How to Pick Great Bridesmaids Dresses-or Regular Dresses!

How to Pick Great Bridesmaids Dresses-or Regular Dresses!

I've still got weddings on the brain as I pack to head up to my cousin's baby shower and think about being a bridesmaid in her wedding in the spring! For brides-to-be, I'll leave the decision on whether you should have bridesmaids to you and your partner. Above, you can see some of my bridesmaids from our wedding as they processed into the garden where we got married. They chose their own dresses once they knew our wedding colors (rusty orange, chocolate brown, and cream, which I later realized looked familiar because they were the colors of our Bernese Mountain Dog...), and my mom sewed them each a raw silk orange sash. She also sewed vests for the groomsmen and my brother-in-law (playing the Andean flute) and nephew (not pictured).

If you decide to have bridesmaids, I have some tips I'd like to share with you. If you're not getting married (now or in the future or again), this is my first tip to consider when shopping for dresses for yourself, too.

Pick a fabric that is structured-it will be more flattering than a soft fabric.

Let's take two Anthropologie dresses as examples. This dress? It's gorgeous. The print might be a little busy for most brides, but in the rusty orange it would have fit right into my fall wedding and those of many other brides. At first glance, it's a nice choice.

You might think "Look, Ella! The waist hits nice and high, the length isn't too short, and my friends could even wear normal bras!" But wait. This is a rayon spandex dress which, while it does redeem itself slightly with the pleating across the back, will show off every bump under it. For those of us who tend to carry a little extra weight in the lower belly, we'll look pregnant. And not in an adorable way. Someone wears a lace bra or any embellishment on their undergarments? You'll see it in every picture.

Instead, choose something structured like this dress, also from Anthropologie.

It's also got spandex, which will help with fit, and it's tencel. You might think that it will cling just like the one above, but it also has a lining. This, folks, is key! The lining will keep whatever is underneath out of sight, and those box pleats will help, too, because they hold their own shape instead of conforming to your every inch. 

That's it! Consider the fabric and the shape of a dress before you order it-or even before you try it on. Instead of thinking that negative self talk about your body not being right for a dress (or all dresses if it really gets bad!), build in some success by picking a more structured dress.

Trendy Tuesday: PomPon Collection

Trendy Tuesday: PomPon Collection

I'm heading to PA later this week to attend my cousin's baby shower. She's getting married soon, and I spent Saturday with another dear friend who is recently engaged! So I've got weddings on the brain, and I'll share some of my ideas with you in the coming days and weeks in case you do, too. As always, if you're planning a wedding or looking for a mother-of-the-bride outfit, feel free to reach out to me! I offer online personal shopping as well as in-person and am the queen of finding the perfect alternative to what every other woman will be wearing.

I love these interchangeable pieces from the PomPon Collection by Plum Pretty Sugar, don't you? I fell in love with Plum Pretty Sugar while searching for a beautiful dressing gown to wear while getting ready for our wedding. I decided to wear my mom's vintage kimono instead, and I hadn't visited this site in a long time.

Aside from the models being extremely skinny, I love the look of these pieces and wanted to share them with you! I can picture a set of bridesmaids wearing these easily since they mix and match and feel cohesive without being the same fabric.

I love these sort of off-kilter skirts they've got going here in this collection. They also have a huge collection of unusual dressing robes on the site, and I'd love to style a wedding party in them and have the bride wear one of the robes herself.

 

Like the look but want something a little more wearable as a bridesmaid or just a wedding guest? Try a more forgiving fabric like this solid maxi on Etsy or this floral stunner. I love the casual white tanks they paired the skirts with for an easy spring wedding next spring when it's already getting hot.  

Check out my Pinterest board for more bridesmaid ideas and my new Mother of the Bride-Choices You Actually Want to Wear for mother of the bride/groom ideas!

Summer Wedding Guide: Maternity Clothes that won't Spend Baby's College Fund

Summer Wedding Guide: Maternity Clothes that won't Spend Baby's College Fund

Via Pink Blush Maternity

I have a few friends who are pregnant right now (!!!), and so I wanted to round up a few great sources of fashion inspiration for you. I have only ever styled one pregnant friend, but if you'd like to be my first pregnant client, please let me know!

Hello Hue knows how to mix colors and get the most out of individual pieces. If you love her clean lines and bright, modern colors, check out Asos maternity line.

The Daybook had the best pregnancy style last time around-and she's pregnant with #2. I can't wait to see what she wears this time.  Her style tends to be trendy and easy-to-wear (she has a son, too). Try H&M's maternity line for similar pieces.

Being pregnant doesn't stop Walking in Memphis in High Heels from wearing, well, heels! Leopard print to be exact. But, follow her for laid back, easy-to-wear style, which reminds me a lot of what A Pea in the Pod has this season for dresses.

The Little Blonde Book shares my love of stripes and hats. So I love her.

I loved this lace top on Cella Jane. I'm looking forward to seeing her style develop along with her bump. Motherhood Maternity, a bit more expensive but great for a gift card for a loved one who is expecting and found in many malls, has quite a few lace dresses this spring.

I can't imagine wearing heels while pregnant for more than just snapping a photo, but if you do wear heels for a more casual special event, perhaps a bridal shower or for brunch the day after the wedding, do it like this! 

Side note: I love how women look when they're pregnant, even if you don't always feel great. Take solace in the fact you can get away with basically anything, in my view! Don't feel pressured to dress up just because these ladies do it for a few photos on their blogs. Just let the images inspire you, then look away and remember how strong you are for just showing up! 

Summer Wedding Guide: Dresses that You Will Actually Wear Again

Summer Wedding Guide: Dresses that You Will Actually Wear Again

My dear friend Rose asked me on Instagram about what to wear to summer weddings. What a good question! They’re not so much on my mind lately since I’ve passed that stage when I had six or seven weddings to attend per summer. But, I’m glad you asked because lots of you are attending weddings this spring and summer, and I have one invite myself!

When I choose clothing to wear to a wedding, I almost always think of the same thing: I want to look (and feel) special, even whimsical. For the couple getting married, this is an incredibly special day, and I want to help to create that magic. I think that’s why choosing something to wear to a wedding can be hard because the usual things in my closet just don’t feel special enough.

That’s not to say that you can’t wear something you already own-not at all! But, I think keeping that sense of newness and wonder in mind can be very freeing, actually.

Let’s think about what you might already have in your closet.

Channel Your Inner 27 Dresses

Maybe you have a really beautiful dress that you haven’t worn yet for one reason or another. If so, pull it out! If it feels too fancy, try it with sandals and a pashmina wrapped around your shoulders to disguise a little bit of the fanciness. Also, remember that people at weddings often look fancier than you expect so it might be just the right thing.

I love this patterned dress, especially for a boho beach wedding. This little striped number would be adorable with a big hat and sandals, too.  

Keep it Simple

If you don’t have a magical dress waiting in the wings, what about something more simple or even plain? I think a solid dress (black is fine for a fancier wedding and in many cities, just check with the hosts if possible before wearing it) can be a great base for a statement necklace or to showcase some long, dangly earrings. Try a classic shape that you can actually wear again, but pair it with a vintage clutch in a bright color for an outdoor Texas event like this one.

Via Modcloth

Do you have a dress that you consider a “work dress” since you’ve worn it so often? The folks at the wedding might not know you in your work clothes so it might be a better option than you think! Pull it out with a necklace that you rarely wear or with earrings that feel just a bit too over-the-top for it. Then, pick a pair of shoes you’d love to wear more often. Got a feathered or floral headpiece? Get it out. Now is the time, especially if one of the brides might wear something like this!

Via

This can also work with a simple sheath or even a gorgeous maxidress. I once wore what looked like a maxi dress but was actually a nightgown to a friend’s wedding. Look around-what is simple and comfortable will put you in the mood for red lipstick and dancing-and isn’t that what every host wants from a party guest? Love this H&M dress, and wouldn't you actually wear a dress like this again?

Or, pull out two pieces that you wouldn't normally wear together. What about the coral dress above with a light pink jacket like this one? Love this drapey option in sizes 14-24. Pair a simple jacket with a statement shirt.

What about adding some texture with a jacket for a chillier spring wedding or a summer wedding by the water?

Via

Print it Up 

Via Nordstrom

 On the other hand, a beautiful print goes a long way at a wedding, and prints often photograph very well, too. Try something long with simple sandals or a wedge (no tripping!), especially if the even it outside. It will be stunning in the wind. For spring, carry a pashmina, moto jacket, or even a structured blazer with you to put on top when the night gets chilly.  Garnet Hill has some of my favorite printed dresses, and they're on sale through May 13. You'll find some gorgeous prints (sizes 8-22) at Simply Be, too. And, if you have the budget for it, no one does print like Anthropologie.

Check back in tomorrow for an exciting release-and for more tips on being your gorgeous self at summer and spring events!

Love.

  

And-welcome back from the weekend! If you want to know what the highlight of my weekend was, check out Love Always Hannah's guide to a perfect Saturday morning near Eastern Market, DC. If you're planning a party or just wanting to make your life more beautiful, start with Hannah. She's truly able to bring out the beauty in the world. Thanks, Hannah, for always making me laugh-and capturing me in the middle of it! Love you to the moon.