Advice on black tie optional wedding

Dear fabbers,
I will appreciate your advice. We will attend a black tie optional eve wedding of hub’s family. I am thinking of wearing what I am showing in the picture, purple cocktail dress, velvet jacket, black microfishnets, gold shoes and bling. I have other shoe options as below but would need hose and the microfishnets may not work with open toe shoes. The wedding will be in DC area at the end of December at a religious institution thus the jacket. It will probably be seasonally confused to wear the leopard sandals but could the open toed booties do and if so with what stockings as I will not go without those I can wear exactly as below too if that does not look out of style.
I am trying to wear what I have and not spend on a new dress unless you think it is totally off. You can see where my
money is going and it is not on the dress
Please let me know what you think.
TIA

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4 years ago

Becky

Active Member

I think nude hose if going open toes.

SarahD8

Veteran

I like the idea of the gold open-toed booties -- to me they inject a dose of "current" into the outfit but read as dressier than the leopard version to me. Agree with the recommendation for nude hose with open toes.

I must admit that I have never been to a "black tie optional" event so I will leave it to others to comment on the overall dressiness of the outfit.

rachylou

I think it’s the open back that would make the sandals odd... but it just registered with me that you’ll be wearing the outfit in a house of god... open toe shoes may or may not be welcome there...

nemosmom

I like the outfit as-is in your photo, with the closed-toe shoes. I must admit I personally avoid open toe shoes in the winter, so YMMV.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm with Nemosmom. That's a lovely outfit! And I vote closed toe shoes. Maybe you need animal print pumps?

kkards

i like the outfit as you've shown it....

notsaf

I think a stacked heel is not dressy, so would exclude the peeptoes for this event for that reason. Is there a way you can match shoes and bag, which again to me reads more dressy? Either black shoes or a rose gold clutch? In either case my preference would be for sheer tights: call me old fashioned!

JAileen

I like the dress and jacket. If you go with the shoes in #4, which I really really like, I think nude hose, and a smoky silvery bag would be perfect.

Sal

I am with notsaf and JAileen. Nude hose, and ideally a lighter bag to match the shoes. Clutches can be picked up very cheaply - or see if you can borrow one. Most people are happy to lend evening clutches and there are no fit issues.

I think the dress and jacket look fab on you and think rewearing is a great idea!!

Sisi

I like your outfit very much the way it is, shoes included. I would also do nude hose and, maybe, lighter bag or clutch. You look effortlessly chic!

RobinF

I like your outfit but personally would prefer black shoes with black tights. I like the gold shoes but would rather see them with nude hose - I'm weird about leg color/shoe color combinations so feel free to ignore I also wouldn't do open toe in December and think leopard is too casual for a black tie event, although I love those shoes.

Joyce B

Thank you to all for taking the time to reply and for your suggestions.
Rachy, your point about open toed shoes in a house of worship is spot on.
I will look for a rose gold clutch like Sal, Jaileen and Notsaf suggested.
Angie, so far I have not been enticed by the animal print pumps that I have seen as the heels seem high and I am aiming for comfortable shoes these days. I may just keep the outfit with what I have.
Great point about nude stockings for open toes, Nemo, Becky, Sarah, Sal, Sisi, we have consensus with that .
Thank you for the kind comments, Kkards and Robin.
It is a good thing that I don’t need to shop for a dress.
Sorry that it took me a while to reply as I have had some very crazy days lately.

Joyce B, sounds good

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