Special occasion...

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Occasion: friend's wedding (our son participated in the ceremony)

Dress: Teri Jon via Nordstrom Rack many years ago - my best sale find ever! $40 for a $400 dress (similar)
Bag: thrifted (similar)
Shoes: Pour la Victoire via DSW (similar)
Earrings: gift (similar)
Necklace: Nordstrom Rack (similar)
Bracelet: via ebay (similar)

My husband's suit is J. Crew, from several years ago (similar)
Gavin's suit is Zara, from the spring 2017 collection (similar)

Can you tell these photos of me were taken by the love of my life, instead of via a timer? I feel like that may be why my smile has a special zest....  

Anyway, let's talk special occasions.  What do you wear when you've got a special event to attend?  Since my family and community are already dressed up on a regular basis for our twice-weekly meetings for worship, to dignify a more formal occasion, I tend to choose dressier fabrics: silk, perhaps a tulle layer, embroidery, or perhaps a touch of lace or sequins.  I personally tend to shy away from patterns for formalwear (but then again, I shy away from patterns most of the time!), mostly because a solid dress can be worn again and again in different ways with varying accessories, often without even being noticed as the same dress.  Especially if I'm buying a dress for a future occasion, rather than an event that's about to happen, I also look for a timeless, rather than a trendy silhouette.  No point in having that great clearance dress stashed for a special future occasion that turns out to be dated by the time you wear it.

While we're on the topic of buying dresses for a future occasion, let's just say I'm a fan.  Nothing is worse than desperately searching for a special occasion dress when you're rushed just before the event - that's when you can't find ANYTHING you like or that fits you well.  Having one or two things that fit well, in classic colors, stashed in your closet breeds confidence.  Even if you do go looking for something new, you don't have that desperate urgency stemming from knowing you have absolutely no options in your closet and an approaching deadline.  Knowing you got those great dresses on sale when you happened to come across them is even better!  But, be reasonable - for most of us, our lifestyle only requires one or two of these items, don't waste good closet space or money on items you'll rarely wear.  Shopping for your reality is important, too.

Another confidence building option for dressy occasions is keeping on the lookout for a dressy top or two (sequined, ruffled, beaded, etc.), and/or dressy skirt (silk, satin, sequin, etc.).  When you find a good option at a good price, think of it as special occasion insurance.  You can always pair a beaded or ruffled top and black pencil skirt, or a simple black top and sequined skirt for a quick and easy event look.  You don't need lots of these items, even just one will do.  You can remix it endlessly for lots of options, and you won't have lots of money -or closet space - invested in clothing you don't wear very often.  (Plus, this is a great strategy if you tend to vary in size.  If you have a great top, you can pair it with whatever black pencil skirt you fit into at the moment.)

On a last practical note, finding cute, block heeled dressy-looking sandals is an investment your feet will appreciate!  I felt just as cute in these shoes as I would have in stilettos, with the added bonus that I could wear (and dance in) them all night.

If you're in the market for some classic, versatile special occasion dresses, bags or shoes, here are a few options: