Dressing for a Wedding Weekend

Q: We’re invited to a weekend-long destination wedding in New York City. All the events have dress code recommendations associated with them, but I am now trying to figure out what to pack. For example, what is “Boating Best” for a yacht trip around Manhattan at the cocktail hour? “Hangover Chic” for the brunch the day after the wedding? Are these just different ways to describe cocktail attire?

A: Your hosts for the Big Apple wedding extravaganza took the time to dream up those witty dress codes, stoking the anticipation of several days of nonstop partying. Such wording is cute, clever—and can be confusing. (Could it be a theme party?) Fashion is already so nuanced and subject to individual whims such that the catchall “business casual” attire can apply to the man or woman in pressed jeans and flip flops as well as the guy in a sportcoat and knit tie and the woman in a wrap dress.

View photos: SheinDressAU

I bet that your wedding hosts have been fielding a flood of queries from puzzled guests like you. Feel free to ask them for specifics—you’re trying to be a good guest. Your hosts should have served up suggestions in the invitation, such as “seersucker blazers for men and sundresses for women,” for the boat outing or for the brunch.

For that tricky “black tie optional” dictate in the summer, guys can go with a white dinner jacket or a white linen suit or a white linen shirt and black pants with or without a jacket and no tie.

It’s easier for women because female guests rarely run the risk of over dressing. Upon receiving a personalized Evite or printed invitation, most women shift into party gear. Whether it’s day or night, women go festive such as dresses ranging from mini to maxi (some flashing shiny fabrics or splashes of sequins), lacy sleeveless tops, flowing jackets, fitted skinny pants and a mix of flats and heels. But women look overdone with too much makeup and jewelry—and clothes that are too low-cut or too tightfitting.

Your Manhattan wedding week sounds swank. Plan to be polished in head-to-toe ensembles—and pretty clutch bags. Carry a folding fan. In New York after 6 p.m. women often wear cocktail dresses (including maxidresses that aren’t as formal as ballgowns).

Related: http://www.sheindressau.com/wedding-dresses-melbourne