Chic Shower Guest Outfits

I don't think I'm alone when I say that wedding and baby showers can be really hard to dress for. 

It's usually daytime, but not super casual.  You don't want to wear jeans, but a church-ish dress might be too much.  You'll probably be photographed with the bride/mom, but you don't want to overdress or show too much skin.  It's also not an occasion worthy of shopping for new outfits unless you're the one being honored. 

After being a guest at many, many showers and preparing to host one next month - I think I've finally got it down.  Here are my foolproof combinations:

stylish shower guest outfits by cardiganjunkie featuring long ankle length skirts

Maxi Dress + Cute Belt = I may be tall and have a waist!

Pick a dress with adequate coverage up top so you don't flash any boob, and a jersey fabric that it's appropriate for daytime (and so comfy!).  You'll wear this same outfit to dinner or brunch, and into the fall with a cardigan on top.

Printed Dress + Flat Sandals = I didn't try very hard, but I'm still stylish.

Screw people who say you shouldn't repeat outfits.  You find yourself a printed dress or tunic that you love, and wear the crap out of it.  It's better to be seen in the same few flattering ensembles than lots of cheap ones that don't do much for you.  You'll be comfortable, and can dress up or down with jewelry.

Full Skirt + Colorful Tank = I'm a lady, and not overdressed.

This sort of outfit is a prime combination for high/low styling.  Find a great skirt that makes you happy, and pair it with simple tees and tanks or ladylike blouses depending on the event.  You can also work in a cardigan and cute belts.  Oh, the possibilities!

Maxi Skirt + Simple Tank = Look how lean (and chic) I am, y'all.

While this combination is hard to wear if you're short waisted or large chested like me, it looks great on many other body types, especially pear and lanky shapes.  The simple tank keeps things casual and lets the skirt be the star.  You can work in belts here, or some statement jewelry or earrings.

Do you have any go-to shower ensembles?  Let us know! 

Wedding Guest Dresses - Two Ways!

My husband and I have gone to a lot of weddings in the past few years.  Seriously, I can count ten including ours!  Although I'm fortunate to have two great staple dresses (and no fear of re-wearing them!) I know lots of other women see a wedding as a reason to buy something new.  And since I love a good shopping challenge, I thought I'd share a few options that you can wear to the wedding and then again for less formal occasions.

In my mind, this means you should look for a dress you really like and can wear for a long time, but it doesn't mean you need to spend lots of money either.  Observe:

wedding guest dresses - two ways by cardiganjunkie featuring a wood bracelet

wedding guest dresses - two more ways by cardiganjunkie featuring plastic sunglasses

I think the key to versatility is a good quality fabric that isn't too sheer, but also not too shiny.  You can rely on accessories to bring the glamour, and the dress can rise to the occasion.  However, you should avoid thin cotton, jersey knit, and any smocking or elastic.  I regret to inform you that this rules out most (but not all) of what you'll see at Target and Old Navy, although the latter has some amazing eyelet dresses that are nicely made and look great!

Here are the dresses I featured, in case you're interested:

Reader Request: Blushing Bridesmaid

Being a bride was hard, wasn't it?  I didn't really enjoy wedding planning, and I'm glad I don't have to ever get married again.  Being a bridesmaid, however, is pretty easy.  I've done it six times and am basically a pro.  I walk at the right pace, suck in my stomach like a champ, and smile.  However, it all would have been harder if I had to pick out a dress.

This morning I'm excited to help Kristi, a reader who will be a bridesmaid in a Texas hill country wedding where she needs to find a blush or cream colored dress without much adornment.  It's also preferred that the dress has straps and be under $75.  Challenge accepted!

modcloth options by cardiganjunkie featuring a pink dress

asos options by cardiganjunkie featuring high-low dresses

blush bridesmaid dress by cardiganjunkie featuring beaded dresses

Modcloth and Asos are the best options that I found within Kristi's price point, and if it were me, I'd order everything I liked and then take advantage of free returns. 

After much searching, I abandoned my hunt for appropriate cream dresses because they're so hard to keep from looking bridal when you're at a wedding.  Or, even worse, the wrong shade of cream can look dirty next to a girl in a white dress, so that browsing will need to be done in person.

Hopefully this was helpful - please share any other suggestions for Kristi in the comments!

Reader Request: For Wedding Guests with Large Chests

I don't know about you, but the long weekend was not long enough for me.  However, it was great and I enjoyed some time with my mom, some shopping (hello Kate Spade watch of my dreams!) and an afternoon at the shooting range with my friend Erin (of Little e) and our men.

Now, I'm happy to help out fellow blogger Jaime of South on Broadway as she searches for a dress to wear to a wedding in late September.  Jaime, like me, is pretty boobtastic and so that makes shopping more challenging.  Strapless dresses are risky, spaghetti straps are pretty inadequate, low necklines are much more risque than on other people, and it goes without saying that going braless isn't an option.  However, I know this scenario well and hope that these ideas will help Jaime find a dress she can wear while dancing all night without worrying about adjusting it.

wedding guests with large chests: cutouts by cardiganjunkie featuring clutch handbags

See another option, and my advice after the jump...

Be the Best Dressed Guest: What To Wear to Weddings

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  I had the pleasure of attending a gorgeous wedding on Saturday night, and it reminded me that I should share my annual reminder of the foolproof formula for wedding guest attire.

Long time readers will be familiar with my love affair with the jewel tone sheath dress.  They look good on all skin tones, and the shape is among the most forgiving you can wear.  All you have to add is some bold accessories and great shoes, and you can switch them up to make the dress work all year round because, contrary to popular belief, nobody remembers what you wear from month to month.  I wear the same two dresses to almost all weddings, and nobody ever calls me on it (to my face).

Here are some examples of what to look for when you're shopping:

best dressed guest - jewel tone dresses by cardiganjunkie featuring slimming dresses

I know the dresses shown above are expensive, but you can find these shapes all over.  I think a dress like this is a great investment piece, since you can wear it for years without looking dated.

Happy shopping!

Reader Request: Neutral Bridesmaid Dresses

Good morning!  Hopefully everyone had a great weekend.  I was glad to spend time with my family, but am absolutely not ready for another week at work.  Maybe I can become independently wealthy and quit?

Anyway, this week I was excited to put together a reader request post for Olivia, who is getting married this October and looking for neutral bridesmaid dresses that don't match.  I love this look, since it isn't common but still elegant, and everyone ends up with a dress they actually like.

Olivia was inspired by Molly Sims' wedding, and I agree that her bridesmaids looked really chic:

Here are some long and short options for similar dresses under the $250 price point that Olivia has requested

neutral bridesmaid dresses 2 by cardiganjunkie featuring a one shoulder sleeve dress

neutral bridesmaid dresses by cardiganjunkie featuring maxi dresses

I love how black, blush, grey and beige all complement each other so effortlessly and I think Olivia's friends will be excited to avoid a synthetic David's bridal creation.  I'm sure the wedding will be gorgeous!

Reader Request: Winter Wedding Party Attire

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a nice long weekend.  N and I spent our time buying and unloading 70 boxes of tile, ordering cabinets, and watching college football and movies.  This fall is going to be pretty busy at our house!

This week I'm excited to write a post for a high school friend who is planning a December wedding and wants to help her bridesmaids pick non-matching dresses in the color palette she likes best.   She is envisioning hues of navy, gray and brown in a casual ceremony and doesn't want things to feel too matchy-matchy.  However, the wedding party would like a bit of guidance so here's where I come in:

Julia Bridesmaids by cardiganjunkie featuring a shirred dress

Julia Bridesmaids 2 by cardiganjunkie featuring tank wedding dresses

I found lots of options that look nice for bridesmaids of all sizes and ages, and I think the palette Julia chose is really elegant and unexpected when all three colors are combined.  Her bridesmaids can pick dresses from $50 to $350 and still look great, but actually wear them again.

However, if Julia changes her mind and decides to specify a particular style (or if the other ladies are too overwhelmed by shopping choices) I also found some great bridesmaid dresses designed by Carol Hannah Whitefield (of Project Runway fame) and they're totally wearable after the wedding:

She's also requested some ideas for accessories, and right now I love the idea of picking out a great piece of non-dainty, statement jewelry like a great bracelet, cocktail ring, or pair of earrings and gifting it to each bridesmaid to wear during the wedding and after.  And of course, the usual pashmina would be a great choice for a winter wedding as well.

Bridemaid Accessories by cardiganjunkie featuring glass jewelry

And finally, the guys need something to wear too.  I'm loving the idea of keeping the men unified by the same new vest, but letting them wear their own pants and gifting a tie.  Alternately, a classic gray suit and navy pattern tie would also look great in photos.

Groomsmen by cardiganjunkie on Polyvore.com

Hopefully this helps Julia and her friends - I can't wait to see the photos!  If you have a shopping dilemma and would like a post like this, send me an email and let me know.  I'm happy to help!