Next month, Bob and I are celebrating the marriage of our good friends at their intimate black tie wedding in Los Angeles. It's a pretty rare occasion when I get to dress up that fancy, so I've been trying to figure out what to wear. I know I don't want to do the classic black dress, but I'm torn between "pretty and romantic" or "glamorous and offbeat". Getting a new dress is always the priciest part of going to a wedding, so I think the accessories should be pieces you can wear again and again for other occasions as well. What do you guys think? Which one look should I go with?
Pretty and romantic: Anthropologie pouch, Kate Spade bangle, Joanna August wrap dress, Nine West gold heels.
Glam and offbeat: Paris House coin purse, Kate Spade prince charming studs, Aidan Mattox dress, Ted Baker heels.
Glam & Off Beat!
Another vote for glam and off beat! That dress is divine and I love love love those Ted Baker heels!
Glamorous and off beat
so pretty! my favorite is that pouch!!!
Glam and offbeat seems more your style! I love the neckline of that dress!
Fantastic!
My favourite is black dress!!! 🙂
http://mademoisellejuliet.blogspot.com/
Glam & Offbeat! Totally your style & totally gorgeous dress!
Well, glam and offbeat seems more your style – BUT I think there aren’t many occasions in life when you can be really elegant – so I’d go for the one on the left.
Glam and offbeat! Elegant, charming, with the right amount of fun! What a lovely dress!
Cheers!
Akshara
Simply Akshara
Glamorous & offbeat! I think it’s both an elegant and fun look, with pieces that will complement your existing wardrobe. Plus, it’s a gorgeous dress.
I think both dresses are plenty elegant, and the glam and offbeat option fits your style better. Could you do the rent the runway thing or look in a upscale consignment shop to save some cash? I’ve had great luck finding dresses to wear to weddings at consignment shops – guessing because we all wear them once or twice and that’s it.
Okay Joy, after looking at both dresses on their respective sites I had to come back and comment again. I cannot believe both of those dresses are 100% polyester! Though they are both beautiful in the pictures, I can’t help but wonder how they look up-close in person. For those prices I would have expected silk or similarly luxe fabric…
I love the navy dress, but I actually prefer the golden heels for shoes!
It’s so much fun having an occasion to really dress up…
Glam and offbeat…although both are gorgeous combinations. Please share your final outfit when the time comes!
Definitely, definitely “Glamorous and Off beat”! Definitely!
Definitely the navy! Those shoes were made for you.
Ok, ok… I’m going against popular opinion – I’m loving Pretty & Romantic! I think it’s just the loveliest dress, and I can’t think of a better occasion for it than a romantic wedding! And I can’t take my eyes away from that Kate Spade bangle… so pretty!
I love glamorous and offbeat. 🙂
-Alecia
Glam & Off Beat. The black dress with the red shoes… but I don’t like the earrings. :/
I am gonna go against the crowd and go for Pretty and Romantic. When’s a better time to be pretty and whimsical than a wedding? There are plenty of glam opportunities.
I definitely can’t afford to buy a new dress for every wedding I go to. I love your blog, Joy, but I think it’s a good idea to be sensitive to the range of your readers’ circumstances and not make assumptions about how everyone shops.
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
I love that wrap dress. But let’s be real, both of these looks are fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
On the right. That dress is amazing, and the bold accessories are perfect.
Pretty and romantic. I love that gorgeous dress!
Totally agree. So many expensive clothes these days are polyester; it’s very disappointing. I would go with the glam and offbeat, but maybe with different accessories.
Hmmm…well, I love both the looks. BUT I would have to say that glam and offbeat seems more quirky and fun. It’s an intimate ceremony, so why not do something unique?
Great picks!
xo
Eliza
I am going to vote for the glam and offbeat. I think the bright colored shoes add a nice punch!
Glam and offbeat with a touch of color (shoes and purse) – so you!!!!
Another vote for the glam and offbeat. Love that dress!
Glam and offbeat…without question!
Ooooh I love both looks! Gorgeous!!!
glam & offbeat! LOVE the pops of color with the shoes.
Glam and off beat!!
Glam and offbeat!
Go with the Aidan Mattox dress for sure. it’s amazing.
Glam and off beat!!
you’d look lovely in both, of course, but i can see you in the glamorous one better, you seem to have that modern, colorful, playful, beautiful and friendly vibe:)
Whichever one Bob likes best!
these are wonderful pairings i think i like the right one the best that contrast bodice is amazing and the bright pop color shoes are lovely with the navy 🙂
I think I’m leaning towards the pretty and romantic pick, though they are both gorgeous! I’m a sucker for those sparkly accessories, though!
I vote for “Glam and Offbeat”.
Pretty and romantic!
glam and offbeat. especially love the quirky and unexpected earrings with that dress.
That Aidan Mattox dress is totally calling to me…
Both are nice, but I not a huge fan of either. The first one seems like a long casual wrap dress in a muted color, and the second seems a little pagent-ish. If you have no plans to wear the dress again, you might consider renting a more unique dress via Rent the Runway or other sites
This is what I was going to say, but you said it so I don’t need to. I don’t know how much they cost, but they look kind of cheap in fabrication and meh in design. A black tie wedding is an opportunity to wear something fabulous. If budget doesn’t allow, I wouldn’t definitely rent.
I am firmly in the Pretty & Romantic camp.
Agreed. For the price ($200+), fabrication (polyester) and construction (one is made in China, not sure about the other), personally I wouldn’t spend the money on either. The accessories are cute and fun for both options and a smarter investment since they’re reusable, but I’m not sold on either dress. If based on accessories alone, I’d go glam and offbeat, just with a different dress.
The dress on the left is so beautiful on its own! (And so are you!) Maybe you could let it shine with more quiet accessories… But not too quiet! Maybe some type of bright, warm-colored jeweled studs, a loose, modern updo or ballerina bun, and more neutral shoes? I really love the way leslie mann can pull quirky elements into black tie/award show ensembles while still looking like the most elegant person in the room. I can’t wait to see what you choose. I know you’ll look stunning!
Another vote for Glam + offbeat AND for Renttherunway.com! Feel like a movie star for a night without dishing out the dough? Yes, please!
offbeat glam – i almost bought colorblock heels. Love.
Pretty and romantic!!!!!!!!!!
Definitely the navy dress – that’s lovely, think you could choose either accessories to go with that, which ever you think you’ll get more use out of. I’d go bright shoes with the other outfit’s bangle and purse. And some chandelier style earrings. Enjoy!
Oooh, one more vote for glam & off beat. I love that neckline, and the clutch is adorable!
I can’t help it, but I love the pretty & romantic look.
If you don’t get to wear long dresses that often, you should try Rent the Runway! It’s my favorite for special events.
Thanks for sharing!