We are going to move away now from strict capsule posts, because I really feel like you guys are nailing the basics, looking at your wardrobe and clothes and shopping in new and useful ways.
So for the next few weeks it’s time for some fripperies, one-offs, me going “OOOOOO LOOK AT THIS?!” because as some super smart commenter said – your wardrobe ought to be 80% salad and 10% crunchy bacon sprinkles. Or something.
Anyway – I had a request for Autumn wedding outfits, which I am happy to talk about.
Summer wedding outfits are a flat-out nightmare and I simply will not be drawn into conversation about them, simply because the weather is so unpredictable.
Genuinely that’s it. I can’t say: definitely wear this dress because in this country on July 20th it could either be 31C or sheeting with rain. To encourage the commitment of any money to such a lunacy of uncertainty from me or anyone would be cynical.****
But autumn weddings!!! This works for me. The thing you ought to buy for any autumn wedding or function for AW17 is a long floral dress. This trend has been around for ages – mine is a Zara hand-me-down from my sister a few seasons ago and it’s really useful. It can be shimmied up with jewellery and heels or toned down with white trainers and a denim jacket.
The floral dresses I like right now are these – any would do for an autumn wedding with a jacket and heels. Or even forget the heels if you can make it work with a pair of boots.
This from ASOS
also this
or this:
This from H&M:
If you’re little, this is available on sale in size 8 and 10:
Not strictly floral but this screams autumn wedding to me, don’t you think? Also on sale – only a size 10 left 🙁 VERY Ossie Clark. Wear it with a trilby and aviators.
I really like this – and a bargain at £55… all sizes still left:
Anyway I don’t want to overload you with choice. If you don’t like any of those, just have a rummage around for one you do like. If you can stand it, do try to go for something that falls below or just below your knee for modernity. And always remember when you are looking at occasion dresses that you will have done your hair and your face, be wearing a jacket, heels and a shiteload of jewellery, so don’t dismiss anything as being “boring” – it is only half the picture.
Also, I know I say this all the time but if you are buying online do get three or four options but make a firm promise to yourself that you WILL not be a dick and you WILL return any that you don’t like or don’t fit and not just leave them forever hanging in your wardrobe like a big drapey guilt monster.
**** of course while writing this I have suddenly had the genius idea of buying 3 different weather-related options 1 week before the wedding, wearing the one that makes sense on the day and then sending the others back. This is assuming you get invited to only one wedding a summer. I get invited to NO weddings, so this chat is entirely academic anyway.
I can’t get my head around this trend, I just think anyone who has reasonable sized boobs wearing florals screams ‘matrons embonpoint” to me…
no, wrong, sorry – this is very wearable for anyone as long as you get the dress right and wear it with the right stuff…
I quite like the first one, just yellow on me = death mask. It’s the florals and high neck that a bit village show committee if you’re not built like a twig…
Catherine, me too – images of pregnant Kim K in that Givenchy/MultiYork loose-cover Met ball monstrosity come to mind … also ‘housecoat’.
I’m sure Esther is right but the thought of persevering through armfuls of frocks that make me look like an overstuffed cushion to find The One – no, just no. And thank heaven no more weddings ever surely please God.
ha ha! okay sophie you win x
I bought the first H&M one and I have ginormous boobs and it’s great. Slightly flouncy shoulders and sleeves balances out. However, I do think it’s the high neck that would be the issue – makes it look like you boobs start acres from your neck. Happily this dress buttons through the front and I like it unbuttoned reasonably low, with a bit of nice gold bling.
Kim that sounds sek-say I love it
Just went into H&M and there are LOADs of lovely dresses as well as the one above. Could’ve happily bought at least 4, but I stuck to the one you show here. Field report – sizing comes up very baggy. I’m usually a good 14, and it was huge on me here. Also, really needs a belt as it swings out a bit too much from the waist.
These are gorgeous dresses. Love reading your ideas and the whole capsule wardrobe thing has transformed me!!! Which makes me sound very sad but it has been a revelation.
Please promise to do a winter capsule wardrobe week too.
X
Jane I will, I’m having to work through winter trousers that aren’t skinny jeans – what does one do about the ankles etc, but I have lots of good wheezes for other capsule items x
I CANNOT WAIT (excited shouting caps)!!
Love the idea of all of them, but what if it’s a hat wedding? What sort of hat will work?
I think you could do a plain fascinator/little hat Kate Middleton-style? Although I might be wrong and they could be totally over
I always think with a long floral dress a smart trilby looks best
Small monochrome hat, I would have thought, Frances. Like a pillbox or something.
A cloche! A formal felt cloche would look splendid with these. But then, a cloche is my answer to most problems…
A formal felt cloche is a very good idea
OR one of those floppy Seventies ones – like in any classic picture of a group of Seventies-like people there is ALWAYS some woman with long hair in a floppy Seventies hat. You could get a non-extreme one because you don’t want it falling over your eyes and causing accidents x
Looking forward to A/W capsule wardrobe. Please take into account short pears! X
Danielle I’ll do my best, but it’s quite tricky to accommodate the many and varied body shapes of my beloved readers. Plus I am no expert or a stylist… it’s all just for inspiration really x
I’ve got an autumn wedding coming up (in Scotland!) currently going with all grey outfit – bit dull, like the weather, have you any good hat sources, i.e. trilby, to cheer it up?!
She’s quite pricey but Rosie Olivia is superb for hats and has some good trilbies and fedoras. If you go to her showroom, you might meet her dog, which is a bonus.
Have you considered velvet instead of grey? Lots of velvet around and you can wear it in a muted colour and it’s warm and still all smoochy and sparkly and says “party”…. but if you’re sticking with grey have a look at Bundle McLaren: http://bundlemaclaren.co.uk/product-category/trillbies/
One navy felt fedora purchased, one massive silk scarlet peony, ostrich feathers… and scarlet shoes… Thanks so much, fab ideas! Now to get busy with needle, thread and tape!
you are going to look…. AWESOME
Add scarlet to your grey – hat, necklace, shoes or belt. Less dull, like the Scots.
YES I am so happy about this post! I’ve waited bloody years for longish floral dresses with sleeves to be in fashion and now they ARE. I have just got this one from Asos and I love it:
http://m.asos.com/liquorish/liquorish-floral-print-wrap-maxi-dress/prd/8403556
I think I basically just like being encased from head to toe in swishy fabric, at all times. I should prob get some enormous muumuus, like later-years Marlon Brando.
O that looks like a good one. Proper LOL at late stage Marlon Brando.