June 3, 2019

The Wedding Guest Edit: The Pieces To Invest In

Invest now, wear them to every summer fancy schmansy occasion you have…

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HONEY – I’M HOME! And despite us having an incredible three weeks road tripping around California (catch-up with the vlogs from our trip here), I’m over the moon to be home. My own bed! A routine! A chance to cook my own food and not just eat Hershey’s Mint Crunch Cookie Bars all day! It’s all very exciting, and once I get round to putting together June’s ‘An Edited Life’ newsletter, then we’re back on track for a newsletter a month, 8am blog posts on a Monday and Friday and 9am videos on a Wednesday and Sunday. Ahhhhh.

Aside from finding a fully stocked fridge, a bunch of flowers and a spaghetti bolognese in the freezer upon our return (seriously my parents are too darn cute sometimes), along with a gigantic pile of post came a last-minute wedding reception invite. Of course my mind did a mental scan over the latest thing that I’ve been lemming over on Net-a-Porter* (this Faithfull The Brand Ruffled Crepe Midi Dress* if you were wondering – I’m loving the mid-length body-con dress thing right now), and did the maths for how I could put in my basket immediately right this second. However I took a moment to pause, scrapped the maths and remembered what I had in my wardrobe already. Surprise, surprise I already had a handful of options thanks to previous investment purchases that are not only perfect wedding guest fodder, but are so much more than that. So here are the five pieces to turn to in your wardrobe, or to pick up if you’re lacking on the occassionwear front…

THE FIVE PIECES TO INVEST IN…

1 X PRINTED DRESS. You know me. I love a block colour, but there’s something about a summer wedding especially that just makes a patterned dress look EXTRA fabulous. Now I’m not proposing a particular print here, just a dress in a design that you feel flatters you and your preferences, in your favourite print; whether that’s floral, polka dot, abstract or animal. My piece that fits into this category is the leopard print mid-length wrap number that I’m wearing in today’s post, which is annoying old and discontinued from Faithfull The Brand* (dupe linked up in the ‘Shop The Post’ section below), which is handily dressy enough for a wedding, but casual enough to wear down the beach.

1 X NUDE SANDAL. Now my suggestion is for a nude shoe here, but if you feel like a red number would go with every single thing that you own in your occasionwear capsule then be my guest. Much like a black heel sees you through any special event in winter, a nude shoe will do exactly the same for the summer season and makes whatever you’re wearing on your top half feel slightly fresher. Find a pair that are comfortable and you’re WINNING and will never have to worry about what footwear to don to a wedding ever again. I *LOVE* the By Far Carrie Leather Slingbacks* (and yes I have them in red and black too), but my advice would be to pick up something super strappy and light – the less foot coverage, the less chance you have of blisters.

1 X CUTE CLUTCH. Back in Uni I was all about a faux-leather black clutch with gold detailing. I had one throughout my whole three years at University that was covered with a light film of pink sambuca by the end of my studies. Now I still think that a black clutch bag has a place in most people’s capsule wardrobes, but there’s something about a clutch in a lighter tone or texture that can really help to elevate your big day outfit. I love this Alienina Bag* that I bought last summer and have worn to a whole host of dinner dates and dances. The other plus point with this genre of bag is that they are cute to wear everyday too and don’t need to gather dust in your wardrobe. Something straw, maybe rope or perhaps just a nude leather? A great investment.

1 X TWO-PIECE. Here’s where three items become five, thanks to my suggestion of some kind of two piece; whether that be a skirt and a blouse, a top of a pair of trousers, or a blazer and a trouser – whatever you fancy. The advantage of investing here is that you’re not only gaining one complete cohesive outfit, but you’re also buying separates that can be swapped in and out with other pieces in your wardrobe to create more wedding guest options, or just combos to wear in your daily life. This is a category that I’m currently lacking in, however if I was in the market right now I love this Rixo Off-The-Shoulder Polka Dot Top* and Wrap Midi Skirt*; the options are endless and being monochromatic they would both slot in very easily to the ol’ wardrobe.

THE WEDDING GUEST EDIT*

…AND IF YOU’RE REALLY STRUGGLING

Memory Scan. Think back to what you wore to the last wedding you went to. Still got it? Still feel ace in it? Think of ways that you can update it with accessories if you fancy jazzing it up. TA-DAH! See? You had an investment piece without even thinking about it.

Trousers & A Top. When we think of a wedding guest outfit we immediately think of a dress or jumpsuit option, but don’t forgot the age old combo of trousers and a top. If the same colour it can look like a jumpsuit, or pair a wide-leg trouser with a spaghetti strap camisole for a slinky look.

Scroll Your Feed. Wedding season is in FULL SWING people, so take advantage of the bags and bags of inspiration that’s out there by flicking through your feed and saving photos of your favourites in their guest garb. Check out my faves Lizzy, Lindsey and Lucy who have all been to weddings recently and looked FAB.

Beg, Borrow & Reuse. Last year my mate Katie must have set a record for the number of weddings attended in a year and she looked bloody great at every single one and each time round she had a new outfit. Turns out that she’d borrowed from friends, family and even her Mum’s wardrobe from the eighties. GENIUS MOVE.

Photos by Emma Croman

‘An Edited Life’ is now available to purchase worldwide HERE