Wedding outfit - help with accessories? - New pics added - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

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

Wedding outfit - help with accessories? - New pics added

Anonymous

I have a cousin's wedding to go to in a couple of weeks and am trying to figure out my outfit. I think this purple dress ($30 or $40 on clearance at Nordstrom Rack last year) should work, but am a little unsure about accessories. Would love some feedback/suggestions if anyone feels like it! I'm definitely open to buying an accessory or two, especially if it's something I could use again.

For some background, the wedding is in the late afternoon at an inn in the mountains and it isn't super-dressy. Something cocktail-y is probably about right. And it's family, so flattering and innocuous beats out cool but weird.

I've got a few potential shoe choices. Things should be on a deck or something like that, so no need to worry about heels digging into the ground. In #2-3 are Sole Society ankle strap wedges and some gold snakeskin slingbacks. #4-5 are nude patent pumps (I have the same ones in black too) and black wedges with straw heels. Do any of these work? On second thought, it looks like the nude pumps are actually lighter than my skin tone, and I'm not sure if the straw-heeled wedges (second pair of shoes under Finds to see them in more detail) are kind of matronly. Maybe both of these just need to be donated ASAP?

The bag will probably be my new black one, collected below. I also have a nice red-orange clutch and a few suboptimal metallic ones.

In terms of jewelry, I tried this on with the gray earrings collected below. They're not bad, I don't think, but seem a little sedate. I don't have a great collection of more dramatic earrings that might go with this dress, but what I have, including the gray pair, is in #6. I kind of like the idea of wearing a more statement-y necklace with subtle earrings instead, but would have to buy it, since I don't really have anything that would work with the neckline besides little tiny delicate things. Not sure if anyone has suggestions for earring or necklace options to look for? I always think I have way too much jewelry then, when I'm trying to get dressed up, I realize I never have anything that works.

Oh, and I put on some gold bracelets, but am not super-attached to them.

This post has 6 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.

Danielle Nicole Danielle 'Adeline' Laser Cutout Clutch

View Info

Top Pick

1

Kate Spade New York 'branton square' stone linear earrings (Nordstrom Exclusive)

View Info

Top Pick

1

Sole Society Julianne Hough for Sole Society 'Lacey' Suede & Leather Wedge Sandal

View Info

Top Pick

4

VC Signature 'Toscana' Slingback Sandal

View Info

Top Pick

1

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Love the peep toes--by a mile! The black balances your look, bookends your hair and peep toe calls back to your neckline. The nude shoes are too nude. The black ankle strap doesn't work for my eye at all --they chop up your foot too much--and they don't have enough presence.

I have a terrible time with jewellery, too, so I'l wait for the more experienced gals to chime in but off the top of my head I'd say the red/yellow earrings with the red/orange clutch, but then, I'm matchy-matchy like that.

shiny

Veteran

LOVE the dress!! Gorgeous!

I vote for the Sole Society ankle strap wedges, which not only bookend your hair but also complement the black clutch, which is so nice.

As for jewelry, if your hair will be down, your earrings won't be all that noticeable. I adore how you have it accessorized with the matching gold chunky bracelets. So I say go with the bracelets, and skip the earrings completely, or just wear simple gold studs.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Gold snakeskin then nude pumps imo. I wouldn't wear a necklace with this dress - I think it would fight with the neckline, a cuff or bracelets would be better imo. This may just be me but is the belt removable? If it is, what does the dress look like without it?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Gorgeous dress.

Personally, I prefer the gold peep-toe pumps with the dress. But if you need to dress down the look - the ankle strap wedges are better.

Emily

Veteran

You are absolutely stunning in that dress! I think the neckline wants a tiny gold pendant, and then a pile of bracelets. I like the clutch you picked with the ankle strap wedges. Will you be wearing your hair up or down?

Kristin L

Veteran

That dress looks great on you. I vote for the gold peep-toes. I think gold bracelets and the green and gold earrings would work with the dress as well.

Anonymous

Thanks so much for the detailed suggestions, everyone!

Interesting … it seems like there's lots of different preferences on the shoes. Although Angie's suggestion is making me kind of lean toward the gold ones for now. Pretty sure they wouldn't be overdoing it in terms of dressiness.

Alana, the only other time I wore this dress was to a wedding last summer with the reddish earrings and the orange-red clutch (throwing a picture of it in), so I like the way you think!

Shiny and Emily, I'd wear my hair down, probably curly unless I decide I want to deal with flat-ironing it or finding somewhere there to get a blowout. Which isn't likely unless I magically get less lazy. So it's true that my earrings might not be super noticeable. I'd probably do small gold studs before going without earrings just because I feel weird with no earrings.

Caro, the sash is removable so I can see what it looks like without it. Good idea!

Emily, I have a few small gold pendants, so that might be a good thing to play around with.

Also interesting that lots of people like the idea of bracelets. I can do these or even see if I can find something else. These are about the only bracelets I ever wear (they're actually in the picture with the clutch, which was from the last time I asked for accessory advice for something fancy), and it might be fun to have more options. I have small wrists, but there's probably something out there that would fit.

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.

Anonymous

I've been keeping everyone's advice in mind and decided to try on the outfit again to tweak it a bit.

First, pretty sure I'm going with the gold shoes and the black clutch.

Second, I like the idea of a bracelet as the main noticeable piece of jewelry. But I really didn't want to wear the ones I tried on the first time. I'm sick of them and they're also literally made of wooden beads with gold paint (I got them at a Guess outlet store, of all random places) and I think they look cheap close up. So I kept an eye out for other options.

Turns out that, if I'm actually looking, it's not that hard to find bracelets that fit, so I don't know what I was waiting for. I found a nice lightweight gold cuff from a vendor at a local flea market thing (pictured in #1 and #2) and a gold bracelet with little pave stones at Ann Taylor (in Finds and in #3). #4 is a few other options I have. The one with the colored stones (and maybe the chain one too, can't remember for sure) belonged to my grandma who passed away a few years ago, so there'd be some symbolic value to wearing these, since my cousin's from that side of the family. But I think they may be too casual. Thoughts? I think I'm probably leaning toward the cuff.

Third, I tried the dress without the sash in #5. Not sure it makes a huge difference. Does it look significantly better either with or without it to anyone else? I'd probably prefer to wear it with the sash just so I don't have to deal with snipping off the belt loops.

Thanks again for looking!

This post has 5 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.

Pave Cabachon Stretch Bracelet

View Info

Top Pick

2

MuseumGal

Veteran

Aubergine in aubergine - you are gorgeous in that dress! No one will notice your accessories!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, I love that dress on you! Just stunning!

And you have been doing some great shopping. The gold cuff is really great! Works well with the gold shoes.

I do prefer the dress without the sash but do keep in mind I am a fusspot about self-belts and get really annoyed with the way they mess up the line (in my mind). When I have one I usually try to loop it around me twice and hide the little knot so that basically it is more "belt" like than visibly tied and hanging down. And I would take the belt loops off for sure, because I get all antsy at the look of those in themselves! Remember, I'm veering on minimalist, though. YMMV.

You look absolutely beautiful in this outfit. It's just so pretty on you.

ma

Veteran

I really like the gold pump with the gold cuff (great flea market find). Dress is gorgeous!

Zibbets

Veteran

You are so lovely, Aubergine! Your dress and shoes are perfect and definitely leave your hair down and curly. Those curls are too fabulous to flat iron.
The cuff and the pave bracelet are both gorgeous. I think either one would be great.
I'd skip the necklace and add some dangly gold earrings. I think they will show up against your hair better than the ones you have pictured above.
Have a wonderful time!

Neelie

Veteran

I actually prefer the dress with the sash...it is beautiful on you. And love the first cuff for its simplicity, very elegant.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Killer xo

Neel

Veteran

I like the dress both ways. With or without sash. The gold cuff in 1 is simple and gorgeous and would look lovely with gold shoes IMO. That is beautiful purple on you btw

Anonymous

Thanks everyone for the extremely lovely and flattering compliments! I really appreciate them, and appreciate the help in deciding on a final outfit.

I'll definitely do the gold cuff. And, after looking at these pictures again, I may actually prefer the dress with the sash because it makes my waist look a little narrower (or maybe that's all in my head). But I like Suz's idea of trying to wrap it twice and knot it so the excess fabric isn't hanging down, and will give that a try.

Zibbets, thanks for saying that about my hair! I always feel like I "should" be fighting my hair until it's sleek and straight whenever I get dressed up, so that was really nice to hear. And I have delicate gold hoops that might show up a little more, but are still pretty subtle. Will bring those and some small gold studs and see which I like better on the day of.