The final installment this month, and this batch is yet again full of wedding guest/special occasion dress queries! I’ve updated my wedding guest dress shop, but wanted to also highlight a few recent dress finds at the top of this post that might be just your ticket:
THIS SUNNY ZIMMERMANN-ESQUE FLORAL
THIS FOR A BEACH WEDDING (SHE LOVES A THEME)
Volume I here and Volume II here. You can always email me, too!
Q: Couch and nightstands.
A: Sounds like we are in a similar furniture-buying binge. The couch is so individual to the space, life stage, etc., but we are probably going to buy this sectional from PB. I like that it is slipcovered and am into the coastal/Hamptons vibe of the design. However, there were a number of readers who wrote in to rave about the quality of Crate + Barrel’s sectionals. I love Crate and Barrel — I have bought several great, clean-lined pieces that have outlasted even my Pottery Barn furniture — but in this case just slightly preferred the PB couch style. The Inside also does couches and I have to say I love that they have so many fun prints and colors to choose from. It feels like PB and C+B have only shades of white, taupe, gray and sometimes blue if you’re lucky. Serena + Lily does, too, but much more expensive. A few other spots to consider:
JAYSON HOME — WE BOUGHT OUR CURRENT LIVING ROOM SOFA FROM HERE AND CAN ATTEST TO THE QUALITY
ABC HOME – MAKES BEAUTIFUL PIECES THAT FEEL MORE ONE-OF-A-KIND/CUSTOM THAN YOU CAN FIND IN BIG BOX STORES
BALLARD DESIGNS — FUN UPHOLSTERY OPTIONS AND LOTS OF GREAT STYLES
If you are down for a MAJOR statement, this ruffle couch is epic.
For nightstands: just did an extensive roundup here, but the TL;DR is that my budget pick is this lovely little score (under $140 and comes in a great blue color) and my “sure thing” pick that would work with nearly any style and accommodate nearly any need is this white beauty. Love the pull-out tray for added surface area, and the drawers are so functional! Just add a few pretty books at the bottom, or a basket to house glasses/remotes/etc, and you’re golden.
P.S. Great storage baskets by size here.
Q: Beach family picture outfits.
A: Having just gone through family portraits, I know how tricky this is. I would advise starting with a dress you love that looks great on you — for the beach, here are a few ensembles I would consider:
+This fun printed Rixo on you; this Sal e Pimenta on your little lady; these poplin shortalls with a white polo for your little man; this sport shirt with khakis or jeans for your man. Shades of coral with different prints so no one is too matchy-matchy. That was definitely the vibe I was after for ours. I think the pictures will turn out coordinated but not too forced.
+For the beach, I’m into an all-white ensemble as you already have the gorgeous canvas of the sand and blue water. This dress for you; this for your mini me; white or khaki shorts and white button-down for your little man (or shortalls if he’s tiny); linen shirt and either khakis or white shorts on your man.
+In general, if you find a dress you love, work from there. I find that Sal E Pimenta, Luli and Me, and La Coqueta have great options for little ones in a wide range of colors.
Q: Dress I can wear to a black tie optional wedding at 20 weeks pregnant.
A: Congratulations!!! So fun, and such a relief to be out of the 12 week period where you are trying to hide it. I guess it depends on how you’re carrying. I felt like with my second, I showed much earlier. With my first, you could hardly tell I was pregnant until 24 weeks. If you are looking for a true maternity dress, I love this emerald green dress. It looks like Self-Portrait to me and I think would look great with an updo and big statement earrings. If you want to go for a non-maternity dress so it will work post-pregnancy, this Hunter Bell might be worth a try though it’s hard to tell how long the torso goes. Splurge pick: this Anna October in black (look for less with this, but it keeps selling out), which would 100% work with bump and might be the chicest thing I’ve ever seen. Saucy!
Q: Perfect white dress.
A: Either this Ulla (on sale) or this white shirtdress.
Q: Comfy, chic shoes for return to office. No more heels!
A: Amen! People (including my mom, who I would consider a tough critic on this front) rave about the comfort of Rothy’s, and they come in a range of styles. I love their loafer style, but I think it would depend on the formality of your office. You might be better off with something with a pointed toe, which always looks polished. In general, mules are lovely because you never get heel blisters, and I think Nicholas Kirkwood’s Beya style (pointed toe!) would be fantastic for work in a neutral, white, or black. (Very sophisticated!)
Q: Comfortable but chic wedding shoes I can dance in all night.
A: Aw, congratulations, bride-to-be! I would go with these in white or blue (something blue!). If that’s too daunting, consider this even lower heel, though I think the silhouette from the side would be less flattering. Less formal, but these mules from Reformation would be fun and easy to wear, too. Last but not least, Kate Spade does fun little wedding heels like these that would look adorable peeking out from the hem of a formal dress but be easy to wear into the night.
Q: Cute, relatively-inexpensive cover-ups/casual summer dresses.
A: I’m so on your page. I shared some fun cover-ups here, but a few cute and casual summer dresses under $100:
THIS $33 BLUE PRINT DRESS — I WEAR THIS LIKE ONCE A WEEK
HAVE BEEN WEARING THIS WHITE MINI NONSTOP
THIS SOLID TEE DRESS (WOULD LOOK AMAZING WITH DRESSY SNEAKS)
THIS ADORABLE SMOCKED/STRIPED J. CREW
THIS $22 YELLOW DRESS, WHICH I WORE OVER THE WEEKEND AND GOT SEVERAL COMPLIMENTS ON, INCLUDING FROM A WOMAN WHO STOPPED ME ON THE STREET!
P.S. My most worn-at-home dresses and lots of pretty dresses.
Q: Dresses for a 9-month-old for my brother’s wedding in Central America!
A: Congrats to your brother! Brava mama traveling with an itty bitty baby, too! For special occasions, I love the beautiful pieces from Luli and Me like this, Proper Peony like this, Pepa & Co like this, Rachel Riley like this or this, Question Everything like this, and La Coqueta like this.
Q: A new purse. $3K or less, classic yet not “old lady,” can be worn with jeans or dress.
A: Black quilted Chanel! Will go with everything and you will 100% wear it forever. If you decide to buy directly from a Chanel boutique brand new, they sell smaller sizes that will ring in at under $3000.
Q: Dress for a guest at a casual October wedding at the Dirty Dancing resort.
A: !! This is so fun! I think I shared this dress in a separate query for an October wedding guest dress, but this is perfection for fall, as is this cayenne orange/red dress and this burgundy floral from SIR. I also think this is ultra chic for any season — saucy, festive, and every man loves a polka dot — or this dress in navy, praline, or green. If vibe is considerably less formal — this paisley!
P.S. More special occasion dress ideas here or here.
Q: Montana semi-formal wedding guest dress!
A: My brother lived in Billings for many years! I like this floral, this Zimmermann, and this Beulah. I feel like Reformation might be the right vibe for that locale, too — this dress (mentioned above) in any of the prints would be a dream.
Q: Everyday tote that no one else has.
A: Ooh! Corroon or this brand-new Cuyana.