for cocktail attire. I'm only 5'3" and don't want to "shorten" the look of my legs. This being the case, would you advise not wearing a t-strap shoe (or even a shoe with a thin ankle strap)? Would a slip-on shoe be better?

A. Tea length dresses tend to hit somewhere between your knee and your ankle, or mid-calf. Since you are petite, a t-strap or ankle strap shoe will likely shorten the look of your legs. To make your legs look as long as possible, opt for a strappy shoe or pump that covers as little of the top of your foot as possible.