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Decision time: which to wear to wedding?

Staysfit

Veteran

The wedding of my first cousin's daughter is taking place labor day weekend in California. The event will be small, no more than 60 people. The rehearsal dinner is going to be at the local Chabad. The wedding ceremony and reception are at an outdoor venue and start at 10 am.

Here are some options. Which to wear for which event? Dinner? Wedding. I need two outfits.

1-6. Various permutations of the charcoal Rachel Comey dress. I tried this with navy flats and a navy topper (did not like it with the navy topper). Silver heels and flats. I also had both a silver and sage green bag. The necklace is one of my favorites.

(No longer pictured) Grey EF dress with cropped topper. It obviously wrinkles easily. Not sure this will be good for travel across the country.
8-9. (No longer pictured)Same EF dress in a different color. I have a slight preference for the raspberry dress for travel paired with the navy shoes and topper.

7-8. Max Mara dress. Very pretty dress. No topper to pair with it so I tried using this scarf. It's okay but may be hard to keep neat when traveling.
9-11 Zero & Maria dress. Avante garde look. Bare shoulders. Very comfy and easy to wear and also easy for travel. Kind of interesting with the silver cropped topper and pearls. I like how they echo the black and white shoes.
12. DVF wrap dress. It's an easy to wear and travel piece. May be a bit heavy depending on the weather.

(No longer pictured)Silk slip dress....DH says it fits nicely. I'm less certain. I love a slip dress but maybe it's too dressy and or too slinky?
(No longer pictured) Athleta dress paired with metallic cardigan. I love this dress and thought maybe it could work although maybe it's too casual.
(No longer pictured) Cropped wide legs with side slits, silk top, and long capelike topper. These pieces travel well.

What do you think? Are there two outfits that will work among these, and if so which for dinner and which for the wedding?

ETA: I have narrowed it down to four dresses and therefore removed the others.

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42 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Staysfit

Veteran

I should have added: My two favorites are the Rachel Comey with the silver and green flats and silver bag, and the Zero & Maria dress.

Star

Veteran

I vote for the Max Mara dress for the wedding. The green slip dress does fit perfectly but looks more like a cocktail dress to my eye. I don[t really know if that term still applies but I hope YKWIM. For the dinner many of these would work. The Athleta dress does seem a bit casual for either event. I think the Zero & Maria dress can work for both. My first impression of the Rachel Comey dress was that it is a bit dark for a happy event but then had second thoughts on this. The EF dresses work for dinner.

ETA missed your favourites - so you can wear the Rachel Comey dress to the wedding, I also like it with the silver and sage (lightens it up) and the Zero and Maria dress to the dinner!

merwoman

Veteran

So many fabulous choices! Before i looked at your comments, I had already zeroed in on the Rachel Comey and Zero and Maria dress.
I’d wear that zero and Maria drop dead gorgeous dress on you for the outdoor ceremony and save the sexy Rachel comey number for the dinner.

LaPed

Veteran

I *love* the first dress on you. Prefer the black pointy flats with it. Might like to see some other topper options. The shawl is very pretty but might distract a bit from how great the dress is on you?

Second fav is the bare-shouldered dress -- perfect match for those white/black shoes. Prefer it without the pearls for a cleaner line.

I think one of those two for the ceremony and the other for the dinner and you're all set. Lots of great options!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

11, 15, 17, 19 are my faves. I absolutely love the dress in 15, saved it to my finds long ago, even though it is unavailable, just to have the example of what I really like. I’m a fan of your curls and generally softer look, and find the black dress and the blue one with stark black “choker” collar too severe.

Minaminu

Veteran

I vote the Max Mara dress, maybe with the white shoes, for the wedding ceremony and the Athleta dress for the rehearsal dinner.
You look great!

Indigoprint

Veteran

I like #3 for the rehearsal and #7 for the wedding. But I must admit I LOVE the shoes so that may be influencing my thoughts.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love the RC and Z&MC dresses. The Zero is a bit more casual with the exposed shoulders but I just love it and would be looking for every opportunity possible to wear it! I much prefer it without the necklace. The color-blocked shoes seem just a tad heavy with it though -- as cool as they are, I think I'd prefer a simpler shoe with that dress, but that may just be me. You have plenty of beautiful options here but those two are my favorites.

slim cat

Veteran

What @LaPed wrote - love the first dress and bare shoulder one ( the most interesting and edgy options ).
Would you play with the idea of blue tint in the hair ( washable and usually very mild, more a tint than color )? Sometimes I do that in the fall/winter - it adds some brightness to my hair and makes some colors in my outfits to stand out more.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love the RC dress. My fave of the options you show it with is #3 (dark shoes, light bag) but I agree with LaPed it might be useful to see if you have another, slightly less distracting or more tailored topper with it.

I love the DVF wrap on you -- gorgeous! If it packs well I would bring that along in case the weather is chillier. Don't forgot, it won't be as humid as in the east and you might indeed need some coverage.

Love the Z &M dress on you, too -- far prefer without the pearls. It would be a great option for hotter weather. Can you bring all three?

Exciting trip!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

SOOOO MANY GORGEOUS OPTIONS!!! WELL DONE

My suggestion is to go with your faves, Staysfit!

Here are my KILLER faves:

#4 - Fashion Forward. Crochet wrap very on trend! Love the silver shoes with your hair!

#15 - STUNNING FIT! May I suggest lightening the shoes?

#13 - KILLER to the Power of KILLER. Stand-OUT! The shoes are soooooo perfect - and with your hair - I can barely stand it - love the addition of the pearls!

#14 - Topper works well, but dress is extra special when you bare your shoulders. (I think you have to cover-up for the event if I am not mistaken?) All good, of course!

#20 - Creatively on trend!

catherine

Veteran

I like #12. So chic. However, all are lovely on you.

Staysfit

Veteran

Angie, I’m glad you like the DVF wrap. The silver shoes with low heels will work with the wrap dress. It’s easy to pack, doesn’t wrinkle, and doesn’t require a topper so it may be a good option, especially if the weather is cool or if we are indoors instead of outside.

I am still waiting to hear back about whether we need to cover our shoulders for the event. I had forgotten about the Z&M dress and when I tried it on really loved it.

Suz, I may try the RC dress with the light silver metallic topper I paired with the Z&M dress. I don’t have anything more tailored that would work. I like the idea of having a back up dress in case it’s cool.

Slim cat, I like the idea of hair tint. I had not considered blue. I have considered emerald teal (light teal). I don’t have time between now and the day I leave to add any tint to my hair. I could consider it in the future.

Janet, the Z&M dress reverses, I didn’t show the other direction here because I liked it this way with the shoes. I added the pearls because I thought the black looked too stark against my face. You have an artist eye, I am going to see if I have another pair of shoes I like with the dress other than sneakers….LOL

Indigoprint, the Linea Paolo navy shoes are very comfortable and so cute right! They were a lucky find when I was shoe shopping in July. I love them. That must be why I wore them with almost all of these outfits except the Z&M dress.

Minaminu, I absolutely love the Max Mara dress. Do you think it reads too conservative? That was my other reservation.

SF, thanks. I also love the DVF Abigail dress. I have three of them and it is my typical go to dress for the formal receptions hosted by DH university department. The other patterns, one with an ivory background which I thought inappropriate for a wedding, and the other purple with full length sleeves, were not as good for this occasion.

Update, MOB texted me back and says bare shoulders are okay!

More responses to your feedback later, I have to attend to something….thanks everyone!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

#10 for the wedding and either#17. Or#1/2 for the dinner.You have a really good figure and should show it off not hide it away.Whatever you choose have a great time.

Anonymous

Fun fashion show! My faves are #7 and 12. I vote for #12 for wedding rehearsal dinner for night ensemble and #7 for the daytime wedding. Enjoy the events
(Updated with new pic numbers.)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Meant to say the MM dress in 10-11 is my absolute fave. (Though the DVF & others are all very nice too). Lmk if you ever decide to pass it on. For keeping it neat while you travel, have you seen Eagle Creek’s “folders”? They do that sort of thing well. There’s a link to them in my packing post.

cat2

Veteran

Love the blush dress for the ceremony and the raspberry for the dinner. I’m old school and don’t wear black to weddings.

phoebe

10 for the wedding and 15 for the dinner but not with the shoes pictured

rachylou

Veteran

I’m voting for the Zero + Maria. Because it’s lively and joyful

Staysfit

Veteran

Oh my! Four good options…MM, ZM, RC, DVF…in order of how easily I could hunt out the letters on my keyboard, not in order of my personal preferences. I am eliminating the slip dress, the Athleta dress, the wide crops outfit and the EF dresses. I have a few days to consider which I prefer and also how to pack them….

Sloper

Veteran

#7 or #12 are my favorites - Max Mara and DVF.

Staysfit

Veteran

My mom just voted for the Rachel Comey for the dinner and MM for the wedding. She thinks I should find a warmer cardigan in case it’s cold, rainy or there is a/c.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

To me you look most amazing in the Max Mara, something about it lightening you up? So I vote that for the wedding and the DVF which also lightens you up, for the dinner. I find the Rachel Comey a bit dark for you but better with the wrap and shoes. I personally prefer something less dark in colour for a wedding although have worn black myself to a wedding once years ago when I had limited options.

RobinF

Veteran

So many pretty choices! I like the Z&M for the rehearsal and the blush dress for the wedding. I prefer the Z&M without the pearls or sweater. Something about the lines along your shoulder makes it look like it should be alone. Could you bring the DVF in case the weather is chilly?

Minaminu

Veteran

Staysfit, if the botton of the MaxMara dress would have been in a pencil skirt, then maybe it would have looked conservative but I like the flared edges of the skirt, it shows that a good classic can also be fun

You can always add some accessories fitting with the ceremony (i.e. a clutch bag, light coloured shoes, a nice hat if it is customs to wear it).

Karie

(website)

Veteran

#9 for the wedding (I prefer it w/o the pearls), #12 or #7 for the rehearsal dinner (if it’s cooler, #12; warmer, #7)

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like the DVF for dinner and the Zero + MC for the wedding

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Without sweater

The Cat

Veteran

#12, the DVF dress, is my favourite for you. So beautiful and elegant! #7, the blush dress comes second. With this lovely dress colour, consider wearing metallic shoes instead of black.

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