What to Wear as a Wedding Guest
Phil and I recently attended the first wedding we'd been invited to since becoming parents. Truth be told, we had to dig deep into the depths of our closets--past the workout clothes that we've been wearing on repeat (more than likely covered in spit-up)--to figure out what to wear.
Thankfully, Phil found the perfect suit (men have it so much easier!) and I ended up finding a few classic dresses in the pre-prego section of my closet that I was hoping would fit!
One included this little lace red dress (similar here) that I had worn to a rehearsal dinner a couple of years ago.
While I zipped it up and hoped it would work for the occasion, I realized how helpful it would have been to have had a list of potential wedding guest dresses on standby that I could have worn.
Likewise, I'm rounding up some of my favorite wedding guest dresses of the moment for you in case you're in the market for some too!
1) Something Midi
A classic midi dress is almost always a big win when it comes to wedding guest attire. It is the perfect length because it hits right at or below the knee.When picking out a midi dress, I always pay careful attention to the dress' material.
In order to dress as wedding-appropriate as possible, I love scouting out midi dresses with lace elements or some extra sheen that helps to dress them up. I stay away from materials like jersey or anything that feels too dressed-down.
I'm loving this lace midi dress that comes in numerous colors because it's so classic and on-trend at the same time. The A-line cut cinches at the waist and then flares out. I love that it looks beautiful on all different body types and at $89.00, it's a total steal.
Some other midi dresses I'm loving are from the new Gal Meets Glam line by fashion blogger, Julia Engel. I'm loving this adorable satin midi dress, as well as the following uber-girly midi dresses from the collection here, here and here. Julia is such an inspiration and her dresses are completely timeless.
2) Little Black & Red Dresses For The Win
LBD and LRD's are two go-to's in my closet that rarely let me down--especially when it comes to wedding guest attire.In addition to the red dress I'm wearing today (similar here), some other favorites I've featured on the blog include these dresses here, here and here.
The secret to scoring the perfect LBD or LRD is its fit. That said, don't worry if your dress doesn't fit perfectly in the store dressing room. The lighting in there is usually the worst!
If you are in position where you can either size up or down, always buy your LBD or LRD on the bigger side instead of the smaller side. From there, go to your local tailor and he or she can help you to master the perfect fit. You can never create more material but you can always take excess material away.
I bought this LBD a few years back from one of my favorite vintage shops in LA and ended up getting it fit to me by a local tailor.
This made the purchase so much more worth it. It's been my go-to ever since for events where I've needed a classic look.
I love dressing this LBD up with sparkly accessories like these heels and these earrings depending upon how fancy a particular wedding might be.I've also dressed it down post-wedding by draping a leather or denim jacket over it (as I've done with my LRD in the photos today). The beauty of an LBD or LRD are their simplicity and versatility.
3) Maxi Dress It Up
I love a good maxi dress--espcially for black tie weddings. Whenever I shop for a new fancy dress, I look for classic silhouettes and unique details.
If you're going to splurge on a maxi dress, let alone any dress, it's important to know you'll be able to wear it again.Maxi dresses skim the floor and they can be so glamorous.
Since I'm on the petite side, my personal favorites are often A-line with extra volume. I love a little extra drama when it comes to gowns.
Sharing some of my favorite maxi dresses here, here and here and rounding up even more below.
Photography: Azusa Takano