IT’S THAT TIME OF THE year again when all the parks around you turn into backdrops for wedding photo shoots, when fancy wedding invitations keep attacking your mailbox, and when everybody around you seems to be getting married. Before you lose your mind to all the wedding present hysteria, you face a bigger dilemma:
WHAT TO WEAR!
As a person that has parents coming from big families and that nurture even bigger friendship circles, I have been to my fair share of weddings. As of recently I started sewing for the men in my family as well, and I have been eager to learn more about menswear. So when
Paul Frederick -
a website originally specializing in dress shirts, but nowadays has a growing collection of everything menswear - reached out to me to collaborate on a summer wedding article, I thought it was the perfect chance to share with you my thoughts on what would make a great look when attending a summer wedding. Keep reading for some tips that might help both guys and gals when deciding what to wear.
Before you get all excited and plan your look, check the invitation again. Is there a dress code? Is it an indoor or an outdoor wedding? If it’s an indoor wedding, you are probably safe, but if it’s an outdoor wedding make sure your look matches the weather. That leads us to our second tip:
Whether you are a guy or a girl, always dress for the season! Fabrics are important. For summer weddings, lightweight fabrics are a must, especially for men who decide on wearing more layers. How can you wear a wool suit at a garden wedding under the sweltering hot sun? We all know you will be prone to taking off you jacket and armpit disks are never a good accessory! As for women, we have more options than men. Whether you pick delicate lace or flowy chiffon, you cannot go wrong in a lightweight fabric.
Suit:
100% Cotton Seersucker Single Breasted Notch Lapel Suit Separates //
Dress:
ASOS Bow Back Midi Pencil Dress
“Summer is coming. So kick-back and relax in
lightweight fabrics and bold colors.”
Paul Frederick’s summer 2014 collection motto cannot be more
right on point. Unless the invitation stresses a formal evening dress code,
it’s time to leave the dark colors to winter and take advantage of summer’s
bright colors. There is nothing wrong with being classy in monochromatic, but I
think that our men should pack what is already known to be safe in a box and
think outside it for a change. There is nothing more attractive than a man who
can take risks and experiment with bold colors. Everybody by now knows that my
favorite color is blue and that I have been recently nurturing an orange
obsession, so what better color combo to see a man wear than the one a female
would love? Take a look.
For
those men who shy from bold colors and prefer a more classic look, they can
still wow in more conventional pastel colored shirts.
Although I agree that for women wearing white to a wedding is
not the best idea, that doesn't mean that you shouldn’t blossom in a bold
color! Just be careful, if you decide to wear a bold color then opt for less
controversial cuts and shapes like plunging necklines and short hems, and
instead go for more sophisticated looks that are well-fitted to accentuate your
best features. Remember, in order to be sexy, fit is more important than the
amount of revealed skin.
“You decide you dress length, but…”
When it comes to dress length, you are the best judge of your
body type. Yet, unless it’s a formal wedding where you are required to wear a
gown, or a religious wedding, where you are expected to cover up more, I would
suggest the hem length to be somewhere close around your knee. Few inches above
it it’s just fine as long as it doesn’t cross the line to inappropriate. I have
seen a lot of girls at weddings who wear dresses so short they keep riding up
their thighs or dresses so long they cannot move their legs. Forget the
condescending looks, but, if you can’t dance freely, then how are you supposed
to have fun?!
“Life is too short. Wear the print!”
As a girl, you can never go wrong with a fun print. The right print gives your outfit the right amount of fun and it sets you apart from the rest of the crowd. If you are wary of prints, then I would suggest going with small-scale prints or floral. A nice floral dress is nothing groundbreaking, but it always works at a wedding. If you do decide to take on a loud print, then don’t forget to mute it down with the accessories. Go with a neutral clutch and shoe, and keep your jewelry delicate and minimal.
For a lot of men, going
full on print at a wedding is not an option, now is it? Don’t worry; you can
still stand out with the right accessories or with the right shirt pattern. Even though it's summer, feel free to go for a windowpane pattern, and we know that stripes never go out of fashion!
“Suits/Dresses are overrated.”
Many people think that wearing a suit or a dress to a wedding
is a must. Most women wear dresses to weddings either because the dress is too
formal to wear on a normal basis, or it’s the only occasion they have to wear
it. The same thing goes for men. Unless you are required to be dressed
formally, ditch the dress/suit and go for a more relaxed look. For women, a
well-fitting jumpsuit can be more elegant than any dress.
Jumpsuit no.1: ASOS Wide Leg Jumpsuit In Beautiful Floral Print //
Jumsuit no.2: TOPSHOP TAILORED BANDEAU JUMPSUIT //
Jumpsuit no.3: ASOS River Island Wrap Front Jumpsuit
I have
seen a lot of guys dress up light-colored linen pants and blazers with oxfords and dress shirts thus juxtaposing sporty with classy. If you can’t
afford to spend money for a whole new look, just give life to one of your old
suits with a colorful shirt, tie or shoes.
“Compliment your date’s look, but don’t become their
twin!”
If you are one of the lucky ones who
get to waltz with their partner at a wedding and you want the world to know
that you are a couple, try to compliment each other’s look by using neutrals to
color coordinate your outfits. Try not going overboard by playing
“matchy-matchy” because no one likes that couple that looks like twins. You can
always dress in different colors that go well together.
Another way you can stand out as a couple is by paying
attention to the smallest details. If you are a man, try matching your pocket
square or tie with the color of her dress. If you are a woman, try matching
your bag or shoes to his suit.
An important thing you have to match
is the degree of formality. Make sure you compliment each other and you don’t
look as if you dropped to the wedding from different universes.
I hope that these tips made your
what-to-wear-to-a-summer-wedding decision a lot easier.
Any other tips you
would like to add? Feel free to leave it in the comments below!
Thank you for reading.
ASPIRE HIGHER!
lots of love,
Dilek
