Why Don’t You.. Wear This to a Fall Wedding?

06 Oct Why Don’t You.. Wear This to a Fall Wedding?

‘Why Don’t You’ is my weekly tribute to legendary editor Diana Vreeland who penned a column of the same name for Harper’s Bazaar for 26 years begging, “Don’t just be your ordinary dull self. Why don’t you be ingenious and make yourself into something else?”

The one time that I admitted that marriage and children may not be for me, my mother got really upset with me. She even called me by my full name.

“But you want to have a family, Channing!” 

She spit my name out like she couldn’t believe she birthed such a person. I’m coming around. I still standby the idea that I can live a completely fulfilled life minus the husband and kids—but I can see the honor of having both/either.

It seems like all of my friends are getting married. Do you feel that way, too? Inevitably, what always happens as I scroll my Facebook feed, taking all this in, is I start to envision what I would want my day to look like. I jumped at the chance to chat with the designers of Lakum, modern bridal dresses (see them here at Kleinfeld) for the urban sophisticated bride.

Specifically, to ask what I should wear as a guest to all of these weddings—ensuring I don’t disappoint Iris Apfel, and, you know, look appropriate. The last wedding I attended I wore a kelly green ASOS dress with a cutaway hem and Chinese Laundry sandals.

Sathya Balakumar and Heather Green cautioned that while it depends on the wedding, you can never go wrong with a pair of statement pants. “For a classic fall city wedding, I would go with a pair of statement pants–perhaps something high waisted, a high neck lace blouse, heels, and a bold clutch. The blouse and heels are no fuss, elegant, and comfortable for lots of dancing. The clutch pulls it all together. This look would go well with hair pulled back and a rich lip color in the wine family.”

If pants aren’t your speed, the designers advised wearing “a long sleeved sheath that has minimal, yet beautiful embellishment paired with either heels or flats depending on the time of the wedding. For daytime, makeup can be natural.  For night-time, perhaps a bold candied lip.”

Wearing: ASOS Dress (on sale!) //Chinese Laundry Sandals (on sale!)// H&M Rings// Nails Inc Gel Effects Polish in Porchester Square // NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

But I couldn’t resist asking how a bride could incorporate her sense of style into her big day. Not necessarily for me, just for research purposes. The duo assured me that this is possible, saying:

“Brides can incorporate trends on their wedding day with their ‘looks’ for each of their events. If they choose to go classic with their ceremony dress, they can wear something fashion forward for their rehearsal dinner, like a jumpsuit, or a crop top and high waisted skirt for the after-party. For the actual day of, they can also incorporate trends by mixing it up with their shoes, hair, and makeup. Invest in a bold pair of heels (not in white) that you love so much you want to sleep in them. Lose the up-do and go with loose locks.  Hire a killer makeup artist with editorial and fashion experience, not necessarily someone who specializes in ‘wedding makeup.’”

As for the perfect venue for a New York wedding? You know I’m obsessed with New York and had to ask. “Hands down, the rooftop at the Gramercy Park Hotel. The mix of the original Andy Warhol art, the beautiful skyline and the tastefully decorated rooms are a dream to experience for both bridal party and guests.”

What did you think of the designers’ tips? Are all of your friends getting married, too? Will you incorporate any of these tips for your next fall wedding?