Recently in Weddings Category

Q.  I’m attending a formal evening wedding this September in Southern California. I’ve found this black strapless dress (with tiny gold polka-dots on it, a black sash that ties on the side of the waist, and it falls just below my knees).  What do you think about a 3-strand necklace of chunky gold (not shiny) beads — it falls almost to the top of the dress. They make quite the statement, because of their size, but my friends seem to think they look fabulous!   Still, I’d like your input, especially with pairing the gold necklace with gold heels.  Speaking of which, what do you think about some great gold heels?  I am afraid of being too matchy-matchy with the gold, but I can’t imagine wearing black heels. Won’t that look like potential funeral attire?
-Dress Wear

A. I do say go for the gold regarding your heels, but be sure the gold multi strand necklace doesn’t make the outfit look too ’80s.  Put the complete outfit on and get a second opinion, since it is a formal affair you want to also make sure you look classy and sophisticated.  Confidence in your clothes makes up for at least 50% of your wardrobe successes, so if you love it then wear it!

Q. I am attending a close friend’s evening wedding in late October. I have chosen a deep turquoise strapless bubble hem dress for the event. I am, however, unsure how to style this for a cool fall evening. Should I wear tights and heels? What kind of cover-up should I wear?
-Wear With What

A. For a wedding, many of us will brave the chilly temps to wear great heels and bare a little leg for evening. You will be inside 98% of the time so you can still wear your favorite peep toes or even a strappy if that’s what looks best with the dress.  For weddings, I advise skipping a wedge heel since they hamper a girl that likes to do a lot of dancing.

If you are concerned that your legs will have a permanent case of goose bumps, then wear sheer hosiery in a color that matches either your heels or the dress.  Although turquoise sheer hosiery may be too ”Versace-like” for the wedding crowd. As for the cover-up, you’ll need a jacket to cover you from car to ceremony and ceremony to reception. A trench, ¾ length light coat or even a cropped jacket will do. When indoors, if you get a little chill, look for a lightweight wrap like one from Love Quotes. It will keep your look feminine and pretty whereas a wool wrap in October may look heavy.

Q. I am performing a civil ceremony for my friends and their 50 guests on the beach in North Seattle. The ceremony will be outside and the reception inside. I have many dresses but none of them seem appropriate. I own a strapless embossed J.Crew beach dress in sundried tomato, a pink 3-ply J.Crew silk empire waist dress (very classy) and a brown embossed J.Crew beach halter dress that may be too revealing in the cleavage.

I feel like one of my dresses should work but I seem to find reasons why none of them will. I worry about looking too fancy for a beach wedding. I like the idea of wearing either the strapless or the pink J.Crew dress, but I don’t know what shoes to wear. One idea I have is to find some dressy flip-flops to wear for the ceremony and then change into heels for the reception.
-Closet Confusion

A. There is no reason to buy a new dress when you clearly have several good options. Instead, buy new sandals and pull together great accessories to give a dress you’ve worn already a boost. For an outdoor ceremony with sand, grass and water involved, wear pretty flat sandals and switch to heels when you head to the party inside. Skip the word “flip-flop” whenever mentioning “wedding” in them same sentence, instead think thong sandal.

left to right:
1. Nine West Zapit, $82.95 at zappos.com
2. Dolce Vita Aegean-17, $87.95 at zappos.com
3. Stuart Weitzman Chaingang, $174 at zappos.com
4. Matisse ‘Escape’ O-Ring Sandal, $74.95 at nordstrom.com
5. Matisse ‘Naive’ Thong, $99.95 at nordstrom.com

Q. What should my 26 year old son wear to a beach wedding in San Diego?
-Beach Boy

A. Beach weddings are generally a more casual, colorful affair and men should avoid dark colors. Best looks are khaki, cream or tan lightweight dress pants or linen pants worn with a colorful button down shirt. He can wear a full light colored lightweight suit or linen sport coat with a colorful shirt and tie (or no tie), but he may be hot at the beach. And consider wearing nice leather thong sandals to maneuver through the sand. If the reception heads indoors, then have a pair of dress shoes to change into.

left to right:
1. Classic-Fit Pinpoint Oxford, $49.99 (sale) at ralphlauren.com
2. Classic-Fit Gingham Poplin, $79.99 (sale) at ralphlauren.com
3. Façonnable Long Sleeve Classic Fancy Poplin Check Shirt, $125 at nordstrom.com
4. Slim fit stretch poplin dress shirt, $59.50 at bananarepublic.com

Q. I’m getting married on a Saturday night in December. I already have my dress - it’s by Amsale and it’s long, simple and elegant. However, I love clothes and fashion and I plan to change into another dress after dinner. I’m looking for something very fashion forward, not trendy, but more of-the-moment than a regular wedding dress. I definitely want the second dress to be white (or ivory / off white) and short so that it’s great for dancing and moving around in. I also would like to be able to wear it again if possible. It doesn’t have to be a wedding dress from a wedding dress designer, especially since I don’t want to pay wedding dress prices (already did that once!). Do you have any suggestions for dresses or designers that may make the type of dress I’m looking for?
-Dress to Dance

A. Glad you plan to have genuine fun at your wedding! Too many brides look back years later and can’t remember the food or dancing since they spent so much time going table to table to say hi to plenty of relatives and parents’ friends they rarely see or know. Eat, drink, dance and be merry. Make the grand impression in your wedding dress, get the photos taken care of, mingle and eat the dinner you painstakingly chose. Then change into a shorter fabulous dress and dance the night away with your new husband and friends.

These dresses will work on the dance floor, at another affair and keep you cool indoors:

1. BCBG Max Azria Lace Empire Mini Dress, $400 at saks.com
2. Robert Rodriguez Ruffled Silk Dress, $396 at neimanmarcus.com
3. BCBG Max Azria ‘D Esprit’ Trimmed Point Strapless Dress, $440 at nordstrom.com
4. Carmen Marc Valvo Pleated Chiffon Cocktail Dress, $565 at saks.com
5. BCBG Max Azria Strapless Appliqué Dress, $396 at nordstrom.com
6. Carmen Marc Valvo Sequin Lace Dress, $568 at nordstrom.com