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This is my first time being a bridesmaid, and I couldn't be more excited. The dress is great, and perfect for the occasion--an evening wedding in July at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens--because it's bright and airy and yet still formal. Plus, the cut and color of the dress is flattering on just about anyone.
In general, I'm a lady who likes her neutrals--blacks, browns, grays, navies--so you'd think adjusting to the light aqua color of the dress would be a challenge. And sure, the dress would look wonderful with any variety of metallics (truly the best of the neutrals; ah, gold and silver, what would I do without you?). But rather than go my usual route, I've decided to embrace the light, breezy, summer spirit of the dress, and to turn the aqua into the 'neutral' base.
Choosing to forgo neutrals is tough, but it's important to realize that, when you're working with a solid-color dress in a great cut, your options are almost as limitless as if you were working with a black dress. In fact, adding colored accessories to a black dress can easily come across as tacky or too reminiscent of '80s style (think bright yellow heels or a red leather bag).
Which is all to say, it's not hard to accessorize a bright summer bridesmaid's dress.
Rule #1: Get permission from the bride-to-be.
Before I pursued any accessories options, I emailed my friend to make sure I wasn't going against her aesthetic. Luckily for me, my friend is far from a bridezilla. I got the okay to accessorize to my heart's content.
Rule #2: Put yourself in context.
The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is schmancy. The bride is wearing a creamy white satin sheath. The groom and all the groomsmen are wearing tuxes. There will be 200+ guests. Clearly now isn't the time for polkadots or excessive bangle bracelets*. I had to imagine myself posing in pictures with the bridal party, or crying during the exchanging of the vows, or dancing with my babe in his tux, and in all of those instances I wanted to be appropriately coordinated with the overall theme: a classic, sophisticated wedding.
*For the record, I think there's rarely a time for polkadots or excessive bangle bracelets.
Rule #3: Identify your color palette.
After considering context I determined the best direction for me to go color-wise was the rose family (reds, pinks, and purples). Aquas and roses play well together--they're at once cool and warm, and with the right tones they radiate an air of pure, lush, luxurious romance. Plus, with my pale skin, aquas can sometimes call attention to the bluish greens of my veins, so it's important to balance that out with some warmth. A rosey palette calls attention to my rosier attributes, like my lips and cheeks.
Rule #4: Choose your accessories sparingly.
Using a bright color as my neutral base, I understood I was walking a fine line between romantic original and overdone quirk. Knowing that a little bit of complimentary color goes a long way, I considered a few very basic accessories.
- Shoes: Obviously. And again, considering the context, the shoe needs to be satin or fabric--no fuschia leather shoes for the schmancy wedding (a strappy shoe in metallic leather would be the exception). So far, I like the uniqueness of these, the boldness of these, and the glamour of these.
- Bag: Something just big enough to hold money, keys, phone, Metrocard, and makeup. And again, I'm skipping the leather.
- Hair adornment: Now this is a bit more interesting. Since I have short hair, I miss out on the lushness of a sweeping up-do with wisps of delicate curls blowing in the summer breeze. Instead, I'm seeking out an understated flower accessory for my hair, to echo the botanical surroundings and the femininity of the dress, and also to bring some rosey tones up near my face.
- Jewelry: I'm keeping it simple by sticking to the precious metals and stones. Again, metallics are the ultimate neutrals--you can't ever go wrong with gold or silver. Since I'm using my accessories to add warmth to my overall look, I'll be relying on golds to bring out the peaches in my skin and the spice-tone of my many freckles.
- Makeup: Don't forget, makeup is an accessory too! I'm undecided on the makeup look so far, though I'll be playing with a warm, sheer lip and a sweep of gold on the lids. I also think I'll try a bit of ruby and shine on the lips, to explore whether the drama of the dark pout enhances or undermines the look.
I have my dress a full five months in advance of the wedding, so I've got plenty of time to shop around for just the right rosey tones to build my ideal look. And with free shipping and free returns at Zappos, I could easily order ten pairs of heels in shades of magenta, plum, and scarlet and have a fashion show in my very own living room.
I'll also be thinking about family jewelry. Not heirlooms, mind you, but I'll see what delicate gold pieces my mother's picked up over the years, because often the perfect piece with just the right amount of age and personality is sitting in a jewelry box in the closet.
Regarding hair adornments, I have full faith that Etsy will come through for me with a unique, picture-perfect piece, though it may take patience and digging to find it.
Rule #6: Try it on together, and try more than one look!
There's no harm in working an outfit a few different ways. The more looks I can create with accessories, the better my chances are that I'll find the perfect look for the wedding and be inspired to wear the dress again. Having too many fabulous ways to wear a dress is a good problem.
I'll be posting pictures of my adventures in accessorizing as I gather the materials, so stay tuned. In the meantime, email me with suggestions for my "It's Not Hard to..." series. Thanks for reading my very first style post!
