Wednesday, June 22, 2011

How can I make a pantsuit wedding-worthy?


Dear East Side Bride,

A month ago I was positive that I would be wearing something other than a dress to my cousin's black tie wedding. But as the date approached closer and closer, I began to realize that many retailers feature dresses as the only appropriate evening wedding attire.

Why do I need to wear a dress??! I asked myself. I've worn many dresses my whole life! I think it's time for something different.

Korean garb? Just another korean dress but itchier.
Skirt? Boo. It's a dress. But for your thighs.
Turtleneck and chain. YES but what about the bottom half of my body?

I love what YSL did for the female pantsuit! We have these great designers introducing menswear into women's fashion and it's incredibly empowering. But how can I wear pants or a pantsuit to an evening wedding without looking like I just came from work? Can it be done?

Thanks,
Pantalone-ly girl

*****

A turtleneck's not gonna cut it at a black tie wedding. If the men are required to wear tuxedos, you should wear one too.

If you like, you can femme it up with a sheer blouse + black bra. Or shorts...? (Preferably not both.)


And definitely wear a kick-ass pair of heels.

Image 1: Kirsten Dunst via because im addicted via Just Jared, Image 2: Eva Herzigova via Refinery29

p.s. I wanted to tell you to skip the shirt and go jacket-only if you were feeling bold, but in order to avoid this unsightliness you'd have to skip the bra, too.
Posted by esb at 5:01 AM
Labels: , , , , , ,

12 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 22, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Hakaan has your answer:

    http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2011/ready-to-wear/hakaan#

    http://thefashionpatrol.com/2011/05/18/penelope-cruz-pirates-caribbean-stranger-tides-madrid-premiere/

    http://www.apropos-store.com/chiefs-choice-en/black-belted-jumpsuit.html

    http://www.luisaviaroma.com/index.aspx?#getData.aspx|CallType=Product&prodId=GG1004&season=sale&gender=women&group=clothing&des=GG5&cat=&seasProdID=52I

    http://www.openingceremony.us/products.asp?menuid=2&catid=34&productid=33457

    ReplyDelete
  2. laurenJune 22, 2011 at 7:30 AM

    as they say, pantalone-ly, if it ain't tux, it ain't mux.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lauren | also known as mamaJune 22, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    I would add some super glam and femme jewelry to a simple masculine tux. And don't forget a killer pair of girly pumps!
    Good luck!

    Lauren
    http://mildmediumhot.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. MollyJune 22, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    I think the jacket-only thing works for small chested women. If you've got boobs, go for the sheer tops -- still sexy but not, you know, pornographic.

    And I think it's key that you wear an actual tux, not a suit, or at least a tuxedo jacket.

    http://www.lordandtaylor.com/eng/womensapparel-jackets-blazers-Bridget_Novelty_Tuxedo_Jacket-lordandtaylor/171271/?utm_source=GAN&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_term=na&tag=GAN&ctcampaign=221&utm_campaign=ShopStyle.com&utm_content=&cm_mmc=Affiliate-_-GAN-_-ShopStyle.com-_-Primary

    http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/97747?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-Custom-_-Link-_-Builder&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-iH5dJZDMkmNKliOj5LSwwQ

    http://beta.neimanmarcus.com/store/product.jsp?itemId=prod133590073&010=B1ELV&ci_sku=B1ELV&ecid=NMCIGoogleBaseFeed&ci_src=14110944&003=5840816

    And if you've got the legs for it, go for a skinny fit for the pants. It's a more feminine look, IMO:

    http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/108411

    ReplyDelete
  5. nicoleJune 22, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Jumpsuit Time.

    http://tinyurl.com/3t4xtkc

    http://tinyurl.com/448vsxm

    http://tinyurl.com/3ppn7qk

    http://tinyurl.com/3jjfp5b

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hillary SchusterJune 22, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Yeah, if it's black tie, you have to really step your game up. It's different if the men aren't in tuxes. I'd suggest sequins or something kind of flashy but I would beware of upstaging the bride with some way-out-there get up.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ToniaJune 22, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    I think REALLY SEXY shoes are the key to pulling off pants/shorts at a fancy wedding.

    I wore a romper (black velvet, it tied over one shoulder) to my cousin's fancy wedding in December, and I did not feel under-dressed at all even though I was the only person wearing shorts. I wore sheer black tights under it (they had seams up the back of the legs...very French. Little details like that in your accessories will make menswear more feminine), and really high black shiny heels. In case of being chilly, I brought a beautiful dark blue wrap (and also because bare shoulders in a Catholic church is a no-no).

    You can do this!! Just get great shoes and keep your accessories sleek and feminine and you will look bangin'!! I LOVE the pants theme this week and I think women look beautiful in menswear!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. RobJune 22, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Tonia nailed it; shoes, it's all about the shoes. They will tell everyone you are going to kick their ass in the ball room versus the board room.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ToniaJune 22, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    oh oh oh. these are like beetlejuice...but better. http://www.brookandlyn.com/blog/?p=4972

    ReplyDelete
  10. A Sunday Kind Of LoveJune 22, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    i love that kirsten dunst tux so much i would wear it to a night out at the diner just to justify purchasing it! also, wow, angelina jolie looks sooooo different now. i never noticed until that photo...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Never A Plain JaneJune 23, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    How about a sassy little vest similar to this Millennium number:
    http://www.thisnext.com/tag/sexy-vests/

    You could even have an actual tuxedo vest altered into a sexy halter.

    And then, as stated above, sexy shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJune 24, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    http://mrsbridal.blogspot.com/2011/06/delphine-manivet-collection-printemps.html

    Not a fan of the dresses, but the last two pantsuits are pretty great.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)