Would you wear black on your bottom half with a light coloured top for a more casual wedding?

[LeopardPrintFleece]

Yes it's another wedding one! I've bought a lovely taupe linen jacket and have taupe and black sandals, would a black skirt be OK bearing in mind a lot of people dont think black should be worn at weddings? I'd wear something white or light coloured under the jacket.

It's a second wedding in an outdoor setting so I dont feel like normal rules apply but dont want to look out of place.

I have worn a black and white polkadot dress and cream jacket to weddings, and a cream linen suit with black jacket and hat. I think it would be fine op, as long as the trousers are a light enough (in weight) fabric if it's likely to be warm.

Can you post a link to/picture of the actual sandals, OP?

This is S&B, there are always some bizarre posts about "rules" that either have never been adhered to or have been out of date for decades. And for some reason, there are usually suggestions to wear voluminous sack dresses that IMO flatter precisely no one. 😅

Just ignore the more aggressive voices on the thread (easier said than done, I know). I really wouldn't rethink the black skirt or any of the outfit for that matter.

I think you must work in a very casual office and not recognise many offices are not like that, I think if all your friends and family think it’s appropriate then there is no issue really, enjoy the wedding.

Well, the rule exists whether you like it or not. I looked it up in Debretts, and all it says nowadays is ‘Dress like you’re going to a wedding, don’t dress like you’re going to a funeral.’. I’d still lean on the more general rule that wearing black before dinner is for the staff.

It’s quite incidental, but this thread did remind me I was once at a wedding at which the groom’s clingy ex did indeed turn up, as though in an old sitcom, uninvited and dressed for a funeral. It would have taken a heart of stone not to laugh.

I can’t find a link to the sandals, I bought them a few years ago but have barely worn them. They’re similar to these but obviously not plain black and they don’t have a buckle on the front

www.mandmdirect.com/01/details/IF30074?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20395669847&gbraid=0AAAAAD5OKP2sqhFwy-dZyIgTx4-6jbFLA&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8vPBhBbEiwAoA39Wuc_gRC3NXUlIUMj6uGV4-9g_QWtLvbtCqgHGEc9_iOII2feEaGTjxoCt58QAvD_BwE

I'd use one colourful outfit for both weddings. No-one will notice - all eyes will be on the bride.

Can't you just take a photo of your actual sandals?

Ah, so they're like the black pair you just posted, but in beige/black leopard print with no buckle at the front, just the ankle buckle? I wouldn't say they're hugely smarter than the first pair you posted, but definitely good for a garden party, especially if it's been (or is) raining!

(Btw, whether it's a first or second wedding isn't relevant - it's going to be as dressy as they want it to be! Unless you know for sure it's going to be a casual affair/dialled down a lot.)

Black is fine for a wedding. It all depends on what else you wear/accessorise it with. And I completely agree with those who said that it's not that your skirt is black that's important re the suitability of your outfit - it's the fact that the three clothing items you've posted so far ARE very much a day at an average office kind of clothes. (And yes, I think you must work in an unusually casual environment.) The jacket & skirt are plain & simple (not a bad thing though), & the sandals casual.

You described your jacket as taupe, OP, but it's called light beige on the H&M website - which, if the colour on the website is accurate, I think is more correct? I ask in case it's darker/properly taupe in reality?

Also, you said that your friends & family would consider what you're planning to wear as perfectly fine. I'm assuming that some of them will be there & know a bit about how casual the wedding is likely to be - otherwise I'm not so sure that's really relevant? I would definitely avoid a plain white/cream top - whether they have waiting staff or not, it doesn't matter - unfortunately the association of white top + black skirt/trousers is very much that of waiter/waitress & (unless the individual items are fabulous fabrics/cut etc) generally looks a bit on the dull/anonymous side.

So, if I've understood correctly:

• You want to stick with your light beige jacket, black gathered midi skirt & beige/black leopard print sandals - that's a given (same as/similar to the three pieces in photos).
• The couple are arty/alternative, so quite relaxed - & the wedding is probably going to be quite casual?
• You don't want to spend much money.

Bearing in mind the above, I think the top & accessories that you choose are the key to making your outfit work, & pulling together your jacket, skirt & sandals. That should be perfectly do-able with a limited budget.

If you want to stick with a beige & black palette, I would suggest a top that combines those two colours, so that your outfit looks considered & put together. And possibly a camisole or halterneck or something on the dressier side, maybe in a silky fabric.

YY, it’s kind of styling up a “day in the office” type outfit.

I know polka dots are everywhere, but in this instance I think they'd work well in a top, as the leopard print of your sandals is very "dotty", & mixing your patterns will give a bit of edge.

A few examples - if they have a pale base I'd go for one that's more dark cream/ecru, ie close to the jacket colour, not whitish-cream. Photos on websites are hard to rely on, so I'd probably try on several, whether you order them or visit the shops.

Just sticking on some random pics of spotty leopard sandals (similar to the ones you linked) to show what I mean! These tops are by Mango, Nobody's Child & M&S, so all reasonably priced.

A few more. Mint Velvet & Nobody's Child.

I like the suggestion higher up to wear a simple black top. I'd then have a pop of colour handbag/jewellery, red or cobalt blue might be nice.

FWIW I think your outfit sounds fab. The 90s are fashionable again so watch Four Weddings and a Funeral and see how many people are wearing neutrals at the weddings.

A few more dotty options. I really like the black longer-sleeved M&S one, though it's a bit more sombre. The others are Wolf & Badger, Tara Jarmon (pricier) & Zeagoo (?) at Amazon.

Or you could go for this pure silk bargain Anine Bing camisole on Vestiaire, & mix your zebra & leopard ...!!

If you don't fancy polka dots or animal print for your top, I would still try to choose something with a cream/beige pattern/trim, as the connecting piece between jacket & skirt. These are M&S (first two), Jaeger at M&S, & Jigsaw on BrandAlley. The latter two are less dressy IMO, but you may prefer that.

The actual jacket is definitely more of a taupe colour, the one I linked is lighter but the closest in style. I like the idea of some of those tops, I need to remember I’m unlikely to wear the jacket all day if it’s warm so a dressier top would work best.

I really don’t want to buy new footwear but out of interest what would people wear when heels are not an option? (specified by the venue) I can imagine people in sparkly trainers or similar in which case I think they’ll be pairing them with less formal outfits too.

You could wear sparkly trainers if you wanted to. 😀 At least you'd be nice and comfy.

If I had some I might well do 😊

I thought this post was some
kind of advert in disguise?

I thought you'd posted a link to the actual jacket you'd just bought?? So - none of the clothes you posted links to (jacket, skirt & sandals) is the actual clothing you own & will be wearing ...?!!! Okay ... a little bit odd, OP!!

If your jacket is properly taupe, then the lighter cream/black options I posted won't really tie the jacket & skirt together. I'm not sure that I would have suggested them, knowing the jacket was taupe. A cream linen jacket is summery, but taupe not really - unless you really dress is up & probably add a bit of colour?

You could try black & gold, or even gold, so that the light catching the finish enlivens things? Would any of these work with your big gold & black earrings & the rest of your outfit?

Theyre from Love & Roses, Miola, Ro & Zo, Eleven Loves & Jigsaw.

Mothers of the wedding pair used to wear black to show they disapproved of the union, but couldn’t stop it. Like mourning the decision to marry.

I hope your DIL doesn’t know about this tradition!

OP I would never wear black to a wedding sorry. Taupe and navy/rich green/burgundy sounds much nicer, a bit of vibrant colour on a celebratory day.

Maybe animal print with some taupe/brown in it, as well as black & cream, would work. Though I believe some people disapprove of animal print at weddings ... but I'm not one of them, & you're already wearing leopard print sandals!

There are some dressy tops that would fit the bill - but I doubt your jacket would sit properly over them. This sort of thing from Monsoon.

But the second top from Nobody's Child might be ok? As would the long-sleeve blouse from All Saints, or the camisole from New Look.