Dear ESB,
My 10 year high school reunion is in the fall. I'm really excited to go. I actually liked most of the people I went to school with and because I was a major nerd in HS, I like to think I've grown at least slightly cooler over the last 10 years. Also I came from a tiny cold New England town and now I live in gorgeous, fascinating, lively Los Angeles.
I'm thinking about my reunion outfit already, and would really appreciate any recommendations for local shops where I could find something unique that reflects my deep love for my adopted hometown. So where should I go to shop local and get a lovely outfit? I know there are probably billions of places I just have no idea about. I'm usually a shirtdress, wide belt, leggings and leather boots kind of girl, if that gives any guidance, but I'm open to ideas.
Also as an open ended question for the commenters, what are the grossest reunion outfits? What screams, "trying too hard?" What looks fabulous?
I promise to send a picture if I end up with something from a local store and let you guys tell me all the mistakes I made!
*****
Yikes, I almost blew this one.
I say go try on dresses at Mohawk General Store (see above) in Silver Lake, or Steven Alan (see below), which has locations in Venice, West Hollywood and Los Feliz.*
Or check out Wasteland, if you've got time to dig. (I tend to frequent the Melrose store, but there are two more, in Santa Monica and Studio City.)
The key is to looking/feeling fabulous is to find a really great version of what you usually wear.
I.E. Don't rock sequins + heels if you're a shirtdress + boots kind of girl. You don't want to feel like a fraud, you want to feel like yourself. Only... Better.
______________________________
*Steven Alan originated in NYC, but whatever.
Seems to me that you're doomed to scream "trying too hard" if you're pleading for online help finding an outfit that says "I'm now a gorgeous, fascinating, lively Los Angeles girl" to all your old school pals.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a gorgeous, fascinating, lively Los Angeles girl would already have a closet full of fabulous and the fashion savvy to pick an outfit without help.
P.S. Is this still a wedding blog?
Oh, give us a break.
DeleteAwful lot of snark for a gal who is just excited about her reunion...
DeleteGood advice ESB: The key to looking/feeling fabulous is to find a really great version of what you usually wear.
no need to be mean
DeleteI'm pretty sure she said that Los Angeles is 'gorgeous, fascinating and lively' not that she was (albeit she may well be all of the above).
DeleteI'm from England which is often grey and dreary. It doesn't mean that I share those traits.
If you're going to be mean (and if you are, seriously, just have a word with yourself) at least be accurate.
you mad??? cause this is super unnecessary.
Deletegreat advice. also ,,,
ReplyDeleterenting a Porsche = trying too hard.
but it sounds kind of fun, right ? then again, i hated most of the people i went to school with, so reunions have always been a bit of a joke for me.
ESB is spot on, per usual. Wear a kicked-up version of your normal look. Feeling fantastic because you're comfortable in your own skin translates to looking fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go to either of my reunions, but to me trying too hard = buying an entire new outfit including shoes and accessories just for the event.
P.S. The "everyday stye" tag made me laugh really hard. It's almost as good as the heroine addict from yesterday!
whoopsies.
DeleteI agree with ESB. I recommend a James Perse dress and a great pair of boots.
ReplyDeletethose boots are fantastic.
DeleteI also usually try to dress somewhat in the range of what others will wear--in normal life I wear dresses all the time but then I always feel uncomfortably overdressed when I wear them around my jeans-and-tshirt wearing in-laws. I think you can't go wrong with a casual dress for a reunion.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for this perfectly timed post as I'm heading to LA tomorrow for business and I can barely contain my excitement to be in The Land of Good Shopping for a whole WEEK and I will definitely be on the hunt for a special piece of clothing to bring home to boring ol' WI with me. :)
ReplyDeleteSemi-related question: If your husband's 10 year high school reunion was the same day as a friend's engagement party (and you are a bridesmaid), which would you go to?
ReplyDeletereally? this is a question? engagement party. hands down. i'm not a big fan of reunions, didn't go to any of mine, but if he's super into it, he can go to his party and you can go to yours. unless you're the type of couple who always has to do everything together. in which case, i dont know what to tell you.
DeleteI think it depends on how close you are to your engaged friend and how important it is to your husband that you join him. You're a bridesmaid, so I'm assuming y'all are pretty close. I don't really think that engagement parties are super important (I mean, people have so many wedding-related parties that it gets ridiculous), but I'm also not the reunion-going type. So talk to your husband, then talk to your friend, and made a decision that works best for you.
Deletenormally I would say the reunion (engagement parties are dumb) but I think if you're a bridesmaid the engagement party is more important.
DeleteI'm actually the bride...and I agree with all of you.
DeleteI'm torn... My 10 year is on the same day as a friends wedding, but it's also the same day as my due date. All of that is true. I'm just kidding about the I'm torn part. To answer the grossest reunion outfit I think anything you might wear to a club would qualify. Stay away from super short or super tight, because ultimately they will read as trying too hard.
ReplyDeleteDid you learn nothing from Romy and Michele?
ReplyDeleteoh and good timing for LA shopping too: I heard there's a Steven Alan sample sale going on this week!
ReplyDeletewhen i was young i used to imagine what i'd wear to my 10th high school reunion. the outfit i decided on was a white pantsuit, with NO SHIRT ON under the blazer. Just a low-cut sexy blazer pantsuit. A lot like this. But definitely lower cut.
ReplyDeletewtf, i know! i didn't even end up going to the reunion. prob for the best?