Wedding Belles

I am totally chuffed, because a) somebody actually looked at my blog, and b) actually asked for some fashion ideas for an upcoming wedding. An excuse to look at goodies on line, Yay!

Here's the note that inspired this post:

I need your help!  I will be a guest at a wedding in August, outdoors, involves hiking.  I am 5'3" and measurements are 45 40 48.  Don't want to look like the mother of the bride, but not pathetic either.  I am fashion impaired.  I like the lace dress, but not the coral colour so much.  Please do your magic!

After preening a little (just to myself) when I read the word 'magic'. I googled 'hiking' plus 'wedding' because these are two words that don't often get used together in my world.

I saw pix of happy people out of doors and several of brides picking up their fluffy white skirts to show boots beneath (in only one case were these hiking boots, the others wore cowboy boots, which are of course way more glamorous, but totally useless for rock-climbing or serious walking). I took from this bit of research that weddings with hiking are a thing, but a thing that more likely involves walking up a trail rather than, say, rappelling down a mountainside. Most importantly, it seemed to confirm that I don't need to create outfits that actually include hiking boots (whew).

Then I looked up the area where the wedding guest lives (am assuming that she is sort of near where the wedding is, as her address has 'mountain' in it which, unlike wedding, is a word I do associate with hiking) and found that the weather in August has temperatures between 57 and 75 F.

So: this post is for a
-plus-size petite with a balanced figure and defined waist (which is pretty much what I have been most of my life so I've got a good idea of the issues),
-who doesn't like coral (at least not a whole dress of it, which is understandable),
-and is going to a not-exactly-traditional, outdoor wedding, where she may need to walk a bit to get to the ceremony site,
-in the early fall, when it is likely be sort of cool in the evening and sort of warm in the day.

I've worked in the Jessica London lace dress she liked (it isn't a petite, but the godets begin fairly high up--so it's somewhere between an empire and waist-defining style that should work for someone shorter through the torso, which is the real issue for petites, more so than skirt length). But I used the black one (which is ok for weddings so long as you don't look like you are in mourning). I've also included another Jessica London from the OSP site that I've had my eye on. It is viscose/elastine knit, another breathable, multi-season fabric. The rest of the dresses come from e-shakti and I've factored in the extra $7.50 for 'custom fit', since our wedding guest's figure is between standard sizes and an inch shorter than the standard height range. There's a special on right now that brings the price down, as there nearly always is, just like there are always coupons for OSP.

I've chosen styles with a defined waist but that don't add fullness and don't require messing with a belt. They are all variations on the fit and flare, either with princess seams, gores, or, in one case, box pleats that (should) lie flat (although if your bum sticks out, the pleats will follow, especially once you've sat on the pleats for a while and get up again).

Most of these eshakti dresses are woven cotton (I like knits, but have NEVER had any success with getting them from eshakti), with the exception of a couple of rather beautiful printed poly's. In addition to the fun vintage styles, the custom fit, and good fabric, eshakti allows you to customize with things like sleeves and necklines. I think that the 'Havana' and the 'Lillian' would both look fab with elbow sleeves (very Bette Davis in All About Eve), as might the 'Ellen'. I am not so sure about 'Grace' (would the sleeves be solid or sheer?). The 'Chelsea' might look really strange with sleeves, as there is already a lot of fabric in the bust area.

I've put these with flat shoes because heels can be a real pain if the ground is either soft or rocky or uneven (and that's nature for you). Add a glass of champagne in one hand and you've got a disaster waiting to happen. (So: there's a reason that animals wear fur and not frocks--it doesn't show wine spills.)

As usual, I've had a ball with accessories (weddings, to my mind, are an opportunity not just to celebrate the love of your friends and family and drink champers, but also to dig out all those gorgeous but impractical bits and pieces that we otherwise don't get a chance to wear).

Once I get some feedback from my wedding guest (who may, for all I know, be allergic to cotton, dislike vintage purses, flowers, rhinestones, pearls, ballet pumps, as well as the colours black, green, navy, gray, silver, plum, and crimson), I'll post another couple of outfits that work to incorporate her more specific preferences.

Isn't this fun?
 


1."What a Good Year for the Roses"

Eshakti floral cotton empire waist dress, with custom sizing and 30% off special = $52; 6 PM Esprit, ‘yang’ flats $31 and Jessica McClintock black satin clutch, $18; Etsy, yellow pink rhinestone drop earrings, SSSJ, $10. $111 total sans ship.

I don't think I'd add sleeves to this dress, which is spring-like but works for autumn thanks to the olive green in it and the black piping. If I wanted the option of a cover up for when things get cool, I'd opt for a black cardi, one of the crop shrugs from Ashley Stewart I've used in a couple of other outfits. There are very high quality, with a girly vintage vibe that combined with the waist length keeps them from looking frumpy with fit and flare style dresses.

2. "String of Pearls"

Jessica London lace dress $30 (w/50% off first item coupon--check Retail Me Not); Ashley Stewart crop shrug cardi in ‘rattan’ $17 (w/discount, Retail Me Not); 6PM RSVP Harmoni flat, $30; 60” white pearl necklace, EastWorkshop, $16 and earrings (not shown) $8, vintage blush fabric and faux pearl evening bag, SouthernLadyEstates, $5. $106 sans ship.

Unless you've got gorgeous pale or dark skin it can be difficult to wear beige near your face--but the white of the pearls with the black lace makes a difference. I'd probably double or triple these up.

3. "The Green Wedding"

Eshakti ‘Chelsea’ dress, cotton, with custom sizing and 30% off special, $52; Etsy handmade statement necklace, Fionaniushop, $29; 6PM Dolce black flats, $25, Jessica Mcclintock black satin rose clutch, $18. $124 sans ship.

4. "Punjab Wedding Song"

Eshakti cotton poplin ‘Havana’ dress with custom sizing and 30% off special, $52; Ashley Stewart crop shrug cardi, 30% off, $17; 6 PM, Nine West Speakup black patent flat, $45; Etsy, purple and rhinestone statement necklace, MoloRoseGarden, $29, pink wedding bag, abbaint, $27. $170 total, sans ship.

Reviewers RAVE about this dress on the e-shakti site.

5."Chapel in the Moonlight"

Jessica London slate gray viscose/ elastine  surplice dress $25 w/50% off coupon (check retail me not); 6PM RSVP Harmoni flat, $30; 60” white pearl necklace, EastWorkshop, $16 and earrings (not shown) $8, vintage faux pearl evening bag, GourmetVintage, $18. $97 total, sans ship.

 6."It was a Teenage Wedding (and the Old Folks Wished Them Well)"

Eshakti ‘Lillian’ dress, poly sateen with poly taffeta lining (so, not for the hot natured—but would probably be waterproof!)  with custom sizing and 30% off special = $90; Etsy, vintage NOS gunne sax plum evening bag with chain strap, ThePrimAndProperShop, $10, vintage smokey and clear rhinestone flower earrings, TheocraticGreetings, $8, vintage rhinestone bangle, Jannasjewelrycabanna, $5 ;6 pm Nine West ‘speakup’ flats in Pewter metallic, $40. $153 total, sans ship.

7."Apple Blossom Wedding"

Eshakti poly crepe ‘Ellen’ dress with custom sizing and 30% off special = $82; 6 PM MIA 'Abie' taupe suede flat, $30; etsy, vintage nile green beads, AuntValsVintage, $15, silk purse ColorfulVintage, $15. $142 total, sans ship .

8."Wedding Bell Blues"

Good outfit for those who want to wear black, but keep remembering that their Gran (and Miss Manners) said on the subject. Eshakti navy with black accents, cotton poplin ‘Grace’ dress, with illusion trim, custom sizing and 30% off special, $52; Amazon, com. Rockport ‘ashika’ scooped ballet flat $79; Etsy, vintage velvet beaded bag, kuhlektabulz, $12, brooch with red rhinestone, robinsvintage, $4, rhinestone drop earrings, SSSJ, $10. $157 sans ship.

9. "I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock'n'Roll)"

Eshakti ‘Lillian’ dress, cotton, with custom sizing and 30% off special = $52; 6 PM Mia scallop edge black suede flat, $25; Etsy, vintage tapestry bag with ornate frame and looooong strap, MaryAliceFeltLikeIt,  $16, black rose earrings, NewDayRisingVintage, $8, handmade vintage style ‘fab-a-lite’ leaf bracelet, ThePinkBungaloo, $21. $97 total.



10. "Something Blue"

E-shakti ‘Valerie’ dress in radiant orchid, w/custom fitting and 30% off deal, $52; Etsy, vintage blue/purple evening bag, northstarvintage, $55, navy pearl necklace, pearlandjewelry, $7; Amazon, rockport ‘ashika’ navy patent flat, $50. $164 total, sans shipping.


When I saw the feather cross-body bag on the ASOS site (no, probably not practical for a hiking wedding), I knew that this post needed one more--MOD!--outfit. Just for a change of pace.

 

11. "(Nice Day For A) White Wedding"

 Jessica London fit/flare viscose knit dress, $30 (sale); ASOS, River Island feather cross body bag $59, Asos Shoreditch shoes, $35, white half round sunglasses, $12. $136 sans shipping.