Dresses for Family Portraits + Fall Parties.

*Image above via Doen. I ordered this dress myself! I usually order an XXS in their styles — I am a true XS, so would advise sizing down one size unless you’re between sizes. Still waiting for it to arrive but will share sizing info once it does.

The most-asked question I fielded from my last solicitation for “Ask Magpie” questions (you can always email or DM me, too!) was: what to wear for my fall family portrait? Below, some ideas on what I’d wear, though let me first share some general strategies/thoughts I’ve come to use when preparing for a shoot:

1. Wear what you love. The camera can tell when you feel your best — when you’re excited to wear something. Don’t give too much worry to whether something will be dated/out in a few years. Who cares? Photos are always post cards from a different time. Have you seen any photos of your parents in their 30s where you weren’t aware of the time gap? No! I’d rather wear something that excites me now than something staid and unremarkable!
2. Don’t be afraid of pattern-matching / color-mixing with your family. I usually keep the men in the simpler outfits (solid colors, simple stripes, etc) and let my daughter and I have fun with different patterns. I just keep to a general color palette so everything looks cohesive.
3. Generally, I prefer dresses with sleeves. It’s not that I have a hang-up on my arms, but I just generally find it’s one less thing to be aware of and I’m less likely to do the awkward “hand at hip” pose.
4. This is not the time to “try that style you’ve always wanted to make work.” I don’t love my knees (so weird, I know!) and so despite the fact that I love the idea of a mini (and included multiple below for my long-legged ladies!) I know I’ll be happier with a midi or maxi length dress in a photo that’s going out to all my nearest and dearest!

Onward!

01. CARA CARA BLUE HILL DRESS // 02. HILL HOUSE VIVI NAP DRESS // 03. JENNIFER BEHR HEADBAND // 04. DOEN RHODIA DRESS // 05. TUCKERNUCK ROSEWOOD CHINTZ DRESS // 06. SAM EDELMAN MICHAELA FLATS // 07. GAP PLAID MINI DRESS // 08. HUNTER BELL CARLYLE DRESS // 09. MARGAUX FLATS // 10. DEREK LAM PLAID DRESS // 11. VIBI VENEZIA VELVET FLATS // 12. EMERSON FRY LUCYBELLA DRESS // 13. SCHUTZ MARYANNA BOOTS // 14. DIVANNE SUEDE MULES // 15. OPT RIVER DRESS

Family Photo Dresses Under $200.

And because many of you specifically asked…a roundup of family photo dresses under $200.

Family Photo Dresses Over $200.

And a few on the splurgier side…

P.S. Fall outerwear.

P.P.S. Do you mother yourself?

P.P.P.S. The weather in the window.

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