I will be attending a California summer evening wedding at a vineyard that asks guests to wear gowns or evening wear for women/men in tuxes or black/blue suits. I am hoping a knee length cocktail dress is ok as I do not look good in full-length gowns. Can some of our fashionistas weigh in and reassure that I’m correct?
I generally like dresses that are fairly tailored, sheaths or shifts as I’m not terribly tall and am pretty fit, but sort of square shaped. I spend nearly all of my life in very casual clothes so I’m a bit clueless. I’m including the links to several dresses that appeal to me and hope that folks with more experience in such things can see if I’m on the right track. If you are so inclined feel free to post links to things you think would work.
Were they that specific on dress code? That seems very exacting to dictate to guests. I’ve seen formal, semiformal, or black tie before but not something so specific.
Those are gorgeous and any one of the three would be fine for that event. First clue is that the invite does not say “long gowns only.” Another clue is that men are given the choice of tuxes or navy suits. The Carmen Marc Valvo black dress is my personal favorite. I guarantee that many women will show up in sheaths.
I like the Tadashi dresses, but that brand is such a ubiquitous choice. The CMV is the “path less travelled,” IMO.
One small tip: Saks is going to have their FF sale on Monday. If you have emails from Saks, they already sent a link to the sale preview. Many good dress choices with free shipping and free returns.
Great reminder on the Saks sale. I’d forgotten about that. I hope I haven’t deleted their emails. You’re right about the Tadashi dress…I have some fear that if I chose that one I’d show up and one of the 20 somethings would be wearing it and I’m looking way better than somewhat older me! I also feel like 75% of the dresses I’m seeing at the moment is some kind of lace overlay.
I think all of them are perfect. I’d go with whatever one is most flattering on you.
I have the third one in a different color and it is a workhorse of my wardrobe. I have been at events, however, where other women were wearing the same dress (in a different color). You see that dress a lot.
However, it looks very different in different colors and looks quite different depending on the body type of the wearer. At the event in question, I actually had to “prove” to my companion (by noting the specific details) that my dress was the same as the other woman’s because it looked so different on us.
I consider it a magic dress in that it seems to be universally flattering. I’m built like Olive Oyl with a flat chest and skinny, skinny arms (but with a big butt) and my sister is built like a slightly overweight bombshell with major curves and a tummy and it looks great on both of us.
Doschicos…I like the second of the beaded dresses a lot.
I do think the third dress is a pretty flattering shape for many women…Like nottelling and CT1417 I may have to get it for general use if not for this wedding.
Lol, I just remembered that kiddo stole that Tadashi dress out of my closet!
I have a fun story about how I acquired that dress. Mr. and I were invited to a fancy event held in a large hotel in Bellevue. I had to attend a class across the lake in Seattle, so we agreed that I would take the bus to the hotel after the class, and he would bring me my dress and shoes, then I would change into it in one of the posh ladies’ rooms at the hotel. As I was about to board the bus, I got a frantic call: he was almost at the hotel, but he forgot my dress! And to go back and fetch it would have been impossible due to traffic. Lucky stars, the bus stop was right under the flagship!!! I ran up the stairs, flew into the dress department like a bat out of hell, and asked the SA to find me a reasonably priced dress… The blue Tadashi was on sale, but they had only one - in size 2. Duh, it runs huge, so it fit! The SA cut the tags off, I swiped my card, and ran back to the bus stop - in that dress under my puffy coat! All I had to do was to apply my minimalist makeup and put the shoes on.
OP, I actually have the Tadashi dress you posted – the third link. I have it in navy. It was perfect for the formal occasion I went to. I feel like a lot of people have it, though, and you may not want to risk running into your twin at the wedding!
The other dress I considered was this one. It didn’t work well with the jewelry I was planning, but if not for that, I probably would have chosen it instead of the Tadashi. It was beautiful.
I think dos chicos’ suggestion and the david meister you posted (based on BB’s suggestion) are definitely more fashionable. Whether they’d look good on you is an open question, but if they did look good they’d be more fashionable.
I want to clarify my earlier post – The Tadashi Shoji dresses are more of an easy, safe, reliable choice that you can count on to look good on women our age – and to look fairly youthful – but they are not particularly fashion forward. I definitely don’t want to oversell the brand, which I may have done in the last post. BB’s anecdote highlights the strength of the brand. You can count on it to look acceptable.
I’m not all that into clothes but I care a lot about how I look, and if I apply a little algorhithm to the problem – designed to spit out an acceptable solution that looks great with the least amount of time and effort, and without posing any risk, and at a very reasonable price – that dress is what gets spit out. I feel great in the dress (they are also very, very comfortable dresses), but – to be perfectly honest – it is a bit of a boring choice.
That works for me as I like algorithmic dressing – but you might want something more exciting or something more truly fashionable. Now I’m underselling the dress, but “magic” may have been too strong. “Extremely reliable” may be better.
hmmm
I have not worn a dress in 20 years and do not intend to ever again. They do not look good on me and I feel awful in any style whatsoever.
I would need to wear a very dressy silk pant and jacket or such.
Or I would not attend.
“Evening Wear” could mean not a dress.
Good online reviews.