Maybe you wear a uniform or follow an
office dress code Monday through Friday, and on the weekend, you like to
have a little fun with fashion. That notwithstanding, your friend’s
wedding isn’t the place to test drive your new romper or rock those
20,000 naira jeans you just splurged on. But you already knew that,
right?
There are a few gray areas when it comes
to appropriate wedding guest attire. Maybe that cocktail dress has a
questionable hemline — or it might be the same color the bridal party is
wearing. I’ve been to my fair share of weddings, and there’s always
that one guest who turns up dressed completely inappropriately. There
are plenty of clothing options that’ll turn you into an unintentional
eyesore at any union.
1. Something Skimpy
Nothing screams “look at me” like a skimpy outfit.
There’s nothing wrong with showing off a
little leg or décolleté every once in a while, but there’s a time and
place for such things, and weddings aren’t one of them. I have spent
hours watching guests tugging their dresses down and then adjusting them
back up only to have to repeat that over and over again. Other guests
will notice. It looks hilarious, but I’m sure it’s quite uncomfortable.
No, you’re not exactly showing up the
bride, but showing off your assets is a surefire way to take away from
her big day, so don’t do it.
2. Jeans and a T-shirt
I don’t care how casual the wedding is
and how laid-back the bride in question might be, attending in jeans and
a T-shirt is not an option.
It doesn’t matter if it’s on the beach,
in your mom’s backyard, or even if you don’t know the couple very well.
If you’re bothering to show up, the least you can do is throw on a
dress. Also, just to be clear, don’t even think about slipping on a pair
of flip-flops. Pumps, heels, flats, loafers and sandals are a go, but
plastic footwear is a huge wedding no-no.
3. A Tiara
You’d think I wouldn’t even have to
mention this one, but you’d be surprised by what attention-seeking
guests have tried to pull off. So, I’ll just state it plainly: Do not,
under any circumstances, wear a tiara to any wedding other than your
own. Not only is it disrespectful to the bride, it’ll just make you look
desperate and ridiculous.
This rule, of course, extends to crowns,
ornamental headbands or anything else that could be mistaken for a
tiara or any other headpiece the bride may choose to wear.
4. A Pantsuit
You’re going to a wedding, not a meeting at the office!
Drop the business persona and show your
style in a skirt, dress or any kind of clothing that would look out of
place with a coffee stain. This is a celebration of two people choosing
to unite their lives together forever, so the least you can do is find
something that isn’t overly stuffy and businessy to wear. I am not just
talking about your standard black or charcoal suit. This rule also
applies to pretty pastel skirt-jacket combos. They might work for a
dinner event, but they just set the wrong tone for weddings.
Yes, we know some very powerful women
frequently wear pantsuits, but even Hillary Clinton wore a vibrant dress
on Chelsea’s big day, and if she can do it, you can, too.
5. White
It’s never a good idea to wear anything
that could be mistaken for a wedding dress. Avoid wearing white. Unless
you were invited to a white-themed wedding, don’t take attention away
from the bride by showing up in a white gown. Trust me, people will
talk!
6. Ladies, wear appropriate undergarments
In other words, please wear underwear,
or Spanx, or something under your dress. This is especially important if
you decide to wear something short. I have witnessed many female
wedding guests on the dance floor who show off more than I think they
intended.
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