What to Wear: Spring and Summer Events
Its that time of year… flowers begin to bloom and people, like those cheerfully chirping little robins, begin to appear outside again. With the warmer seasons of spring and summer also come an increase in special events, like weddings, graduations, BBQs, etc. Sometimes it is hard to decide what to wear, to what event. Below are a few guidelines that may help.
1. Choose
something to reflect the general atmosphere of the event. Example:
If you’re attending a couple’s baby shower, and it is a “BBQ” theme, no
need to wear formal dresswear. Assume it
is casual (indicated by the BBQ theme) with a dressy tendency (since it is a
shower).
2. Less is more. Regardless of the event, you can’t go wrong using the “less is more” approach. Dress simply. Basic pieces are great (and affordable!) for any occasion. Guys: khakis, Dockers or jeans and a button-down shirt (with or without a tie, to dress up or down) are easy, basic choices that leave a lot of room for individual style. No need to wear a jacket in most cases. Ladies: A really simple dress or a classic, button down shirt or blouse with a skirt are great choices. Keep shoes comfy.
3. Dress like you. You don’t have to sacrifice individual expression when you wear basics. Guys, feel free to choose a colorful shirt or even a (tastefully) “crazy” or “fun” tie. Ladies, accessorize. A great, chunky necklace or bracelet will look superb with basic clothing pieces! Even if you choose simple colors like white and black, feel free to “colorize” your look with accessories. However…
4. Don’t over-accessorize. Fashion experts say (as a general rule)… remove one accessory as you leave your home. Accessories can be tricky because a little goes a long way. In other words, no need to wear matching earrings, necklace, bracelet, broach, headband and fingernail art. (But seriously)… choose a great bracelet and earrings or a bracelet and necklace to match or blend. Too many accessories can be distracting and can quickly make an otherwise classic look appear “overdone.”
5. Be classy. Regardless of what you wear… wear something your parents would be proud to see you in, and that you would be proud you wore when flipping through your photo album with your children a few years down the road. Guys, even if you’ve worked your derriere off for years sweating down to 1% body fat, don’t wear a muscle shirt to expose those hard-earned guns. Ladies, the same goes for you: don’t overexpose. The old axiom “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” doesn’t apply in most cases.
3. Dress like you. You don’t have to sacrifice individual expression when you wear basics. Guys, feel free to choose a colorful shirt or even a (tastefully) “crazy” or “fun” tie. Ladies, accessorize. A great, chunky necklace or bracelet will look superb with basic clothing pieces! Even if you choose simple colors like white and black, feel free to “colorize” your look with accessories. However…
4. Don’t over-accessorize. Fashion experts say (as a general rule)… remove one accessory as you leave your home. Accessories can be tricky because a little goes a long way. In other words, no need to wear matching earrings, necklace, bracelet, broach, headband and fingernail art. (But seriously)… choose a great bracelet and earrings or a bracelet and necklace to match or blend. Too many accessories can be distracting and can quickly make an otherwise classic look appear “overdone.”
5. Be classy. Regardless of what you wear… wear something your parents would be proud to see you in, and that you would be proud you wore when flipping through your photo album with your children a few years down the road. Guys, even if you’ve worked your derriere off for years sweating down to 1% body fat, don’t wear a muscle shirt to expose those hard-earned guns. Ladies, the same goes for you: don’t overexpose. The old axiom “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” doesn’t apply in most cases.