<p>Okay. I started the companion thread and my fingers are crossed that the gurus on here will pop in “over there” from time to time and spread their great taste and smarts and humor around a bit. Some of us really need help in the home decor department!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1161689-powder-room-posts-other-situation-rooms.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1161689-powder-room-posts-other-situation-rooms.html</a></p>
<p>I’ve been enjoying all the fashion advice on here. Now the next event on the calendar is a less happy one, a funeral, and I can’t remember what I wore last time I attended one. What do people wear? Also, what do the college-age daughters wear? I think my DD looks great in her very casual stuff or her formal party wear, but somehow, when she tries to get dressed up for something that’s not a party, she doesn’t seem to own anything suitable. Suggestions?</p>
<p>I believe you and your daughter will be fine in anything in a dark color that covers up shoulders and decolletage. Pants, or skirts, or dresses, with long sleeves. Shouldn’t be too casual, but no need to get fancy either. Of course, temper this with your neighborhood and the families involved. I am sorry for the loss.</p>
<p>I’ve been to seveal funerals lately and the trend has definitely gone away from wearing black. A church-type dress or even a work skirt/slacks and blazer seemed to be the norm. Not all men wear ties, either. Jacket and open-necked dress shirts were common. People even wear bright colors, as long as the outfit is tasteful.</p>
<p>Alright friends - here’s an easy one. I need a shawl of some sort for my dress as SMOB. I don’t think I will have the time or the energy to look for a second option, so I am sticking to my very ordinary black and white number. Just to summarize - wedding is in the evening at a very lovely location (inside) in DC. Ceremony and reception in the same place. Girls are wearing short, purple dresses. MOB and MOG are wearing long dresses. I have decided to go with short. I am thinking of myself as an important guest - not a member of the wedding party. Here’s my dress. The model must be 5’ 8’ or taller, the dress is longer on me. </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> Angelo… Find the perfect Wedding Dress, Bridesmaid Dress, Prom Dress, Flower Girl Dress or Mother of the Bride Dress at Alfred Angelo.](<a href=“http://www.alfredangelo.com/collections/productdisplay.aspx?productID=a8c59e51-eb30-4a94-bef1-06ca00cecc84&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=1&colorId1=]Alfred”>http://www.alfredangelo.com/collections/productdisplay.aspx?productID=a8c59e51-eb30-4a94-bef1-06ca00cecc84&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=1&colorId1=)</p>
<p>I am wearing a drop pearl earring and cute pearl bracelets that I just found.</p>
<p>So - what do you think about a shawl. I found a satin wrap online that was black on one side, ivory on the other. Is that just toooo boring??</p>
<p>Also - any tips on makeup for pictures? I think I must remember to finish with powder so I don’t look shiny and shadowy. Pictures from graduation were horrible. I was exhausted beyond belief - but they were scary!!!</p>
<p>No SPF in your foundation:). I’d probably look for some kind of color for the shawl. In my case, probably a pale gray blue. But that dress is quite flexible, color wise.</p>
<p>Really, Alum?</p>
<p>I use something by Lancome and it has an SPF of 20. Tell me more.</p>
<p>The SPF usually has a component that shows up chalky in makeup. Or, so said the makeup artist who did up my sister-in-law for her wedding to my brother, last month. And I’ve read it elsewhere, now that I think about it. Also, I saw a video when I was doing research to help my non-makeup-wearing sister-in-law, only a little shine on the cheekbones, and a little bit under the eyebrows, everything else should be matte.</p>
<p>I just attended a wedding and really admired a shawl worn by one of the guests. It was a gauzy sort of knit that was quite transparent. Her ensemble was navy and cream and so the shawl was in the navy, but it was not a solid. It was lovely. The right “feel” for summer, I thought.</p>
<p>wnp, this shawl got rave reviews from Nordstrom shoppers:</p>
<p>[Bernie</a> of New York Silk Chiffon Wrap | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bernie-of-new-york-silk-chiffon-wrap/3144727?origin=related-3144727-0-0-1]Bernie”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bernie-of-new-york-silk-chiffon-wrap/3144727?origin=related-3144727-0-0-1)</p>
<p>If this is too grey, it also comes in many other colors, like a very pretty aqua:</p>
<p>[Bernie</a> of New York Silk Chiffon Wrap | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bernie-of-new-york-silk-chiffon-wrap/3002281?origin=related-3002281-0-1-1]Bernie”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bernie-of-new-york-silk-chiffon-wrap/3002281?origin=related-3002281-0-1-1)</p>
<p>(Unfortunate brand name, I shall say :))</p>
<p>Or if you want to stay with the black/white color scheme and add a touch of sparkle, this looks like it might fit the bill:</p>
<p>[Giorgio</a> Armani - Sequin-Border Stole - Neiman Marcus](<a href=“http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod122680184&eItemId=prod122680184&cmCat=search&searchType=SALE&parentId=cat980731&icid=&rte=%252Fsearch.jhtml%253FNo%253D0%2526Ntt%253Dscarf%2526_requestid%253D29510%2526N%253D4294967293%2526st%253Ds%2526va%253Dt]Giorgio”>http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod122680184&eItemId=prod122680184&cmCat=search&searchType=SALE&parentId=cat980731&icid=&rte=%252Fsearch.jhtml%253FNo%253D0%2526Ntt%253Dscarf%2526_requestid%253D29510%2526N%253D4294967293%2526st%253Ds%2526va%253Dt)</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>[Elie</a> Tahari - Serena Sequined Scarf, Black Lace - Neiman Marcus](<a href=“http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod119660103&eItemId=prod119660103&cmCat=search&searchType=SALE&parentId=cat980731&icid=&rte=%252Fsearch.jhtml%253FNo%253D0%2526Ntt%253Dscarf%2526_requestid%253D29510%2526N%253D4294967293%2526st%253Ds%2526va%253Dt]Elie”>http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod119660103&eItemId=prod119660103&cmCat=search&searchType=SALE&parentId=cat980731&icid=&rte=%252Fsearch.jhtml%253FNo%253D0%2526Ntt%253Dscarf%2526_requestid%253D29510%2526N%253D4294967293%2526st%253Ds%2526va%253Dt)</p>
<p>I think I would like to try a color. </p>
<p>I have a beautiful burned out velvet (too heavy, of course), but I tried it on to see how black would look and I just didn’t like it. </p>
<p>I thought about purple - (too cutesy with the bridesmaids + black/purple makes me think of Amish) but I am going to order the aqua and the ivory. </p>
<p>I saw this shawl when I was searching, I thought it might be a little too flimsy - but what the heck, I can always return.</p>
<p>wnp, this is probably too much money, but it surely looks gorgeous:</p>
<p>[Ilana</a> Wolf - Silk Organza Wrap - Saks.com](<a href=“http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374306418151&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524446218579&R=802304011160&P_name=Ilana+Wolf&sid=1308D9A1BC6E&Ntt=shawl&N=306418151+2128&ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=1408474395222441&bmUID=j2fD1Gs]Ilana”>http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374306418151&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524446218579&R=802304011160&P_name=Ilana+Wolf&sid=1308D9A1BC6E&Ntt=shawl&N=306418151+2128&ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=1408474395222441&bmUID=j2fD1Gs)</p>
<p>How handy are you with a sewing machine? I suspect something like this can be crafted out of store-bought silk organza.</p>
<p>I must say this one is very cool, if you have wide enough shoulders to pull it off. I find shawls a little awkward so this is is neat because it’s got the drape but also sleeves.</p>
<p>[Armani</a> Collezioni - Silk Plisse Shawl - Saks.com](<a href=“http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524446386559]Armani”>http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524446386559)</p>
<p>Sewhappy - I really like that one - but I think I need to stay away from black. I do, however, have very broad shoulders, there would be no problem keeping it on. I look like I might have been a swimmer. I wasn’t, but that’s sort of how I look. Broad shoulders and back, long arms and legs. </p>
<p>Bunsen - THAT might be might choice. I spent NOTHING on the dress. It was very inexpensive. My patent pumps cost more than the dress. I wouldn’t feel bad at all splurging on a shawl. </p>
<p>I am just having a neurotic period. This past year has been so unbelievably stressful. My dosage for BP has been increased and as a result my hair is so much thinner. Despite all the things that were going on, I continued to exercise and eat pretty healthy so my weight is fine. I just am NOT feeling real good about myself right now. I have been asked to read e e cummings “Thank you God for most this amazing day” as the opening prayer at the wedding and while I know how to do something like this, I just feel very self conscious about getting up in front of the group. I am second guessing myself - not a typical trait - about whether to just go out and find something different. Sorry to ramble, I am just very unsure of myself right now.</p>
<p>Ahhh . . . WIP, we all go through the rough patches. Some day I’ll tell you about my entire 2010. Just remember to breathe and you’ll get thru. And look beautiful, too.</p>
<p>Hey, you know what? I’m going to give some unsolicited dress advice on this one – why not go with a colorful dress instead of the black and white? It’s a pretty dress but maybe you need something more joyful to wear right now?</p>
<p>wnp- you have been dealing with a lot of changes! Please cut yourself some slack: you know that you are much more demanding of yourself than anyone else is–right? Sticking with your exercise and healthy eating program thorough everything? Tremendous!!! Laudable! (Says she who had pistachios and wine for dinner–don’t tell anyone)</p>
<p>You know that your hair may be thinner. OK. Not fun. But do you really, really believe anyone else will notice? If so and if that is an issue, we will support your wig/hairpiece/whatever search. If not…please let it go!</p>
<p>wnp, cut yourself some slack! You’ve been hit hard, and you handled everything well and are doing GREAT. Enjoy the special evening, and forget about hair, wrinkles and all that wonderful stuff. Killer dress, awesome pearls, nice wrap, stunning shoes - you will look like a million bucks, I promise. I bet no one is going to scruitinize your hair (the young ones just do not pay attention to us, old ferts, and the folks in our age category have their own hair issues), but many will be envying your figure. :)</p>
<p>(mafool, LOL, I just had the “DH away” special for dinner: beet salad, pumpking seeds and a glass of wine. Shhhh… do not tell anyone)</p>
<p>Thanks, friends! Don’t mind me, just a convergence of “stuff” has me in a little funk & the whole thinning hair was the final straw! My normally wonderful step-daughter has been behaving like a bridezilla and as the step-mom I have remained silent. I appreciate your words of encouragement - but we should now return to our regularly scheduled dressing young programming!</p>
<p>DH loves my current dress. Has reminded me that he is official tan man and I will feel better when I am all tanned up. I hate to break it to him, but I have scheduled a REAL tanning session (trial run this friday) and if all goes well, I will use that before the wedding. </p>
<p>I still might order a long, floral dress and see how it fits - Bunsen and Mafool have taught me that you can order from NM and return dresses without feeling guilty. </p>
<p>Here is something entirely different that I really love for a summer wedding</p>
<p>[Nicole</a> Miller - Strapless Twist-Front Gown - Neiman Marcus](<a href=“http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod123500221&parentId=cat35350732&masterId=cat9360733&index=37&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740747cat000131cat9360733cat35350732]Nicole”>http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod123500221&parentId=cat35350732&masterId=cat9360733&index=37&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740747cat000131cat9360733cat35350732)</p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>Mmmm . . . that Nicole Miller is absolutely lovely. No way to not have a good time wearing such a dress. And you have the shoulders to carry it off, lucky thing . . . It would be a real engineering project to keep it falling off me.</p>