Wear It Again!

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Date

February 1, 2011

CHOOSE A TRENDY CUT AND CROSSOVER COLORS

One of the first things that makes the bridesmaids dress unable to be worn again is simply the color! The dress could be a completely cute cocktail dress otherwise but it is royal blue satin! Where the heck are they going to wear royal blue satin? When you are choosing your dress color you don’t necessarily have to go black but look in your own closet and see what dress colors you wear the most on a day-to-day basis. You can always incorporate your less crossover friendly colors into your flowers, ribbons, linens and other decorations. As far as the cut goes, you want to choose something trendy so it’s an “in” look they will want to wear again at their next social event. Keep in mind, that event doesn’t necessarily come with a two hour up-do, their personal bouquet of flowers and a man escorting them down the aisle. The dress shown (photo 1) is a light ivory satin with a black satin band around the neckline into the one-shoulder strap. The one-shoulder neckline is so popular right now in both formal and ready-to-wear clothing. And the colors are something they can pull off again at a company party, on New Year’s Eve, or maybe as a guest at another wedding. This dress even has pockets!! So they can always have their cell phone with them to update their twitter or Facebook with all of the evening’s exciting events. ;)

CHOOSE A SIMPLE DRESS

If you do want a really formal look, go more for glamour than glitz. Start with a silhouette that is commonly worn. It needs to look similar to other things they have in their closet. Too much beading and embellishments can be a turn off too when it comes to wearing the dress again. Keep it simple and let the accessories set the tone. This platinum dress (photo 2) with a silver accent is a simple, classy look that could easily be worn again at a captain’s dinner on a cruise or to a holiday party.

CHOOSE AN EASILY ALTERED DRESS

By picking a dress with an easily altered hem, you open up the opportunity for the dress to become a cocktail dress. Usually any dress that isn’t fitted below the waist can be cut off and made into a cute cocktail dress. This is doable in the dress shown (photo 3) because taffeta fabrication is a “less” formal fabric, the bow is tacked on with a couple of threads and the hem line can be easily shortened at a local alterations shop or by a novice seamstress. So for $0 or the price of a hem ($20-$40) your bridesmaids have a cocktail dress that can be worn many more times. Again, it has pockets in the side seams. Please refer to the first dress for the pocket perks!

CHOoSE A TRENDY LOOKING DYEABLE SHOE

I know, I know, that’s crazy talk right? But hear me out. Most dyeable shoe companies will re-dye shoes for you. So pick a dyeable that you would wear day to day if it were black. Have them dyed whatever color you want to match your wedding and put a card in the shoe box with information about having them re-dyed black. Most already dyed shoes will only successfully re-dye in black. Re-dying shoes will cost between $15-$30. I have these shoes (photo 4) in black for a little more than a year and have gotten 8 or 9 wears out of them.

The bride needs to remember her special day.

CHOOSE A PIECE OF JEWELRY THAT YOU WOULD WEAR OFTEN

Brides have so many accessories on their wedding day. Pick out one piece with the thought in mind of what you would wear while out on a date with your husband. That way you have something you can wear that will remind you of your wedding day while going to see a new movie or visiting a new restaurant! This bracelet (photo 5) is in a darker pewter setting. You still have all the crystals, but they are set in a darker setting so the bracelet is more sublet and could be worn to dress up a simple date night outfit.

CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE AND CAN BE PASSED DOWN

The dress, of course, is commonly kept with the thought of passing it down. But the new bride doesn’t often want to wear her mother’s dress. And this is for several reasons: it is what the bride sees as one of the most important things and she wants something that is new and unique to her. Maybe the style is just very outdated, or it simply just doesn’t fit and is un-alterable. This shawl (photo 6) is a great example of something that can be used on your wedding day, future formal occasions and can also be passed down to your daughter on her wedding day.

CHOOSE A TRENDY HAIRPIECE

Wearing flowers, feathers, etc. in your hair is very “in” right now. So pick something you could add to an outfit for a night on the town that will add trendy flare. A light feather hairpiece would be cute to pin in your hair to add some fun to an outfit on another special occasion.

CHOOSE A RE-WEARABLE SHOE

There are endless amounts of cute shoes. Even though you are probably not going to see your shoes when in your dress, you might as well take this opportunity to splurge on a fancy pair of shoes you like to build up your shoe portfolio. These fun black pumps (photo 7) are a great addition to your closet and also a thoughtful touch for a beautiful peacock feather accented wedding.

More fun for your flower girl.

CHOOSE TIGHTS THAT MATCH YOUR WEDDING COLORS

Colorful and patterned tights are so much fun for little girls. This is a great way to incorporate more of your colors into the wedding party and have something the girls can wear again with their dresses (photo 8).

CHOOSE INEXPENSIVE COSTUME JEWELRY

Girls LOVE to play dress up. So costume jewelry is an inexpensive way to give your flower girl a gift, add a little sparkle to her apparel for your wedding day, and give something to a special little girl that she will play with often and think of you! This jewelry set (photo 9) is simple yet sparkly and only $17.

And don’t forget about the groom!

CHOOSE A RE-WEARABLE TIE

Purchasing a re-wearable tie is similar to purchasing the re-wearable shoe as a bride. Pick something that is a bit of a splurge in the tie department and beef up his tie portfolio. He’ll want to wear it to future special occasions, and during those happy events he will be reminded of your wedding day.

CHOOSE A TIMELESS SHOE

A nice men’s dress shoe is always nice to have around. Whether it’s wedding season, work or church, it’s a lifesaver to have the shoe taken care of for him. Men’s formal attire is so simple compared to yours. Spend your time picking out your shoes, not his. Basic black oxford leather shoes are a great investment.

Sources

1. http://www.jordanfashions.com/ShowDressDetail.aspx?collectionid=1&dressid=1319&photoid=27603

2. http://www.jordanfashions.com/ShowDressDetail.aspx?collectionid=3&dressid=1170&photoid=26547

3. http://www.morilee.com/bridesmaids/affairs/882

4. http://www.benjaminwalkcorp.com/?pg=dyeables&sub=&id=563&sstr=&nr=0&nom=

5. http://www.futurecollection.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=2276

6. http://www.foreverbridals.com/collections_fy.html

7. http://www.illusionsbridal.com/detail/624/Bridal.Hair.Accessories/8244.htm

8. http://www.benjaminwalkcorp.com/?pg=pageant&sub=&id=950&sstr=&nr=0&nom=

9. http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=807393&kwid=1&sem=false&sdReferer=http://www.gap.com/products/baby-tights.jsp

10. http://www.amazon.com/Iridescent-and-Rhinestone-Necklace-Set/dp/B003W8U17O/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&qlEnable=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1296523517&sr=1-1&searchContext=B003W8U17O

11. http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/ties/silkties/PRDOVR~41136/41136.jsp