Help with wedding (guest) outfit please

[arousingcheer]

Wearing this dress to a Sept wedding (and/or reception). The invitation is a bit unclear re whether or not the actual wedding will occur on site or if this is just the reception venue if that makes sense (and if it matters).

I have a little cropped jacket and a little cropped cotton cardi (both navy) if it's cool, but no idea what to add (shoes etc). It's in the evening (after 6), so no hats I guess?

Will probably wear one or other pair of these earrings but no idea where to go re shoes. Must be flat and comfy. I have a pair of strappy metallic clogs, sort of a pewter colour. Acceptable?

I love weddings in theory but in practice I always get all tied in knots about what to wear.

I think your outfit looks/sounds perfect. As someone else who also ties themselves in knots about wedding guest outfits and having done just that recently, I wish I'd gone for this look! The earrings on the left (with blue) are particularly nice. I know from a friend who also has to wear flat shoes that it can be really hard to find suitable wedding guest shoes. Clogs aren't probably the first type of shoe I'd think to wear with this outfit but then I have no idea what pewter strappy clogs look like and think what I am imagining as a clog, is not what you own! Pewter as a colour will definitely go well though. I do like bright pink shoes when the rest of the outfit is fairly neutral but think pewter will look really nice so unless you particularly want to buy shoes, you probably don't need to. If you feel that they go with the outfit, they probably do.

As regards hats, agree one won't be necessary and when you have earrings like that, that's probably enough decoration.

Thank you for such a lovely reply! That's made me feel a bit better.

Here are the shoes (this style but different colour). The heel is quite low but they have the clog platform so there is a bit of height. The colour is sort of pewtery metallic, a warm grey-silver I guess? Not as bright as in the photo of the silver shoes, more like the grey ones. Tbh they're hard to wear because they feel too dressy to wear with shorts/jeans and they sort of dress up a casual dress too much so I'm going on the principle that they will take the outfit just out of that formal weddingy area.

I'm no good looking too formal, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I'm constantly checking myself for a slipped bra strap or similar blot on the landscape.

Love the dress op. Where is it from?

And Kochicoo what did you wear to the recent wedding you attended? And why was it unsatisfactory?

I got married in Sept as well and we often get our nicest weather then but I'm turning my head inside out speculating about the weather. It might be cold but is more likely to be warm in the day and cool at night.

I am going alone (dh is away) so that may be why I'm giving it so much thought.

Chocolou it's Boden: www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/clearance/womens-dresses/midi-dresses/ww249-dbl/womens-imperial-blue-althea-lace-dress

I ordered it in my usual size and it was vast so have ordered the next two sizes down. It's all cotton, which is so great. I'm not good in sweaty synthetics.

It's also not as navy as it looks in the photo, but more of an intense blue. It is a lovely shape and length and covers upper arms in case it's hot and I can't wear a cardi/jacket. Ticks all the boxes.

Yes , I was totally picturing traditional clogs! Those sandal ones are fabulous. I know what you mean about wanting to wear something just to the left of formal weddingy cause I've always thought that's what I managed to do and think those clogs are perfect for that.

I got myself into such a stress about the recent wedding I attended, which funnily enough I was also attending alone and the only person I knew was the bride so agree that attending alone seems to add to the pressure. I haven't gone back to work yet and in an effort to curb my terrible shopping habit, I thought a wedding would be the perfect time to be clever and source a fabulous outfit on the cheap rather than just buying one great dress. Idiot. I spent waay more that way and just kept ordering one more thing, in case it was the thing which would make my outfit perfect. Rather than wedding style with a slight edge, I think I was very firmly weddingy!

I was also worried about the weather and was googling future forecasts obsessively. I didn't feel comfortable in my dress without a cardigan and it ended up being unexpectedly really hot and sunny even though all weather forecasts had promised me rain! Your dress would have been perfect.

Oh well, I realise the day wasn't all about me 😁

Kochicoo are you me? I have to have a little edge to any outfit. If I go straight Formal Wedding Guest I will discover (during the wedding) that my legs are hairy, I have lipstick on my teeth and I've chipped my nail varnish. Somehow if my outfit is a little left-of-centre I don't keep checking myself (although I'm probably just as much of a mess). I'm a mystery even to myself.

I've been having a shopping orgy with the sales (I don't normally even look at sale emails but have been going bananas thanks to Dolly and Dotty 50% off sale) but now am trying to dial it down by using mostly my own gear.

I am rationalising the expense of the dress (and all the other dresses I've bought, thinking 'Hmm, maybe I'll wear that to the wedding') because 1) I wore an old dress to the last wedding I went to (thus 'earning' a new one this time) and 2) I will be 50 soon and who knows how old I'll be at the next wedding I'm invited to?! I'm living in the moment.

(I did wonder if someone's reply would be along the lines of 'No one will care what you wear, it's not all about you you know!')

Dress and shoes both gorgeous. Perfect.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie thank you, how lovely. I will feel more relaxed about it now.

I've had eye on that dress for ages but have no occasion to wear it to. It's gorgeous and the earrings are perfect. Tbh, I'm not 100% convinced on the shoes but you'll know yourself if it works as soon as you try it all on together.

'My eye'. Sorry. My typos are dreadful.

Well Rousingcheer, I would have a better choice of earrings if I really were you but I do also try to rationalise every purchase at the moment. If you wore an old dress to the last wedding, you absolutely had to buy a new dress for this one. Those are the rules. I don't make them up. Your hands were tied.

It's the same with the sales this year seeming better than usual, it's only sensible to buy.

As for your upcoming wedding guesting, I think with that dress, it won't really matter what the weather is like so you just have to look forward to enjoying yourself. I'm just going to go and look at the dress online. Just look. I definitely won't buy it. I have no upcoming events to wear it to. Although. . .perhaps my 2 year old would appreciate me making more of an effort on a daily basis. I'd be doing it for her.

burnishedsilver what sort of shoe would you wear? I see a lot of pointy suede flats being suggested on MN but that would be something I'd wear once and never again. As you say, I'll know when I put it all on together if the shoes work. I am watching a few pairs of Boden flats on eBay so if need be I can go that route.

Kochicoo your logic is incontrovertible. That's just sensible research and good parenting.

Some eBay options...

I have a pair of Russell and Bromley nude peep-toe slingbacks but the heel is too high to wear for long. Also have the gold strappy shoes I wore at my own wedding, so there are other options in my wardrobe.

I think these are rather gorgeous (eBay again), but maybe too casual, and what if it's cold/wet?