I just got a pair of the Colette jeans in the knit fabric….highly recommend! So comfy - they look like jeans but feel like I’m wearing sweats!
I need dresses for three weddings this spring/summer - these links have been very helpful!
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Just curious… do people (in general, not one person specifically) maybe already have clothes in their closet that would work for weddings? Do you not rewear dresses??? I would so much rather spend $$ on another piece of clothing I’d wear many times than a dress that’s a one and done.
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Sometimes I have a dress but I’ve worn it on occasions that I am with the same people so I’d rather not rewear
Sometimes the occasion is in a different season, the dress code is such that I don’t have anything that fits that
Sometimes I like to find something that’s out of my comfort zone and I like to buy for my imaginary life. You know the one where I go places and dress up
For instance I have a wedding in February. In NYC. We have to take the train there so I will have to be dressed for whatever the weather is that day.
I have a beautiful green silk dress, short. I don’t think it will be appropriate for the weather or for an east coast Sunday brunch. I do have a leopard print silk skirt which I can wear with a sweater and boots. What if there’s a polar vortex? I did buy a pair of fancy blank pants for $36 which I can wear.
Just an example of the variability of why I would buy a new outfit.
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Don’t be temping me! I have those in my cart but seriously I don’t need them!
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I did wear something in my closet for my brothers wedding last year but it was too light weight for this top of the mountain wedding. I have two weddings this Fall with no overlap in guest list so I’m likely to wear the same plum dress I just bought.
I have a few summer dresses in my closet that would work for a warm weather wedding.
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I definitely rewear and alternate my cocktail or event dresses. But at some point I know it’s been seen and even photographed too much. I have one dress I bought 35 years ago, wore it several times, pulled it out for a wedding 3 years ago. I’m a little tired of it actually, but it’s a great LBD. I’ve had others I’ve reworn. But I also was penny pinching in my 30’s/40’s and now I don’t have to.
Plus, now with cell phones and social media, I don’t want to rewear something too often.
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That makes perfect sense of course. Mountain vs summer especially!
I’m someone who doesn’t get joy from a dressy purchase - thus harder for me to want to release my $ for that purchase!
Good points by all!
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I follow JeanWang, on FB, dressing for petites. I recently bought a dress that came midi on model, but ankle length on me. The consensus was not to hem.
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I’m also petite (5’3) and find that I look best in either knee length or long, but the midi doesn’t work for me, so I’d personally leave it long!
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I used to buy new outfits for weddings, parties, etc…. I really enjoyed the thrill of shopping and finding the perfect piece. I’ve downsized my wardrobe now and buy much, much less, but better quality. I like having a smaller wardrobe because it’s easier for me to put together outfits. So I re-wear my clothes a lot, but I mix it up (my semi-formal black dress also looks good with a faded jean jacket to go out to a fun dinner). I add one/two new pieces a season, but I mainly only replace items that need replacing now. And I always upgrade the quality when I replace. I find that I am able to mix and match better and actually put together better outfits. Everyone is different though. My sister has a huge wardrobe and it works for her.
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Absolutely. I shopped my closet for our son’s wedding; I did buy new shoes and a small clutch, though. I won’t spend money on clothing unless there is a real need and wouldn’t consider the prices of most of the dresses that have been listed. I have enough dresses to last me the rest of my life.
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I definitely shop my closet for special occasion outfits. I donate or give away clothes I don’t intend to wear so that someone else gets to enjoy them before they go out of style, but I also have some classic silhouette dresses in my closet that Ive had since early 2000s and keep rewearing.
The only occasion I absolutely must have something new for is NYE. It is just a family tradition. 
My excuse to get something nice, fancy, or with at least some bling. 
Mr B usually gets a new shirt or a sweater to wear on NYE. When he stops working and wearing out shirts, he will be getting a new pair of socks 
! And no, underwear doesn’t count.
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I have classic items I bought in the 80’s in my closet that still flatter my figure, and I wear them. Mostly, I replace items with “like” rather than introduce something “new.”
I have always loved formal evening wear, though, and have some exceptional gowns and the gloves, furs, and bling to accompany them. DH has two tuxes and the requisite opera pumps, scarves, and various studs, ties, and cummerbunds to offset. Alas, Phoenix is not Boston. These people do not understand how to dress for dinner.
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i understand that. That’s why I spent $64 on my MOG dress, then sold it on Posh for $100. I bought my first cocktail dress, that green and gold jacquard for my nephews wedding and wore it again for DH’s Xmas party. I’ll definitely wear it again sometime, don’t know where though.
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I generally don’t get invited to many weddings but the guest list in this case will overlap a great deal, since it’s two nephews and my extended family will be at both. I may shop my closet or buy one or more of the things on my wishlist on Amazon, since prices appear pretty reasonable.
I also have dressy black slacks and a dressy navy long skirt, so may look for a nice dressy top of two instead of a new dress (I don’t wear dresses as often as tops and slacks/jeans).
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For those who have upcoming cold weather weddings, Merrick White recently did some posts about her New Year trip to Paris, and I thought this faux fur cropped jacket was cute.
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I was thinking one of these tops would work well with dressy black pants or a dressy straight navy skirt.
Thanks for the feedback. I already run hot.
Good suggestion about the jeans. I am going to look at what Citizens has in a longer wider length. I ordered a pair of AYR jeans in off white from Poshmark. I’ve never tried AYR or Poshmark so I’ll be curious now it works and how they fit. They weren’t super expensive and I’m sure my daughter will take them if I don’t like them. I don’t see myself ordering from Poshmark regularly as they don’t let you return if they don’t fit.
I hesitate to spend much for the dress for wedding, because I won’t wear it often. I’ve actually considered wearing the dress I wore to my son’s wedding to the fancy May wedding. Since I’ve been retired I just haven’t purchased many “nice” clothes, so I don’t have a lot to fall back on, and I’ve never had much of a need for “garden party formal” clothes.
BUT… Brag alert… I once attended a wedding in a dress I paid 1 cent for (or maybe it was 1 dollar). I got this fancy dress because I liked it so much, but then went to return it at Nordstrom Rack, and they told me it was now 1 cent. AND they let me keep it for that price. I did purchase pretty expensive shoes to go with it, that I’ve worn exactly 1 time.
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