What to wear for class reunion? ETA Pics

Astrid

Well, it's not only a class reunion - my school celebrates 150 years of existence on the 2nd of May and all people who have ever completed school are invited. My mum is going too! And my dad is also going to attend because he's been teaching there for the last few years. There are going to be a lot of people there (my mum said when they celebrated 125 years there were about 3000 in attendance), but because it's been exactly five years it does feel a bit like a reunion. Especially because the last time I saw most people really was back in 2009. I have kept in touch with my best friend from school, but she's probably not going to attend. I have no idea who is going to be there - probably all the people I can't stand...

There's going to be church service in the morning and then some sort of program with speeches and food and then each year will meet up seperately for coffee. I need something appropriate for the occasion that allows my parents to boast a bit (no, kidding) and looks good for the meetup with my classmates.

The school is an all girls school and you can imagine what kind of drama there was over my school years. I never bought into it and had a small close group of friends who were all quite relaxed and uncomplicated. I can definitely say that I was very plain Jane in school, a tomboy more interested in my friends and intellectual stuff than my looks. At our graduation party I was told by people who didn't know me well that they were "totally suprised" that I could have fun. Urgh. Just to give you an idea.

I definitely don't want to go shopping for it big time, but I thought if I could take some of my stuff as a starting point it might be nice to get one or two little new things to complete the look. Do you have any ideas? What would you wear? If you remember some of my clothes, is there something I should use as a cornerstone? Thanks.

ETA

Added some pics further down.

11 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Helena

Veteran

Hmm, that's a toughie ... is the church quite formal? I am thinking something in they way of business-casual would be the way to go? Avoiding jeans as per the etiquette of the church ... if it were me, I'd probably wear a dressy/trouser jean, tailored tee or top, and blazer, and some heels. What do you think - too casual for your setting?

Edit - Just looking through some of your photos - what about those nice-fitting dark-ish bootcuts and your boxy blazer, with a nice blouse underneath?

11 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, torontogirl. I don't think the church is going to be very formal, so I wouldn't need to dress up for that. There isn't any dress code specified, so I think people are going to be dressed in everything between a suit and jeans and a T-Shirt. I don't want to be overdressed.

ETA

While I do like the bootcuts I'm not sure I'd want to wear the blazer with them. It was a fairly successful experiment, but the short boxy shape is easier to pull off with skirts. If it comes to jackets I think I'd prefer my denim jacket with the sequins to the blazer, especially because black isn't the most flattering on me. Wearing the denim jacket would mean wearing non-denim bottoms though.

11 years ago

Carla

Veteran

You could fall back on something like your plaid skirt with jacket combo from about a month (or two) ago or the minimalist colour blocking outfit, but those seem very much part of your everyday style.

Since we are slowly moving towards spring why not lighten things up a little. I loved the floral print dress you wore for a wedding last year. Also, you could do something with your maxi skirt. Did you ever find a top for the COS skirt? maybe the blue turtle neck from the colour blocking outfit?

Even if the reunion isn't formal, you want to show respect for the occasion, so maybe one of your more special outfits (which usually don't get as much wear, anyway) would be in order?

11 years ago

missvee

Veteran

Like Runcarla I was wondering about the floral dress, maybe with a denim jacket and flats to dress it down a bit. I think you want something springlike, and that would be perfect I think.

11 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Runcarla! You're right, I'm wearing these combinations all the time. I feel great and comfortable in them, but they aren't really super special to me. The floral dress is great, but I think it might not be warm and sunny enough. Depends a bit on the weather. The blue pullover from my colorblocking outfit is probably too warm, on the other hand. It's wool and was perfect for our winter temperatures, but I was overheating in it recently when we had just 15°C. And no, I never found a new top for the COS skirt. I actually think the blue pullover might work well with it stylewise, but it's probably a bit seasonally confused. I'm hesitant about the maxi skirt, because I haven't worn it at all since the occasion I bought it for. I don't even know if I'm comfortable wearing it in an everyday look.

Thanks Missvee. I think I'm going to play around with my things when I'm back at home, maybe I'll find something I can post to better see what would work or not and what (if anything) to get.

11 years ago

Glory

Veteran

I would consider trouser jeans and a blazer with a trendy tshirt underneath. would that work?

11 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Glory - my only suitable blazer is the black (short/boxy) one from the recent outfit Torontogirl mentioned above. I don't have any trouser jeans. My jeans at the moment are the bootcuts from above, some straight legs that are a bit looser, two pair of baggy skinnies with a BF feel and some red skinny jeans.

11 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Okay, I had a look at home and here's what I found:

The maxi skirt would be impractical with all the walking around outside.

The white floral dress doesn't work. I don't have the shoes and/or toppers to make it work in a way that feels right for the occasion and could work for the weather.

I'm not buying any shoes besides sneakers for Scotland, so I have to do with the shoes I have.

I definitely would feel better wearing a skirt and not one of my fairly casual jeans. The wool skirts are out because it's May, so that leaves my black skirt.

Starting with the black skirt I found a solution that might be the least expensive and where I could really use the new additions afterward: buy a new boxy cropped top/sweater in a spring fabric/weight to wear over the skirt, similar to my blue wool sweater in #3. The color could be something spring appropriate and not as dark as my T-shirt in #1/2, maybe also something with a pattern like in #4? Or maybe some florals? I think both Zara and H&M have a lot of affordable crop tops at the moment, I could have a look there. Generally, what do you think about black paired with light/bright color? Do you think my idea would work?

Oh and I'm wearing nude hose in the pics, do you think the shoes work with the skirt without dark hose? If not, I'd get some not too dark patterned hose (what exactly depends on the top) to tie the pieces of the outfit together. Or I could go with nude hose similar to these but with some pattern.

I could leave the jacket off indoors and have my watch function as jewelry. The other version would be to go with the boots instead of the oxfords, less dressy but more of a rocker chic vibe (#5). Finally getting a clutch to complete the outfit might be a good idea too. That depends on price though and is definitely optional.

What do you think? Does it sound like a good plan?

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11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I think you've solved your puzzle, Astrid!

I like the idea of the shoes with the skirt; to me, the dark boots seem a bit wintery if you are looking to make this a more spring-like outfit.

I also think a cropped top in a spring floral or colour would look great under the jacket, and even better on its own. If I were you, I'd wear the shoes, skirt, and jacket on my shopping expedition to help find a top gives you the look you're after for this event. I did that recently and it made it much easier to figure out proportions and colours.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I think your plan sounds great! My personal slight preference is for the boots over these oxfords with bare legs -- it just adds a little more edge, but it would depend on whether that made you feel more or less confident in the moment (that's how I usually decide). I think the oxfords with the right hose to work with the top like you describe could also be great.

Generally I like black with light/bright colors. Actually I find the more a solid color is either really pale, or really bright, the more I like it with black. But also pattern and multiple colored threads (like you posted) can work well with a black too, depending.

11 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Gaylene! I agree, the shoes seem more spring like. I love my boots, but I prefer them with darker hose and that would make the outfit feel less spring appropriate. I think lighter hose would be better, especially when I go with a "spring" top. As for the jacket, it might be warm enough to just leave it off completely, we sometimes have very warm days in early May. But I'm going to make sure the new top works with it just in case it ends up being cold. And good idea to wear the pieces to go shopping!

Thanks Rabbit! I agree, the boots add a bit of an edge. But I think the shoes might be more appropriate for the occasion. I definitely think this can work out if I find the right pieces to add to it.

11 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I don't have any outfit suggestions, I just wanted to say I'm sorry you have to go, when it sounds like you'd rather not. I have a reunion this year, but haven't decided if I want to go or not. If my closest friends aren't going, I won't go either.

11 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks JAileen! That might have come across wrong, because I do want to go. Being so far away in Berlin I'd have the best excuse not to come if I wouldn't have wanted to. But I do want to go and I'm curious to see how the others are now. But it could be, knowing my luck, that some of the people I want to see aren't there. That said, I wasn't a recluse and even if my best friend isn't going I will have people to talk to, even if I wasn't as close with them. And I'm going to have a blast with my mum in any case! My sister is envious that she isn't allowed to come, but she isn't an alumna yet.

11 years ago

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