Summer Events-Do I have the appropriate attire?

During the summer season, you may find that you're invited to events where the way you are dressed is important. This could be anything from a wedding to a company pick-nick. As your preparing for an event, stop and ask your self, do I have the right outfit for this?
This edition of the Big Girl Blog will focus on do's and don'ts for summer events, and provide suggestions on what may be appropriate. And, as always, questions and suggestions are welcomed!!

1. Weddings: Summer weddings can either be casual or formal. Regardless of the type of wedding, there is one important rule to remember...NEVER EVER WEAR WHITE TO A WEDDING! Unless you are the one getting married, that is the ultimate don't. Why? Because etiquette dictates that the only woman that should be in any shade of white at a wedding is the bride.

Now, with that out of the way, lets tackle casual weddings first. Casual does not mean it's ok to go in khakis, and a button down. And I would hate to think that any woman would wear jeans to a wedding. So, the perfect compromise for something casual might be a pair of Linen pants, with a nice top, or a simple sun dress. See below for examples: The pants and dress can be found at www.onestopplus.com, and the top can be found at www.catherines.com

                                                    
For formal or black tie weddings, you'll need something that is classy and elegant. And, as far as I am concerned, formal doesn't necessarily mean you have to wear a dress. Pant suits are fine, as long as they are feminine. Also, this is an occasion where you want to keep the cleavage to a minimum, and the miniskirts hidden.  Lastly, you want to make sure your ensemble is age appropriate. Below, you'll find a dress that may work for someone who is a bit younger, and a pant suit for someone who is a bit more mature...both options come from onestopplus.com

Lastly, when preparing your outfit for either wedding scenario, there are two things to remember:
 1. It is the brides day, so she should be the ONLY one wearing any shade of white.
 2. unless you are part of the bridal party, do not wear any shade of the wedding colors (if the colors are black and white, I say this doesn't really apply, as long as you don't wear white).  If you are unsure as to what the colors are, the invitation is usually a good indication.

Corporate Summer Parties: This can run the gamete from formal to a BBQ. In either case, you want to make sure your attire is appropriate for the occasion. This means, little cleavage, no mini skirts, and y'all already know how I feel about short shorts...lol.  So with that said...

 If it is a formal, or black tie event, the same rules for formal weddings apply. Keep it classy, and age appropriate.

If it's a more casual affair, the same rules for the casual wedding would also apply. Again, keep it classy and age appropriate.

If it's a day time BBQ, or family day, this more than likely would be a very casual setting...so it would be perfectly fine to wear a nice pair of jeans, capris, or bermudas. I would keep away from T-shirts, unless they are company provided for the event. And again, age appropriate is a must! Any woman of any age could consider something like this: (the entire look can be found at oldnavy.com)

Now, I understand the ankle wrap is not for everyone...so for those who prefer not to, or who simply shouldn't wear them, consider something like this:

As always, thank you for reading my blog! Now, go forth and keep it classy!
                                                                         
                                                                      


                                                                     

                                                        

Accessories...The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Accessories...should be the least of your worries, right? WRONG! Accessories can take an outfit from trendy to tragic if not used wisely. This edition of Big Girl Etiquette will cover everything from earrings to shoes, highlighting do's, don'ts.

Lets start with my favorite thing...Shoes! I am a firm believer that the type of shoes anyone wears is a personal choice. So I will give no specifics on what to, or not to wear. However, I will make the following suggestions:

A. Like everything else, wear YOUR size- If you have a wide foot, buy a wide shoe. And if a standard wide is not wide enough, many designers are designing with the double wide foot in  mind. You can find double wide sizes at onestopplus.com, shoebuy.com, and zappos.com, to name a few. Even with a hot shoe...if your feet look like stuffed sausages in them, it's not a good look. So, despite how much you may love a pair of shoes, if they don't flatter your feet, they are not for you.

B. Strappy Sandals- like every other woman, I love a good strappy sandal. However, it is important to make sure they don't cut into your feet. This, too, can make your feet look like stuffed sausages, or like they're being strangled.  If this is an issue, try going into a wide shoe. If the fit still isn't right, then walk away....Again, not a good look!

C. Heels- One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a woman in a pair of heels that she doesn't know how to walk in. If you know that you have issues walking in skinny heeled stilettos, don't wear them! If the heel on said shoe looks like it's going to break with every step you take, because it's bowing under the pressure of your weight, then it's time to retire said shoe! Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I love my heels! However, you will not find one pair of skinny heeled stilettos in my closet. Why? Because I can't walk in them, with out sounding like a heard of cattle! So, for those of you that are not afraid of a little height, go for shoes with a thicker stiletto heel, or a wedge. They're easier to walk in, and can still be very stylish and sexy!

On a side note, if the rubber taps on the end of your heels a worn out, get them fixed! You can bring your shoes to any shoe repair facility, and it shouldn't cost more than about $10.00.

Now, lets move on to leg wear...

A. Patterned Tights- they are not for everyone, but there's also no reason to be afraid. There are ways to wear patterned tights that are stylish, without making you feel like a 5 year old...lol. Basically, if this is a trend you're willing to try, keep this in mind: DON'T wear tights with multi colored patterns, hearts, polka dots, etc. DO wear solid color (black, brown, etc) with the same color pattern. Plaid, lace, and side (patterns down the side of the leg only) are fairly popular styles.  The key is to wear them with outfits or dresses that have no other patterns for the tights to compete with...thus making them your statement piece.  Also, if you're in a patterned tight, stay away from patterned shoes. The last thing you want is for your feet and legs to appear to be at war with each other!

B. Fishnets- like patterned tights, fish nets are not for everyone. My only rule of thumb here, is fishnets with big holes are an absolute don't...unless you'd like to look like a stripper. Standard fishnets look good on just about anyone. Keep the patterns in your outfit to a minimum, and the shoes simple!

C. Panty hose- even though they are a staple in any woman's wardrobe, it is very easy to create a fashion faux pas: Don't ever, and I mean ever, wear white panty hose. Unless your a nurse that has to wear a traditional nursing uniform, there's simply no need. Don't ever wear panty hose with open toed shoes (yes, that would include the sandal toe panty hose).  And please, PLEASE,  don't ever wear black panty hose with a colored shoe...i,e red, blue, pink....one word, tacky!

Since we're working up the body, let's talk belts...

The wide belt has become a trend, again. While I love this look, it is not for me....and it may not be for you either...lol. There are those who are guilty of pairing the wide belt with literally everything you wear....to this I say, please stop! And be mindful out how it makes you look. Personally, I find that the wide belt makes my stomach look that much bigger...and trust me, I need zero help in that department. Also, be careful with the types of tops and/or dresses they're paired with. Wearing a wide belt with a simple button down, or a column (straight cut) dress is a definite no no for a big girl....particularly if you have a larger stomach. This will only enhance those extra curves that most of us like to hide. So, my suggestion is to wear wide belts with A-line silhouettes. This will allow for cinching of the waste, while still adding a bit of camouflage to problem areas. Also, make sure you're wearing a good bra, or foundation garment with this look. If the girls are not at full solute, adding a big belt around your waste will only draw attention to the fact that the girls are sagging. This, too, is not a good look.

Now for necklaces and earrings....

Ladies, if you have a short neck, please leave the chokers at home. If your earrings are as big as your head, these too, should be left at home. Thank you, and that's all...

And lastly, Handbags...

they, like shoes, are a personal choice. The only don't I have is the cross body satchel. For big girls, the cross body is a definite no no.The strap will cut right across your body, and high light those challenging areas. Regarding hand bags, the main thing to remember is that your bag should compliment your shoes. Staying in the same color pallet is always a good way to go, however it's not absolutely necessary. Make sure the colors of your shoes and bag are not in competition with each other, and you'll have no worries. Basically, a brown bag with black shoes is bad. A Silver bag with black shoes is good!


In closing, I just want to say thank you to my girls: Maile, Shelley, Dalene, Jennifer, Danielle, Amy and Michele (who inspired me to start this from a conversation). Your ideas have given me thoughts for future blogs, and I love the conversations that have occurred because of the blog. You all are amazing!

I also want to thank those of you who have been following the Big Girl Etiquette Blog. And, I can not stress enough, if you have ideas, PLEASE SHARE THEM! If you have feedback on what can be done better, SHARE THAT TOO! When I say feedback is welcomed, I sincerely mean that. No, really...I do!

As always, thank you for checking out the Big Girl Blog. Now, go forth, and keep it classy!