Have I not posted in 2+ years? Let's not mention it ;)
After a few years of skipping events, keeping things small, and playing it safe, events are back in a big way this spring! Between a couple of bridal showers, weddings, and a fancy Easter brunch, I'm looking for cute dresses, sandals with small block heels that are comfortable all day, and fun accessories. So if you're looking for what to wear to a spring wedding or a spring shower, I've got you covered! These could also work if you're looking for something to wear to a graduation later this spring - the block heels are also perfect for walking on grass. I actually just ordered those coral sandals, unsure if they will fit me as I had to size down a little but I will report back!
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Dress - Kate Spade / Heels (similar here, here, and here) - Ann Taylor / Bag - Tory Burch / Earrings (similar) - LOFT / Lip - Maybelline
Chances are, if you're in your 20s or early 30s, you're heading to a couple weddings this summer. Jeff and I are finally out of the thick of weddings for our friends, but we still have a couple of friends tying the knot this year. While it's always fun to buy a new dress, it can get super expensive, especially if you're invited to a lot of weddings or need outfits for rehearsal dinners and showers and bachelorette parties too!
For the past couple of years, I've been using Rent the Runway for weddings and big work parties and I freaking love it. This isn't sponsored at all by the way. It's great because you don't end up buying dress after dress, but still have something new to wear. Plus the rental fees are so much less than the cost of purchasing a new dress, but allow me to wear brands that I normally wouldn't be able to afford.
Now let me just tell you - renting for the first time is nerve racking!! I mean, the dress gets delivered a day or two before your event and you have no idea how it's going to fit! I have a couple pieces of advice to help.
Advice for Using Rent the Runway
The first is to make sure you always have a back up dress in your closet. When I first started renting I probably only actually wore a third of the dresses I rented because of bad fits. They will give you store credit if you return the dress fast enough so you can always send it back, and if you have enough time they'll send you a replacement dress. But really for ease of mind, I always make sure I have something in my closet I want to wear, just in case.
The second tip is to know your body. If you think something won't work on you, it likely won't. Those dresses I got that didn't fit? Yeah, I basically always had a clue they wouldn't work ahead of time. Just because there are lots of positive reviews, if something is built for a small chest it just won't work if you have a large one.
And then finally, I say look at the reviews with photos, but do a sort for reviews that have a similar body type or size. That way, you can see what the dress looks like on bodies that are similar to yours! I've become a little crazy about looking at the photos, and actually haven't had a problem with a dress not fitting in the past year.
The Little Black Dress
Little black dresses can be pretty basic, but are the perfect canvas for dressing up with different accessories. I freaking love this one - the sleeves are so fun, and I love the pearl button on the back! Plus, the a-line shape is super comfortable but still flattering, and great for dancing. And really, the biggest selling point was the ability to wear a regular bra! You guys know I'll wear a strapless bra when necessary, but if I can find a special occasion dress that doesn't necessitate one I'm a very happy camper.
Dress - Kate Spade / Heels (similar here, here, and here) - Ann Taylor / Bag - Tory Burch / Earrings (similar) - LOFT / Lip - Maybelline
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I bought this dress back in the depths of Chicago winter, because my theory has always been to buy the dress when you find one you like, because an occasion will always pop up. That way, you don't have to be stressed out trying to find a dress at the last second for an event - you always have the perfect one waiting in your closet.
Well things really worked out this time. When I got the dress I had no idea when or where I would wear it, and then Jeff's dad did me a solid and decided to elope over the weekend!
I've been to some small weddings before - my sister and her husband only had their immediate families (plus my new boyfriend Jeff - things really worked out there!) at their wedding. This one though? Just the bride and groom, Jeff as the minister, the photographer, and me! We went down to Adler Planetarium on Saturday morning for a short and sweet ceremony by the lake.
I've said it before, but I am such a sap at weddings. Jeff took me to a wedding once where I had never met the bride or groom and a late minute seat change put me on the aisle in the second row. And I sobbed. Can you imagine getting married and seeing a stranger sobbing right in front of you?! Yep, that's me.
This wedding was somehow even more emotional, because it really was just two people declaring their love for each other - no pomp and circumstance. I managed to hold it in because I was focusing on my assigned task (the photographer showed me how to work her fancy dancy camera so I could take a video of the ceremony) but the vows? Yep, you'd better bet I cried.
Gosh, maybe never invite me to a wedding.
I made Jeff snap these pics of me before we hopped in the car to head to brunch to celebrate. I used to go running on this stretch back when we lived in the South Loop, and man did I miss that skyline view! Chicago, you're pretty.
Dress (similar) - Ralph Lauren / Bag - Michael Kors / Heels (similar) - Shoe Mint / Bracelet - BaubleBar
I don't know if I mentioned it (except for, like, a billion times) but we had two weddings last week. Work has been crazy lately so they both kind of snuck up on me. When we first started getting invited to a lot of weddings, I put a lot of thought into what I was going to wear, how I would do my hair and makeup, what accessories I would choose, and then would sometimes spend hours getting ready. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm a girly girl so spending hours getting ready is fun for me and I love planning outfits, but I don't always have that kind of time. For the wedding we went to in Chicago last week, it was really nice to be able to throw on my go-to little black dress that I know will look good and works for just about every wedding occasion, heels that I know I can last through a wedding in, and a bag that I know will hold everything I need and be ready to go. No second guessing or last minute "nothing to wear" freakouts to worry about!
I've had this dress in my closet now for over five years now (you may have seen it waaaaay back in the early days of KDTI), and it works for cocktail hours and charity dinners, winter weddings and summer weddings, and everything in between. Do you have a go-to wedding guest outfit? If not, I rounded up a couple of cute, classic options that will last for years to come:
Coat (similar) - Marc New York / Dress - Jessica Simpson / Heels - Ann Taylor / Bag (similar) - J. Crew Factory / Bracelet (similar) - Stella & Dot
I wore this pretty lace number to the wedding we went to last weekend, and if I can get my act together and get it to the dry cleaner (ahem, we dance really hard) I'll be wearing the same thing to my work holiday party this weekend too. I don't go girly a lot these days, but I loved the combo of the lace, the ruffled skirt, and the bows on my heels - it made for such a fun party outfit.
I love December because there are so many opportunities to dress up, but I've been trying not to go too crazy shopping-wise on party clothes since they're the least worn section of my closet. Instead this year I'm trying out Rent the Runway a few more times - I'm thinking this sequined skirt would be really fun for a holiday party with Jeff's family in a couple of weeks, and this dress for NYE. Are you still shopping for holiday party looks? Renting may be the way to go - it helps you spend less and helps you avoid too many outfit repeats. Check out my review of Rent the Runway here.
I've got a lot of weddings coming up (another friend just got engaged this weekend, yahoo!) so I've been looking to add another dress or two to my closet for this summer. I hate spending a lot of money on fancy dresses since they won't get nearly as much wear as the clothes I wear day to day. Here are a couple of my favorite dresses for wedding guests on a budget:
