Ahhh! What Do I Wear to a Wedding?
May 7, 2009
It took one week, forty-something stores, and an unhealthy amount of caffeine to finally find an outfit. It was my friend Niki’s (a New York based interior designer with impeccable taste) wedding. Clearly, not just any outfit would do. I had to find the perfect dress. One that was unique, sexy, and figure-flattering—not an easy task.
After a treacherous (and I mean all weekend, all evening) search, I finally found this little green BCBG number from Nordstroms:
(Adorable, I know!)
When I showed up at the wedding I was a bit surprised. (I haven’t been to that many weddings.) Girls were wearing everything from your run of the mill Banana Republic casual dresses to officey skirts and blouses, and even slacks. I was shocked! Had I known this I could have easily dug something out of my closet and not had to endure the search from hell for the perfect cocktail dress. Even though Niki’s wedding was a formal, evening affair, people dressed rather casually. (Maybe that’s just Californian culture?!) Either way, I learned a thing or two about how to dress to impress at the next wedding I attend.
The three Never Ever Commandments of wedding wear are:
- Do not wear white. It’s the bride’s day, don’t steal her thunder. There’s a rainbow of colors for you to choose from.
- Don’t dress like a hoochie mama. Save your outfit that you wear to the club for the club.
- Say no to jeans. It doesn’t matter if they are limited edition True Religion’s that cost you $500. It’s just inapropo.
First of all, take cue from the invite. Is it blaringly obvious that this is a formal, ballroom affair? Is it a casual backyard bbq? Is it a Cayman Island destination wedding? When in doubt don’t hesitate to call the couple, questions like this are expected.
While there are no hard and fast rules for wedding wear, here’s some basic tips to ensure you’re on the right track:
Daytime Wedding
Her: Floral cotton knee-length dress, knee-length skirt with blouse, tank, or sweater paired with heels, light colored pants with a dressy tank and heels
Him: Khakis and a button-down, light colored suit (linen is a great option), dress shirt with pants and a tie works too
Evening Wedding
Her: Tea-length cocktail dress (always your best bet in my opinion!), a dressy skirt and blouse with heels for added drama, accessories with your finest jewels
Him: Dark suit with tie (Remember to shave and brush your hair too!)
By and large, wear something that is your own style and that you feel comfortable in. Nobody is going to kick you out for being a little too casual, all eyes are on the bride anyways! When it doubt, overdress instead of underdressing. One thing I learned at Niki’s wedding was that the main purpose of a wedding is to drink, eat, dance, and be merry. Wear an outfit that’s conducive to all of the above (especially drinking and dancing!).
Casual Fridays Do’s and Dont’s
April 30, 2009
I’ll never forget that Sex and the City episode where Miranda’s office introduced casual Fridays. Her closeted gay co-worker showed up in tight leather black pants and a sheer black tank. Needless to say, her conservative New York law firm nixed casual Fridays from there on out.
Thankfully I work in an industry where every day is casual Friday. If I were a lawyer or salesgirl or some other kind of professional that had to dress to the nines everyday, I’d go bananas. If you are one of the corporate big-wigs who has to dress to impress at the office, casual Friday is a gift from the heavens above. Before rolling out of bed in your smelly sweatpants, take a look at our tips to be casual but still office appropriate.
1. Casual does not equal unprofessional. Keep the logo tees and marijuana leaves tucked away in your closet. If you are wondering … is this appropriate … ? The answer is usually always, just don’t wear it.
2. Wrinkles, stains, and tears are never ok at the office. Your clothes should be clean, wrinkle-free, and fresh smelling. This is a rule you should take with you wherever you go, not just the office.
3. What’s the policy? Check your handbook and see if jeans, tanktops, and other questionable attire are cool.
4. Skin is a sin at the office. Exposed midriffs, tube tops, and cleavages are a no no. (Save that for Friday night at the club.)
5. Avoid flip flops. Unless there is a beach party happening at the office, stick to work appropriate footwear.
6. Sundresses and skirts. A great option for the ladies is casual cotton dresses and skirts. They are comfortable, casual, and corporate cool.
7. Khakis and polos. Guys should choose khakis and polos over shorts and a tee.
Think about your field, your office culture, location, and position before busting out the “Jesus is My Homie” tee. Clearly you know your office vibe best, so dress in a way where you (and your co-workers) will feel comfortable and accepted. As long as everyone feels respected, it’s all good in the hood.
The Best Dressed 8 Year Old in the World
April 23, 2009
My favorite outfit when I was eight years old were some baby blue sweats with a screen-printed hippo dressed as a ballerina. I rocked that hippo ‘fit at least three times a week and always thought I looked fly. Arlo Weiner, the eight-year-old son of Mad Men creator, Matthew Weiner would definitely raise a disapproving eyebrow at my hippo-rina look. Arlo is—undoubtedly—the most stylish eight year old in the world.
Arlo draws his inspiration from classic films, Frank Sinatra, and his father’s fashion-forward show. When most of us were just learning to wipe our own behinds, he saw a vintage movie and begged his parents for a top hat and a monocle. (A monocle, for those of you like myself who’ve never heard this word, is one of those eye glasses thats used only over one eye—very Sherlock Holmes, and very difficult to hold in place … ) Since his early, and I mean diaper-wearing early, sartorial days of ascots and fedoras, Arlo’s style has grown to rival (and beat) that of Mad Men’s Don Draper himself.
To say his style is impeccable is to say the Taj Mahal is beautiful—such an understatement. His closet houses striped ties, crushed velvet suits, ascots, suspenders, plaid pants, madras pants, bowler hats, canes, and bowties of every hue and shade you can imagine. It’s truly a scene from the movies he draws his inspiration from. His signature colors are red and black as he believes each bring out each other and make a bold statement. He is not afraid to wear plaid on plaid, stripes on stripes, or just about anything so long as he deems it style savvy.
These days when I find it hard to find the motivation to don anything beyond spandex pants and a sweatshirt, I could certainly take cue from the petite Mr. Weiner. At under one decade of age, Arlo has an understanding of style that few of us will ever have in our lifetime. He is the next generation of haute couture—fearless, classic, inspired, and always original. He has a passion for fashion that (I predict) will lead him to one day do for the industry what Beyonce has done for the black leotard.
When asked if there is anything Arlo won’t wear, he says sneakers and jeans. They just really aren’t his thing. I guess that means my baby-blue hippo ballerina really wouldn’t have been his thing.
