Fashion Blog

So, this summer I’ve been invited to a wedding as a “plus one”.  How exciting and adult, I first thought!  To be honest, I haven’t been to a wedding since I was 7, and I was the flower girl there so my dress was already picked out, down to the matching shoes and white stockings.  Luckily this time I get to choose my own outfits (yippee!) but of course it must come with a bit of restraint.

Clearly, when one is deciding what to wear to a wedding, there are plenty of considerations, rules, and traditions.  One, don’t wear white.  Nobody wears white except the bride and the cute as a button flower girl (aka me, a decade ago).  Two, you don’t want to upstage the wedding party.  This is a rule I hadn’t even considered (probably, more so due to my budget than anything else) before a friend warned me about it (apparently, much to my chagrin, I have a habit of dressing up, much farther up, than the others around me.  I take that, on a usual day, as a compliment).  Since I am not part of the wedding party or related to the bride or groom, and not even being on the guest list but merely a “plus one”, I’m as low on the totem pole of wedding hierarchy as one can get, and this leaves me with a mixed feeling of humility and freedom.  Being so low on the totem pole, nobody really cares what you wear–but then again, people will care if you’re dressed a bit too promiscuously/more well-dressed than half the wedding party.

With all these complexities in mind, here are some of my top choices for summer wedding attire.

The Lilly: Best default dress store, by far.  Why?  The hemlines and cuts will never make you seem promiscuous or on the prowl, and the colors are perfect for a summer wedding.  You will, undoubtedly, probably end up wearing the same dress as another “plus one” at the wedding, or encounter several snoopy grandmothers who know exactly how much your dress cost.  Just remember, that’s who your company is if you wear Lilly.  A double-edged fashion sword that’s a little too safe for my taste.

Lilly Pulitzer Sunny Shift Cotton Poplin: $198.00

The Standout:  If you want to be a little cutting edge and have some sass, I recommend Pixie Market for any of your fantasy fashion needs.  So hip, so cutting edge, the styles are endlessly architectural and impressive.  While you may appreciate the detailed hemming and hand printed fabric, the wedding party may pass judgment on your “barbaric” or “untraditional” tastes.  It’s your reputation to uphold, decide how to dress it.  Three cheers for the girl with the guts to strut this as a wedding (will it be me?)

Pink One Shoulder Dress:: $98.00

Simple Sally:  Probably the most straight forward and appropriate dress I’ve found, this simple sleeveless pink dream is a beauty.  With very straightforward and structured detailing, this dress will look absolutely stunning and flattering.  The simple design has one of those perfect silhouettes that draws all the attention to your body as a whole, not the dress itself.  Modcloth has done it again!

Modcloth Daiquiri Dress: $177.99

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more wedding attire.
Discounts on women’s dresses.

If you are engaged or getting married soon and need an awesome photographer to capture all the happy moments, I highly recommend John Lauren Photography. They are a very talented young husband and wife photography team (John & Lauren) who have helped couples celebrate their special day in Orange County and Los Angeles County.  Just look at these examples of some of their work!  Don’t they look like urban or modern fashion spreads as opposed to actual engagement or wedding photos??

Gorgeous!  I mean, you only were your dress once.  Why not highlight it’s fabulousness like this??

Check out more examples of their work by visiting their blog here.

Contact John Lauren Photography via email: weddings@johnlauren.com.

Being a guest at a wedding requires a certain refined attire…day or evening ceremonies each dictating their standards, as well as the signification of your relationship status. Stuck at the singles table doesn’t mean wearing the low cut dress to attract a dance from the dashing fellow across the way…it will only spark more rumors about why you are at the singles table in the first place. Why I felt this was vital for a travel fashion column is in the inevitability that you will be invited to a wedding outside of your comfort, age, relationship, or geographical zone. Therefore, it is best to put the most respectable foot forward, and leave the forward fashion at home.

Best Place to start looking: Lily Pulitzer

Lily Pulitzer, for all it’s pinks, frills, icons and fashion giggles, is the perfect place to search for a demure, respectable, guest-of-the-bride-or-groom dress. Inspired by prim and proper Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl, this pink dress ($268) is a bit on the playful end, but works well for sunsets and breezy outdoor receptions.

But the truly successful, beige-wedding classic has to be this A-line frock ($248) in the not-so dashing color, Camel, but nevertheless an easy wear.

Just remember, the best way to wear “Wedding Guest” is neutral, respectable, and season/location appropriate. Accessories should be calm in color, shape, and size as well. Though we all enjoy a fun outing in our funkiest fashion gear, weddings (where we are the guests) are not appropriate, they are like traveling into different countries. One must respect the different boundaries and customs. When it’s your wedding, you can set the rules, but until then…obey them, for just this one day.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more women’s dresses.