How To Dress For A Formal Event

When you spend most of your time at work and uni, knowing how to dress for those special occasions can be a challenge. Last year I was invited to my first ever wedding and I had no clue what to wear. I knew white was a no go but what colour was acceptable? How do you find the right balance between sophisticated and saucy? Where do you find the perfect outfit? But after a lot of shopping, searching Pinterest and one successful wedding, I have the answer to fail-safe event dressing. So whether you're going to your first wedding or are having a day at the races here are a few tips to help you out...

Fabric 

Choosing the right fabric is so important to an occasion dress. You are likely to have your photo taken so make sure the dress isn't see through. Ask a friend to take a flash photo of you before you go out to make sure you're not caught out. Opt for classic fabrics and patterns like lace and silk rather than sequins or lycra. You don't want to steal the show from the guest of honour by looking like a walking disco ball.

Less is more

If you're worried about how to dress and you don't have a friend to compare outfits with, then play it safe. Bold dresses are beautiful but you will stand way more in a canary yellow Beyoncé style dress than in a simple dress in a classic colour. Not what you want if you've got the dress code wrong. A classic pale pink or peach will never go out of style and will work for a wide variety of events.

Quality over Quantity

I love a bargain as much as the next girl but now is not the time to be stingy. While you may get 5 dresses from Boohoo for the same price as one dress from an affordable luxury retailer, you will really notice the difference in quality. A dress from a higher quality retailer will be more structured, properly lined and most importantly not see through! This is very important when you will be having your photo taken a lot. Coast is always my go-to high street retailer when it comes to occasion wear, especially for weddings or proms. So while their dresses are a bit more expensive, they are worth the investment and the right dress will see you through a wide range of events.

Top or Bottom

There's nothing worse than turning up to a family event in a short skirt and your grandma or weird uncle say 'Is that a belt or a skirt?'. While I'm all for wearing whatever the hell you want, sometimes, being more conservative can save you a lot of grief.  It may also be more appropriate, for example at a Church wedding. So finding that balance and showing the right amount of skin is important. I try to stick to the rule that you either show more of your top half or more of your bottom half. So if I'm wearing a short dress, I'll make sure it doesn't show a lot of cleavage and/or is long sleeved. This off the shoulder dress gets the balance just right. Showing a bit of shoulder and décolletage but it's longer in length, finishing just below the knees.

Footloose and Fancy Free

The one thing that holds me back from having a good time is uncomfortable shoes. Unless you are going to be sat down all day, you need shoes that you can walk in and don't cause too much pain. While this pair from Office are high, the ankle strap makes them quite easy to walk in compared to a court shoe.

What I'm Wearing | Coast Tanya Lace Dress*, Office Alana Sandals

What are your tips for event dressing?

Eleanor xx

*Disclaimer - This is not a sponsored post but Coast did kindly send me this dress. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never talk about a product to my readers that I would not buy myself. For more information please see my full disclaimer.