We have an invitation to attend a wedding at an exclusive golf resort near Orlando, Florida in mid-October. The invitation designates dress code as “dressy resort wear”. I know the bride will be wearing a full length, traditional wedding dress for the 5 o’clock wedding. The ceremony venue is indoors.
If this were a summer event, I think I could figure the dress code out. However, we are in the Midwest, leaves are changing, and it is getting chilly, sandals are put away, sweaters and long sleeves are coming out, summer colors and fabrics have been abandoned. This is when we would pull out jewel-toned dresses, closed pumps, sleeved dresses or dresses with jackets or dressy sweaters, velvet jackets, etc for an evening wedding.
The idea of a light, airy summer frock in tropical summer colors, bare-legged and sandals is just not jiving with mid-October for me. It just seems so . . . . wrong given what I’m used to for the season. My sister, who lives in the same area as the wedding venue says the weather fluctuates at this time of year and can be ‘cold’ (all relative, I know. Her ‘cold’ is nothing like my ‘cold’, but . . . . . )
So, given the venue, the bride’s attire, the time of year/weather, what the heck should I be looking for or pulling out of my closet to meet the ‘dressy resort wear’ dress??
@treemaven,this is the season that many Southern old timers would call “dark cotton,” meaning that you can wear summer weight fabrics, because it is still quite warm, but they should be in the darker colors of fall and winter, rather than pinks, whites, etc. I think I’d wear a navy sheath dress with a glittery wrap or cropped cardigan (that’s the dressy part) and maybe a large piece of “statement” jewelry. I know that in FL, people tend to wear tropical colors all year long, but I wouldn’t be comfortable with that either. (I live in New England. You probably will need to haul your dressy sandals out of winter storage, but if you don’t want to do that, any neutral heel is probably fine.
I’m sure there are more fashion-forward approaches to this, but I’m pretty conservative in my attire, and would also not want to have to pack too many things for the trip.
Treemaven, this is Florida! Mid-October is just a week away… I checked the forecast, and it is supposed to be 80 plus. I think you are on the right track with your idea of bare legs and an airy frock.
I think it means men don’t have to wear ties and jackets. It sounds more like a club dress code than a command for a certain color palette. A sheath dress in whatever color you want to wear would fit right in.
PS Most men will likely be wearing jackets or suits with ties, so hubby should still pack the jacket.
I’d be inclined toward dressy, flowy pants with something like a silk shell-like top and a really nice shawl or lightweight summer evening jacket. With some nice jewelry. And strappy sandals or a neutral heel. The kind of thing that would look equally good with and without the shawl/jacket, to enable you to adapt to the temperature. And pants enable you to sidestep the bare legs issue, since us northerners are not likely to be as tanned as the Floridians.
Yes dresses for women and at least a sportcoat for men. I also agree a sleeveless sheath with a wrap works great. I would probably steer toward the fall jewel tones also but probably because I am a northerner.
A sheath is something I would never wear. If that works for you, more power to you. Pair it with a lovely wrap that you can use or not, depending on the temperature.
Can you (a) ask the people doing the inviting what they mean by “dressy resort wear”, and (b) check if the “exclusive golf resort” has its own dress code?
In my area, country clubs don’t want jeans, and a tie for men.
A sheath dress would be fine, but I haven’t worn one in ten years. I suspect you will see sheaths, longer dresses, dressy blouses with dark pants, etc. a nice sweater or a shawl is good advice. Sandals can be flat or low heels, as none of my friends wear high heels. We dress for comfort.
