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Question regarding mother of the bride attire

April 8, 2009

Q. My niece is getting married in 7 weeks and my sister, mother of the bride wants to wear a more casual dress for the church at 1:30 and then her mother of the bride dress for the reception at 6:00 pm. I believe she should wear the mother of the bride dress to the church and reception because of pictures at the church (mother walking down the aisle, lighting the candles etc.). I have never been to a wedding where the mother of the bride did not have her dress on all day. What do you think?

_5817048.jpg.jpegA. Even though the evening reception is the “fun” part of the wedding, it’s important to remember that the ceremony is the focal point of the day. Since the bride and bridesmaids will be dressed in their beautiful gowns, and the groom and ushers will likely be wearing tuxedos or suits, the mother of the bride should wear her special dress to walk down the aisle as well. You are correct that there will be plenty of pictures of this very special and memorable occasion and the ceremony is where everyone “gets dressed”.

For the reception, many times a bride will change from her wedding gown into a less formal party dress so she can dance and mingle in more comfortable attire. Of course, the mother of the bride is welcome to change also.

So, if your sister plans to wear two dresses, she should reserve the formal dress for the ceremony and the more casual dress to the reception.

(dress shown here: Calvin Klein Stretch Satin Dress with Jacket, $198 at nordstrom.com)

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Where can I find affordable shorts?

April 6, 2009

Q. Where can I find a cheap version of the shorts in this picture?

A. In our recent post offering tips on how to wear short shorts, we featured a picture of a pair of cuffed short shorts from Express. Lucky for you, they are not too expensive, costing $49.50 at express.com. Here are some more cuffed, pleated short shorts that you might like, all for under $60:

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A chic, modern way to wear pearls

April 3, 2009

Q. My mother in law would like to give me some pearls for my first Mother’s Day (lucky me!), but I need help finding some that don’t look so matronly. Any advice?

Q. I have an 18” string of pearls that I received for my wedding. I used to wear them to dressier events and functions, but my style has changed and evolved over the years. I am mostly in casual, daytime situations with children and other moms and work part time from home in a creative profession. I would love to wear my pearls again, but no longer just for special occasions. How can I make them more of an everyday, hip accessory?

 A. When we think of pearls, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Coco Chanel and Jackie O usually come to mind, as all are icons when it comes to wearing pearls. While classic and often traditional, pearls are also a mainstay of a modern wardrobe - it’s all about how you wear them.

In the images below, Michelle Obama wears her short double strands in classic, ladylike fashion with a pencil skirt and beaded cardigan; Rihanna makes hers look young and fresh with a button down and short flirty skirt; Jessica Biel opts for slightly longer strands to accessorize her little black dress.

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The celebrities below opt for longer, layered strands: Ashlee Simpson’s have a rock-and-roll vibe worn with skinny jeans and a casual striped top; Sarah Jessica Parker wears hers with a chic black minidress; Blake Lively wears hers long, loose and messy with her retro-inspired look.

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The point is, pearls can be worn in so many ways, from casual to dressy, or ladylike to rocker, depending on your style. They are a must-have for any woman’s wardrobe.

If you’re going to invest in a pearl necklace, a long strand of pearls is the most versatile. You can create multiple looks from the same necklace: wear it long and loose, layered with other necklaces, or you can double or triple the strand to create a shorter necklace. You can even wrap it several times around your wrist or pin a brooch on your necklace.

Here are some pearls in longer lengths for every budget (as you can see, you don’t have to spend a lot!):


photos via instyle.com and people.com

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How to look good wearing miniskirts and short shorts

April 1, 2009

Q. Everywhere I look I see miniskirts and short shorts. I have to admit, it’s been months since I’ve hit the gym - and even longer since my legs have seen the sun. I’m not ready to trade in chunky sweaters and jeans for minidresses! Any tips on wearing this trend?

A. If the multitude of miniskirts, minidresses and short shorts this spring have you shaking in your (chic) boots, feeling just the tiniest bit insecure about your body, you’re not alone. With spring just around the corner but winter weather still very much here, the last thing our pale, out of shape legs are ready to do is face the world peeking out of short hemlines.

Besides hitting the treadmill and switching to healthier snacks, we’ve got a few tips to help you survive this season’s mini trend:

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1. Hit the bottle: Sunless tanners are your exposed legs’ best friend. Even a hint of a faux tan is enough to make thighs look slimmer. Moisturize well for smooth, sleek gams.

2. Pump it up: The quickest way to longer, more sexy legs? A great pair of heels or wedges. Choose a nude color and avoid ankle straps (like the model shown here) and you’ll add inches in an instant.

3. Not all minis are created equal: Be mindful of the length of your hemline; select miniskirts and shorts that hit right below the widest part of your thigh for the most flattering silhouette. Also, be sure to do the sit-down and bend-over test to avoid overexposure.

4. Loosen up: Choose loose, cuffed shorts and A-line or full skirts to make thighs look skinny by comparison.

5. Use diversion tactics: Choose billowy tops and oversized accessories, like a statement necklace or large handbag, to make the rest of you look small in comparison.

6. Snack wisely:  You can enjoy snacking but don’t blow it on goodies that aren’t worth it. Instead try healthier versions of your favorite snacks. We love Baked! Lays - they taste as good as regular potato chips and only have 1.5 grams of fat per serving. Snacking can be yummy!

Follow these tips and you’re on your way to surviving this season’s mini trend! (c’mon, sing it with us: who wears short shorts?)

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This post was sponsored by Only in a Woman’s World. For more fun stuff about getting ready for summer check out www.awomansworld.com

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How not to look short in ankle strap shoes

March 30, 2009

Q. The ankle strap seems to be back this year. Could you please show a few examples of how to wear these sandals so they do not visually shorten your legs.

A. You’re right, the ankle strap is everywhere this season in many variations, from thin and ladylike to thick and rocker-inspired to wraparound gladiator-style. You are also right that they have a tendency to visually shorten legs. Here are some tips for wearing ankle straps:

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1. Flat gladiator styles that often wrap more than once around your ankle can be a tough style to pull off for women with short legs or muscular calves. Look for lighter colors that closely match your skin tone like the model in look 1 above. Wear them with dresses, skirts or shorts that hit above the knee to make your legs look as long as possible. Or, wear them with maxi dresses that cover most of the leg anyway.

2. Look for ankle straps that hit below the ankle, like the pair in image #2. As you can see, they actually dip down towards the foot, giving you an extra inch or two below where the typical ankle strap hits.

3. Look for skinny straps in light colors like the pair in image #3. This will prevent the straps from visually chopping your leg at the ankle. Again, opt for a hemline above the knee. You can also try wearing them with cropped or rolled pants that hit just above the ankle or just below the wider part of your calf.

4. This season’s newest trend is the chunky cage heel which often comes in dark colors and features thick ankle straps - a tough look for anyone with less-than-slim calves or short legs to wear. This style looks best worn with minis or short shorts which allow as much leg to show as possible. As with other ankle strap heels, you can also wear them with cropped or rolled pants that hit just above the ankle or just below the wider part of your calf.

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