Need help with wedding attire: smart casual? - YouLookFab Forum

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Need help with wedding attire: smart casual?

Aziraphale

Veteran

My cousin's daughter is getting married next week. In a barn. (Seriously). The wedding invitation says "outdoor shoes", which made me scratch my head (can't all shoes be worn outside?), so I phoned my cousin to ask about the dress code. To make sure we're not supposed to wear wellies or anything.

Anyway, she assured me that I wouldn't have to watch out for cow pats, but that "people won't be dressing up that much". When I asked for clarification, she said that the dress code is probably smart casual, and that the ceremony itself would be taking place outside on the grass.

So, what exactly IS smart casual? I know what it means for everyday wear, but not for a wedding. I'm assuming a nice but not too fancy summer dress for me, which is fine -- I've got several -- but how about my husband? Does he wear a suit? With a tie? Without? Or pants and sport coat? And what do I wear on my feet? Do heels count as "outdoor shoes"? They don't have to be stilettos, but I certainly won't feel properly dressed in flats.

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Hmm, that is complicated! I would venture pants and a sport coat for men, but not a suit. And for shoes, even if there are no cow pies, there may be uneven terrain or pavement cracks or other issues that would make stilettos very impractical, I would imagine. Last time I heard of a barn wedding, the women were requested to wear cowboy boots. Would that feel too dressed-down to you?

Diana

Veteran

For me, smart casual at a wedding means "garden party". So, like floral sundress, or a skirt + blouse or something like that. A hat would not be out of place. For men, either a sportcoat and pants (but not a matching suit) or a shirt and dress pants, no jacket.

For me, outdoor footwear probably means something that can go on uneven ground and not sink into grass or dirt. Wedges or sandals with block heels are good, preferably attached to your feet (like with ankle straps). Even ballet flats would be OK if you wanted.

dizzys

It sounds like a country wedding. I just did one of these on Sat. The brides maids wore beautiful simple cotton dresses in a green with country/ retro details. My point is maybe try for a dress that is perfectly pressed in a cotton. Something more day time and dress it up with hair and make up. Wear a ccomfort shoe that is a covered toe and simple.

unfrumped

Veteran

What Diana said! Nice, summery, but not fussy or fancy. Shoes you could wipe off--nothing too delicate, no fabric. I wouldn't buy boots just for the occasion, but it would be a fab time to wear light-colored leather "summer boots" (if not a sharp heel) with dress or skirt outfit. I'd probably have to rely on not-fab shoes for something like this and so might try to compensate with fun jewelry or handbag--not blingy, but pretty-- to keep up the celebratory vibe. I for sure think men might forego even a jacket, but should look nice, not sloppy. Pressed chinos, loafers, shirt with belt or one of the untucked cotton shirts guys wear--for your husband I'd go with the type of thing he has in one those categories, that are comfortable looks for him. Guys who have a variety of smart casual wear such as linen or cotton jackets might choose to wear those to start with and take them off as it heats up! Of course I'm sure you'll see a spectrum and maybe very casual dressed-down looks , so it depends on how you want to go.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What the others said. A pretty, summery, possibly cotton summer day dress or top and skirt, and a pair of your Vogs (the less dressy ones...like the Malibrans?) will do great! Either that or a wedge sandal if it is warmer. If it were me, I'd be wearing my cotton summer dress from Cleo and a pair of wedge sandals or even flat sandals. With a white denim jacket for the evening!

For your man, what the others said as well. Suit not necessary.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I ran this past Ben and his response ' I would wear my favourite shirt, open collar with no tie, tucked and belted into a pair of non black trousers with his brown suede shoes. (I would pop a tie in my clutch just in case)

For yourself Elisabeth, I think you are on the right track with a day dress, booties/ sandals/ wedge/ stacked heel.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thank you all muchly. This is helpful.

Declawedjaguar, fun though it would be, this is not Calgary, so nobody'll be wearing cowboy boots. But now I kind of wish I owned a pair just for future hoedown weddings.

Diana, dizzys: I was thinking more closed-toe shoes because the wedding is at 5 pm. But yes, I agree, garden party attire sounds about right. I've got several cute cotton dresses.

unfrumped, I DO actually own a pair of light-coloured, block-heeled toeless summer boots! But they look wrong with anything other than a short (mid-thigh) skirt or else skinny jeans tucked in. Can't wear either of those to a wedding. But great suggestion. If I were taller, I might.

Suz, aargh, you're right, my Malibrans would probably be just right. But I don't want to wear them because I seriously wear them all the time and feel like a wedding is an occasion for special shoes! Waaah.

RoseandJoan: Great idea! I'll bring a tie for my honey just in case.

anne

Veteran

Do you have wedges? I disregarded advice last year to wear them to an outdoor wedding and regretted it every time my heel sunk into the grass!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

This sounds like the western weddings I used to work at in college. The men would wear their dress Wrangler jeans with a western shirt and cowboy boots. Most woman were in simple dresses.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I thought of "plaid shirt" instantly when I read the description. The last one of these I went to involved sitting on hay bales, so make sure not to wear light colours!

ElleH

Veteran

What Diana said.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Anna, lyn, there almost certainly will not be cowboy boots/jeans/plaid shirts. It's not Calgary -- you almost never see cowboy theme stuff here, and nobody ever wears cowboy boots! I think it will be more garden party than hoedown (although a wedding hoedown does sound kind of fun...).

Anne, I DID have a great pair of Sam Edelman wedge sandals, and they bit the dust a few weeks ago after only a couple of seasons. The footbed lining suddenly shredded and came all separated from the sole, and the beads were all coming off. I was really annoyed. Won't be buying Sam Edelman again. They weren't cheap! I guess I expect better quality if I'm going to spend upwards of $150 for a pair of shoes.

Diana

Veteran

Ooh, yes, Malibrans would be perfect! Or any 'Vogs really... I don't remember, do you have Libby Smiths? I could totally see these with a garden party dress, retro with just a teeny tiny hint of Western from the spat styling.
http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w.....38;colourI

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Are you thinking more Laura Ashley, tea lights, jam jars of wild flowers and asparagus risotto, or is this off base too?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Diana -- Yes! I do own the Libby Smiths! The black ones with red buttons. And I did wear them to a wedding once. I am definitely keeping them in mind, but it depends on what the weather's like. If it's warm, like it has been all summer, then I'd prefer shoes. But I woke up this morning to cloudy skies, so maybe it will actually be cool next week.

RoseandJoan -- I actually have no idea. I don't know the wedding couple that well. My cousin's daughter seems very nice. They are part of the super-religious branch of my dad's family and so are very young (I think they're getting married as a solution to crippling sexual frustration), which means who knows what their taste is like. I know the bride will be wearing a dress. Some of the groom's friends may show up in shorts.

Chris29

If it truly is casual and you are a separates girl I would opt for a classic pencil skirt, shimmery shell in a metallic such as grey and a patterned cardigan to dress it up a bit and of course metallic wedges with a 2 to 3" heel would be sensible.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Chris29 -- great advice, if I had (a) a shimmery shell, (b) a patterned cardigan, and (c) metallic wedges. Dang it! Am I supposed to have those things in my closet? Because then I seriously need to go shopping.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Nothing to add, but I learned something new! When someone says "smart casual" to me I think of dark denim and a nice dress shirt... o_0

RoseandJoan

Veteran

ha Rae, if only everyone read YLF we would not have this issue