Semi-Formal Wedding in NYC- What?

[Tomasso]

OK, let me put it like this then. many women in their fifties and sixties weren't wearing nylons. Call me ageist, but...

You're not drawing a pretty picture.......

 

[sheeplady]

Interesting,

I might live in a bizzaro world, though. Honestly, I haven't been to more than maybe 10 weddings, and they were all under 35-somethings getting married. And I reassure you that I always wear stockings to weddings with my strappy sandles or wedges, otherwise they hurt after all that standing and dancing.

Now that I think of it, I know one bride who wore ballet flats- the kind without soles that are like slipper socks- because her husband is about her height. And I know one bride who had a long gown who wore sneakers; but that was a casual home-made wedding.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I might live in a bizzaro world, though. Honestly, I haven't been to more than maybe 10 weddings, and they were all under 35-somethings getting married. And I reassure you that I always wear stockings to weddings with my strappy sandles or wedges, otherwise they hurt after all that standing and dancing.

Now that I think of it, I know one bride who wore ballet flats- the kind without soles that are like slipper socks- because her husband is about her height. And I know one bride who had a long gown who wore sneakers; but that was a casual home-made wedding.

I wonder if that was always the case? I wonder when strappy sandals became the norm?

 

[kamikat]

OK, let me put it like this then. many women in their fifties and sixties weren't wearing nylons. Call me ageist, but...

My mother claims to have not worn nylons in 30 years. My mother-in-law hasn't worn nylons since she moved from a norther state to Florida in the 1970s. Women just don't wear them any more.

 

[C-dot]

Every wedding I've gone to, regardless of the couples' age or the location of the wedding, I've always felt overdressed. People show up in blue jeans, flip flops, and one time, Birkenstocks, and many ladies have bare legs and wear party dresses. Even the bridal party seems casual - Men take off their jackets and pull off their ties as soon as, and the women wear strappy sandals with chipped pedicures. Me in my cocktail dress, closed toe shoes and stockings, and styled hair seems way overdone.

 

[Miss sofia]

There is a hotel near my shop, which is supposedly a fairly chi-chi wedding venue. This summer my boss and i had a giggle watching all the guests wandering about outside and past our shop.

I would say 1 lady in 3 looked what i would call appropriately dressed for the ocassion. They were usually the older ladies on the whole. The rest mostly looked like they were on a hen night going out clubbing, orange tans, stripper heels, i mean rye has cobbled streets, (c'mon, if you can't walk in heels don't wear them is my motto, on cobbles leave it to the seasoned drag queens ), ludicrously short skirts and sometimes cleavage and legs out together. But the majority were wearing fascinators or hats, oddly enough. So i guess that made it ok leave the rest of your outfit behind!

God i sound like an old frump, but standards please ladies! I don't see anything wrong with perhaps shedding some clothing for the evening festivities where things are more relaxed. But to be going to church dressed like you're one of Hef's bunnies at the Playboy mansion is not nice.

Rant over!

 

[Drappa]

Every wedding I ever went to had almost all the women, including bridesmaids and brides, in sandals (except my own). I don't actually think there's anything wrong with that, there are some beautiful sandals to be had and lots have more bling on them than closed-toe shoes. However, flip flops and jeans should be banned from weddings. Just don't let them in. The last wedding we went to the bride wore white, flat sandals with a wood coloured sole (like beachwear), and guests looked like they just got off the tractor and just popped in to say hi. This year alone I saw guests in crumpled shirts, no ties, jeans, a yellow hoodie, sunglasses inside the Church, and even a denim skirt with stripey kneesocks. But then again, with so many brides going casual, I feel weird dressing the way I do or even wearing a hat, because I'm worried the brides will think I am trying to outshine them.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I did feel like a conservative prude. But if you have leg acne, is it too much to wear pantyhose? How about a wrinkle-free suit for the best man? Or not having your bra cups show the cut is so low? I love cork wedges but not at a wedding.

 

[C-dot]

God i sound like an old frump, but standards please ladies! I don't see anything wrong with perhaps shedding some clothing for the evening festivities where things are more relaxed. But to be going to church dressed like you're one of Hef's bunnies at the Playboy mansion is not nice.

You're not an old frump, you're the last sane person on the planet

I think more casual styles are whats considered appropriate these days, though. For my cousin's wedding next year, when I told my mother what I plan to wear, she said I needed to tone it down, a lot!

 

[Drappa]

The rest mostly looked like they were on a hen night going out clubbing, orange tans, stripper heels, i mean rye has cobbled streets, (c'mon, if you can't walk in heels don't wear them is my motto, on cobbles leave it to the seasoned drag queens ), ludicrously short skirts and sometimes cleavage and legs out together. But the majority were wearing fascinators or hats, oddly enough. So i guess that made it ok leave the rest of your outfit behind!

God i sound like an old frump, but standards please ladies! I don't see anything wrong with perhaps shedding some clothing for the evening festivities where things are more relaxed. But to be going to church dressed like you're one of Hef's bunnies at the Playboy mansion is not nice.

lol:nod:
So funny, and so true!

 

[Miss sofia]

Bless you ladies!

I'm having visions of a bride in cork heeled sandals and it's not nice. I think it's going to haunt me.

Actually i have been to a few italian weddings and they don't seem to dress very formally either. Funerals also were surprisingly informal. But i am somewhat biased i guess and at least everyone was groomed and starched to high heaven.

 

[sheeplady]

and many ladies have bare legs and wear party dresses.

Ok, serious question. What's the difference between a party dress and a cocktail dress?

I was taught that no beading or shiny materials is acceptable to wear to a wedding unless it is held in the evening, so that would exclude most of my cocktail dresses. I just try to wear a nice rayon or cotton dress (better than everyday), that covers my knees, especially if the wedding is outdoors and casual.

The rest mostly looked like they were on a hen night going out clubbing, orange tans, stripper heels,
....
But to be going to church dressed like you're one of Hef's bunnies at the Playboy mansion is not nice.

Stripper heels. lol I was taught that you cover your shoulders in a place of worship when I was a child. So when I go to a wedding, I make sure that if I am wearing a sleeve-less dress, that I wear a blazer or a nice shawl. However, I've seen a lot of ladies in wedding parties who are wearing strapless gowns in churches. I guess the "rules" have changed.

 

[C-dot]

Ok, serious question. What's the difference between a party dress and a cocktail dress?

I was taught that no beading or shiny materials is acceptable to wear to a wedding unless it is held in the evening, so that would exclude most of my cocktail dresses. I just try to wear a nice rayon or cotton dress (better than everyday), that covers my knees, especially if the wedding is outdoors and casual.

I think you've got them mixed up. Going by the most widely used definitions, party dresses are the sparkly, sequined, frou-frou affairs, and modern ones show a lot of skin. Cocktail dresses are a shade more formal, and while they do have embellishments and usually lush fabrics, they aren't as showy.

Vintage party dresses and cocktail dresses can tend to look similar, but you'll notice that party dresses are decidedly younger, while cocktail dresses are more grown-up and sophisticated.

 

[Miss sofia]

Well put C-dot, i always assumed cocktail dresses could be shorter than perhaps a party dress which could be full length and more frou-frou, obviously it doesn't apply to all eras, but i for some reason when i think of a forties or fifties cocktail dress, i don't think of something hitting the floor, mid length maybe and as C-dot said perhaps a shade more formal. I always thought you went out for cocktails earlier and it was only an engagement which would perhaps last a few hours, so you dressed for early evening if you will, then had the option for dinner or a party after where you could change inot something more jazzy and bust out the bling!

I could be talking out of my behind of course! I live in my own little world see!

 

[Rathdown]

Women just don't wear them any more.

Perhaps. But, not wishing to cause offense, I'd have to say that it has been my observation that ladies do wear hose when the occasion calls for it.

 

[C-dot]

Well put C-dot, i always assumed cocktail dresses could be shorter than perhaps a party dress which could be full length and more frou-frou, obviously it doesn't apply to all eras, but i for some reason when i think of a forties or fifties cocktail dress, i don't think of something hitting the floor, mid length maybe and as C-dot said perhaps a shade more formal. I always thought you went out for cocktails earlier and it was only an engagement which would perhaps last a few hours, so you dressed for early evening if you will, then had the option for dinner or a party after where you could change inot something more jazzy and bust out the bling!

I could be talking out of my behind of course! I live in my own little world see!

That sounds accurate to me! Styles in skirt lengths, hemlines, necklines, design etc. change all the time too, making it a little more confusing since cocktail and party dresses could be worn for either event, depending on the dress.

 

[rue]

I guess I'm old fashioned too, because I don't think short skirts above the knee and boobs falling out of your top is appropriate in church. I wish I would have taken more pictures of the last wedding I went to There used to be a no cleavage rule. Is that gone now?

 

[sheeplady]

I think you've got them mixed up. Going by the most widely used definitions, party dresses are the sparkly, sequined, frou-frou affairs, and modern ones show a lot of skin. Cocktail dresses are a shade more formal, and while they do have embellishments and usually lush fabrics, they aren't as showy.

Vintage party dresses and cocktail dresses can tend to look similar, but you'll notice that party dresses are decidedly younger, while cocktail dresses are more grown-up and sophisticated.

It could be that I am confused over the colors. I actually have three dresses that are exactly the same cut (no beads or excessively shiny material), but one is a light pink, one is dark green, and the other is black. I'd say the light pink one isn't a cocktail dress, but the black and green ones are. Then I've got one that is similar in cut, but is covered in sequins and very shiny, which I'd call a prom/evening dress.

Are party dresses more like prom dresses?

Or maybe clubwear given some of these descriptions? lol

 

[Tatum]

Now I am also confused about which is which! I thought I had everything in my closet sorted, maybe not lol

Oh sheeplady no, not clubwear! I'm going to need brain bleach, as that makes me think Jersey Shore. Ew!

 

[sheeplady]

Now I am also confused about which is which! I thought I had everything in my closet sorted, maybe not lol

Oh sheeplady no, not clubwear! I'm going to need brain bleach, as that makes me think Jersey Shore. Ew!

That is one thing I can say is NOT in my closet. lol