Summer Wedding Guest Dressing
Summer weddings can be lovely and sun-drenched, but can also be riddled with fashion challenges.
I recently put up a “Wedding Style Requests” question box up in my Stories, and several of you entered specifically “where” you were going. That got me thinking about how much the place & setting plays a role in what we wear & how good we feel about our look on the big day. Without being too costume-y - it is fun to kind of role play a bit & really blend in to the culture & environment of the place. It’s also a smart idea to plan your look around the environment because the environment might pose sartorial challenges!
First up Savannah GA. Savannah is the OLD SOUTH, with a rich culture & complicated past. Many of the old school southern standards do still apply, and getting properly gussied up for a party is one such standard. You will not see a southern woman underdressed at a wedding, you can bet money on it. Men are still expected to wear suits (and ties!). However, the climate in the deep south is in no way conducive to fancy dress - the answer to this pickle is to be smart about fabrics, style/fit, and footwear. High humidity calls for breathable fabrics - LINEN, cotton, and silk. Fuller & looser styles allow for even more breathability, so ideally sleeveless, full skirt looks. Sandals & rattan/wicker footwear will help your feet breath as well through the day. Note on hair - my advise is to either make peace with how your hair behaves in humidity or plan on slicking it back into a bun, but a gentle blowout will not last in the heat!
Ah, Miami. Home of the Cuban diaspora (and their creative expressions like the cuban sandwich, and amazing music), multicolored architecture, palm trees and a lovely coastline. If a place could scream “FUN!”, then Miami would be on the list of such places. So have fun with it! Dress for a good time, and plan on having one. The climate is humid as you’d expect on the coastline, hot, but you do get cool breezes of the ocean and you do need to be prepared for those ocean rain storms. Similar to the deep south, the people of Miami love to get dressed up, but unlike their northern neighbors, Miami is much more relaxed about it. The only thing not allowed in Miami, is being too uptight to have a good time.
Williamsburg in many ways captures the best of early American culture. It’s southern, but also not deep-south southern - Virginia and the Carolinas, were the original “south” going back to the early colonies under English rule. As a result, they have their own flavor, and a very old heritage. Many of the old families of Virginia can still trace their family tree back to England, and are proud of it. Williamsburg is very much at the heart of this colonial legacy, a city full of gorgeous homes and original colonial architecture. Unlike the deep south, Virginia is a bit more refined, and proper - I suggest brushing up on your etiquette before a society event like a Virginia wedding! The biggest thing to remember is that you will be surrounded by so much rich history, and beautiful interiors. The gardens in Virginia are stunning so make sure and get outside too. When planning what to wear to a Virginia wedding, I would tend towards more refined & elegant looks, with maybe a nod towards the colonial history of the place. Virginia can be humid, but not on the same level as you’ll find further south. Plan on styling your hair & cosmetics is subtle elegant way. Now is the time to channel regal icons like Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn! Get ready to enjoy some truly beautiful hospitality.
Napa in summertime is one of those perfect places. The temperature is perfect, the weather is perfect, the scenery is gorgeous. It’s not hard to see why the movie business chose California to set up shop - its a beautiful place! Up in Napa & Sonoma, you will be in north-central Cali, in the agricultural heart of the state. Napa is the capital of California wine country - so you are on some part of a vineyard at all times. So prepare for a bit of rugged terrain & a very hilly and rocky landscape. Otherwise, Napa is very much part of the Cali culture - relaxed, nature-based, and modern. Cali style varies a little from southern to northern California, but mainly women wear minimal cosmetics (or entirely too much sometimes in SoCal), and tend towards either natural hairstyles or simple blowouts. The pastel looks linked below will be the loveliest compliment with the greens of the landscape, and the cork shoes linked below are particularly fitting!
