dress to attend weddings in? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

dress to attend weddings in?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Since my asymmetrical bias cut purple floral dress was voted off the island recently, I have been thinking of replacement dresses that are wedding appropriate. I don't have one on the horizon to go to or anything, but I am all about having those life event clothing capsules ready if I can.
Is this dress a possibility? The belt is removeable and so there would be less black in it. Somehow black doesn't say wedding to me even though I've read it's okay nowadays. Or should I be looking for something different? I should say my social circle are not the type to have an evening black tie wedding, just an afternoon affair. Am I on the right track here? Or should I be keeping with light colors and/or floral patterns?
What did you wear to attend your last wedding? Would you wear it again or feel it's bad taste to repeat a dress at another acquaintance's big day? I mean, odds are, some of the same people will be there, right?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from Freckles

Steph

Veteran

I think it is beautiful, and would be wedding appropriate, whether with or without the belt.

I have so many cute dresses in my closet that I feel like I never have to wear the same dress twice. I'm one of those people who buys every cocktail dress I fall in love with, and then waits for an excuse to wear them (or makes one). I'm going to be in a wedding this weekend, so I'm going to be wearing a bridesmaid dress the bride chose, but I'm wearing the attached dress to the rehearsal dinner, and would wear it for an afternoon wedding. (It wasn't everyone's favorite when I originally posted it for review here, but I really liked it.) I have a bar mitzvah in a few months that will be dressier, and I'll be wearing the second dress to that; it's something I would definitely wear to an evening wedding (as long as it wasn't black tie). The third dress is what I wore to the last wedding I attended (and it's black!). I have definitely worn the black dress to more than one special occasion, although they are always with different people.

I only have one piece of advice about the dress you have chosen--if you think you will be going to several weddings with the same circle of friends, it is a pretty memorable dress. I don't know if that bothers you or not, but it's not the type of dress that will look completely different if you just style it differently. But I definitely think you should get it--I think it's great!

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

This looks like a fabulous dress, but it will be memorable if you attend functions with the same people. I don't think it matters when the outfit is very flattering, but may be a concern. My theory is that most people just remember a general impression that you looked good (or not) and don't remember or even notice the details. I don't think it has too much black.
For the last wedding I atttended I wore a Calvin Klein dress in "sand" color from Marshalls with a fitted top like a sheath and gored bottom with some flare (so I suppose it's a fit-n'-flare). I wore it with pinkish-nude low heels with leather flowers on the front and a statement necklace of pink quartz chunks and oversized matching glass pearls and carried a dark cream clutch. The outfit got many compliments including that it was the perfect outfit to wear to a wedding. I would definitely wear it again although it would be easy to tweak the dress for a different look.

Diana

Veteran

Pretty dress - I love the colors! I like florals for weddings, and I think a little bit of black is perfectly fine! There appears to be a lot of ties and what appears to be belt loops and things going on in the midsection that I'm not crazy about, but it could just be how it is tied in the photo.

I definitely repeat dresses at weddings, although I try not to wear the same one to multiple events where a majority of the people will be the same, or at least I try not to do it within a short period of time (say, a year). I have maybe 2 or 3 dresses that have seen multiple weddings over the years. One of them is eight years old and surprisingly still fits me even though it is a smaller size than I normally wear and I have gained some weight since I bought it - I might actually fill the bust out better now since my boobs are bigger! I wear it maybe once or twice a year to weddings and the like.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, you both went with solid dresses. Maybe that would lend itself toward not being as memorable, which is a valid point. I think I still have to get over my preconceived notions that a dress for a wedding must be light and airy or floral, etc.

Here's what I wore (or a variation very close to it) to my last 3 weddings:

#1 was early 2000's, #2 was 3 years ago and #3 was a year and a half ago (but I wore the 'toilet paper' shirt over the skirt as I didn't own this white wrap top yet)

I can see that the multi color silk Suzi Chin I have my eye on is at least a step in the right direction lol.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

celia

Veteran

The dress you're showing is beautiful . Even a solid color dress will be memorable if it isn't in black or grey and you can acessorize it diferently.
I would say look around but if you don't find something else that one is beautiful.

Steph

Veteran

Mo, I just tend to purchase more solid dresses than patterned ones, but I have several patterned dresses, and have worn at least two to weddings (one I re-wore for a baptism where I was the godmother, the other I rewore for a rehearsal dinner). I think if it's your style to go floral or patterned, you should. I don't think that the florals you added to your most recent post are any more or less memorable than something like the bright turquoise dress in my photo--the color is kind of searing.

I do think there is something particularly appropriate about floral dresses at daytime weddings.

MsMary

Veteran

I think the dress you're showing us is totally perfect for a wedding! I don't think it's too memorable, and even if it is, so what? I'd much rather wear something that looks fab than something that looks less fab just to be different. And the reality is, nobody really notices what we wear, nearly as much as we think they do. As others have said, they just notice that we look good... or not!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, now my wheels are really turning. Would either of these dresses work? I thought no because of their fabric - one is satin (which says party/club to me) and one is cotton (which says casual). Am I getting hung up on the fine details? If I don't need to buy a dress and can use one I've already got - that would be awesome! Interestingly, these 2 dresses have the same ruched bodice detail as the one I'm looking at - guess you could say I'm drawn to it lol!

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Actually I think the green patterned one would be great for an afternoon wedding.

Auburn

Veteran

I'm with Anna re: the green dress for a day wedding. Plus, you could always make some tweaks (different heels, put your hair up, add some bling-y earrings) to dress it up even more.

Also, I know this isn't as much fun, but unless you have a wedding to attend in the near future, I'd be hesitant to buy one now. I honestly think that only makes sense if you have a VERY spartan closet (and know definitively that nothing you have would work) and/or have a body type that proves very difficult to dress (and therefore need to seize upon something that works if/when you find it). From what I've seen of your closet and your figure, neither of these are true. And you just don't quite know WHAT you'll be in the mood for when an actual wedding arises if you buy one now, especially given how you've recognized your style has shifted a bit just in the past few months. Once you have an event to attend, you'll also have more relevant details (time, location, size, etc) that will likely inform your purchase. Finally, waiting frees up funds to spend on items you need/want for use RIGHT NOW! Just my two cents, of course, but I'm on Team Use What You've Got/Wait To Shop. The one exception, in my mind, would be a LBD, if you don't own one and happen to come across a great one: then, BUY, particularly if a classic style. You'll always use it!

Charmian

Veteran

I agree -- the green is lovely on you! A cute black bolero and strappy black sandals would carry you through more formal wedding, too.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

ah, Auburn, timing was my nemesis. The purchase has been made. You make perfect sense, of course. Sometimes I feel like my closet is a project and I need to get things done! You're right - I could, and maybe should, have waited. Heck, all my friends are over 40 and the weddings are getting fewer and further between. It could be years until the next one Lesson learned. Thank you, o wise one

catgirl

Veteran

Mo, a friend of mine just came and raided my closet for a wedding she has to attend. She knows that I (like Steph!) hoard beautiful dresses and I like seeing other people in them. If you need one in a pinch, I have several! She took my raspberry Tadaschi tiered chiffon sheath (from a consignment store) - I have yet to see anyone look bad in it.

I knew you would buy the dress, so I didn't chime in. But I think it is pefect for a wedding, imaginary or not. I too like to pad my fantasy closet...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

LOL Una. You know what's funny, my GF's have repeatedly raided my closet for wedding or Christmas party dresses over the years. Padding the fantasy closet for imaginary weddings, indeed! I gotta get a hold of that!

lynn

Veteran

I like the green for an afternoon wedding too!

Anonymous

I wore this dress to the last two weddings I went to...so I guess I think black is fine and repeating is ok too One was an evening winter wedding and the other a summer afternoon but both were quite dressy.

I like the dress you picked out a lot! It looks to me like it would also work for other kinds of parties. I do think your green patterned dress is a great option too!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I'm scanning through the comments trying to see if you said what kind of a wedding it is, like outdoor or in a fancy church? That's usually how i decide...when i go to wedding in really nice churches I usually wear a sleeveless dress but pair with a light cardi to cover my shoulders and then remove at the reception. But if it's outside i tend to think it's less formal and then wear a sleeveless dress and sometimes strapless.

I also like the green patterned one.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Auburn. There was a time when I was attending lost of weddings. Now they could be 5 years apart. When I have a formal occasion, I usually want to get something current and super flattering, not pull out something old from my closet. My body and my style have both changed so much in the last 10 years, I just have a hard time imagining wearing any of my old formal dresses now, no matter how nice they are.

I wore a sweet ruffled mini to my cousin's wedding last summer. I loved that dress. I wouldn't wear it to a party with the same people again though.

Ps- I love the dress you ordered. I can see it under a jacket for date night. You will have fun with it

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. I realize now that part of my buying it way before I may need it is that I am (both here and in CA) about a 3 hour round trip from any real department store shopping. So it has become ingrained in me to think and buy ahead. No, 'oh I have the weekend to find a dress', kind of scenario exists for me. So that's okay. I'm actually kind of happy to figure out that's part of what possessed me to buy this with no wedding on the immediate horizon. And Modgirl, I think you're right that I may get some wear out of this regardless of weddings! In a funny way, it feels like one of the first 'grown up' dresses I've bought. I can't wait for it to arrive.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and I totally forgot to mention that I *loved* everybody's wedding attire choices! Way more than my most recent pics out of my own closet lol!!

Freckles

Veteran

I think you made a lovely choice and hope you get lots of wear out of this purchase.

I'm in the middle of looking for an outfit for my nieces's weddding in October and have just finished raiding my closet. Her brother got married two years ago and I still have the perfect outfit. Unfortunately I don't think I can wear the same thing this time as they are siblings and my only niece/nephew on my husbands side of the family.

I think rewearing the same thing to weddings depends on how close you are to the bride or groom and if they are siblings, cousins, etc.

A lbd breaks all the rules though.