snowrooster

I debated posting this question since it isn't really travel related (though we will be TRAVELING to Boston), but after I saw all the great response to the post about sneakers w/khakis I figured I'd give it a shot.

I'll be going to a black tie wedding and rehearsal dinner in Boston at the end of November and need to start shopping. What do you think? I guess I wear a gown to the wedding (rather than a cocktail dress)? Maybe more of a cocktail dress for the rehearsal dinner? I love dressing up & fashion but haven't ever been to black tie wedding and since this is in Boston folks are usually much "hipper" there than where I live in Ohio. I'm in my early thirties and recently lost a good amount of weight so would like to really look good, but I want to make sure I dress appropriately for the occasion (it will be a fairly high end society type affair). Any suggestions or thoughts?

GoTravel

Is the wedding after 6PM? If so I'd wear a formal gown.

For the rehearsal, you could get away with a cocktail dress.

bennnie

Tell us where the reception is and that will give us a better idea. My guess is that either a gown or very very nice cocktail dress with a pretty wrap would be fine. Just find either one that you love and look great in.

GoTravel

No matter what anyone tells you, please don't wear "dressy pants and a beaded top". That isn't black tie.

snowrooster

No dressy pants or beaded top - I didn't go from a size 12 to size 8 to wear pants (not that pants can't be lovely, but I want to DRESS UP!!). The reception will be in a room at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge. I suppose I can still wear something strappy even though it will be chilly outside, right? How about hose? Katie Couric once said on the today show that pantyhose are OUT and shouldn't be worn in even the coldest weather. Is this true? Only fashionistas reply - I'm not looking for practical advice .

So it's okay to wear a floor length gown for black tie (like I'm going to the Academy Awards) and a cocktail dress for rehearsal (that's what I'd been thinking). What about open-toed shoes?

Sorry for all the questions - I really do know how to dress myself on a normal day. It's just my boston cousins have always been a little cooler than us in Ohio so I really want to look good (and not stick out or break any important rules of fashion - which this crowd would definitely notice!).

k_999_9

Are you a man? If so, these ideas seem way off base.

GoTravel

snowrooster, no hose with open toed shoes but you can wear hoes with close toed shoes.

The cocktail for the rehearsal and floor length for the wedding sounds lovely.

Get out there and buy yourself some lovely, sexy, wonderful gown to celebrate your weight loss and congrats!

Remember, either big sparkly on neck OR on ears but not both.

snowrooster

GoTravel - Agreed on the no double big sparkly on neck & earings (I prefer to do up the earings and let the neckline speak for itself!!).

I do know better than to wear hose w/open toe (more wondering if it is okay to wear open toes in November?).

I am confused about the appropriateness of hose at all (w/close toed shoes of course). Is it okay to not wear hose (have bare legs) in the winter months? If you are wearing floor length? Cocktail? If you aren't going outside? If you are going outside briefly? I used to think nude hose were okay (except w/open toed) in cooler weather but that darn Katie Couric says no. Am I going to look like a country bumpkin if I wear hose w/a cocktail dress or will I look like an idiot w/bare legs in November if I don't?

marilynl

It must be OK to wear evening sandals in winter, I had to really search for something closed AND dressy, but I wasn't going to wear sandals in Chicago in winter, no matter HOW trendy I wanted to look. But, yes, open and strappy it should be. For the cocktail length, leg makeup would be good, but you can't beat no stockings for sexy.

snowrooster

Lots of good advice!! Where does one find good "leg makeup?" I suppose "good" would mean it looks natural and doesn't rub off easily!! I guess I could do a couple of mystic tan sessions but I don't want to look obviously fake tanned!!!

ncgrrl

Do you know where the rehearsal dinner is being held? Is it a theme (like a luau in honor of their Hawaiian honeymoon)?

snowrooster

ncgrrl - I don't know, but I would seriously be shocked if there were any kind of theme. The bride & groom are both lawyers and very aware of being very much in-style. I'm sure it will be swanky and that will be more the theme than anything "fun." However I am really looking forward to it. Grandparents will be watching the kids (no little ones allowed at the wedding) so this will be a rare chance for dh and I to dress up and be kidless adults for the weekend!!

ncgrrl

If you want you legs to look longer EITHER wear black hose with black shoes OR skin toned shoes with no hose/skin toned hose. I am assuming you are wearing black/dark color in the first option. If you are wearing a color I would go with the skin toned shoes.

I have seen at Hecht's and Dillard's formal wraps that usually have silk on one side and velvet on the other. I find it dramatic and would love to find an occasion to wear (buy actually) one. Can't you just imaging yourself doing a dramtic throw of the wrap around your stunning dress?

bjboothman

So Katie Couric thinks pantyhose is a fashion faux pas? I always thought the bare legs look with anything but very casual wear was really slutty looking. Face it, most women don't have to beautiful skin tone to go hose-less at any age. I'm not a huge fan of open toed strappy sandles except for the very young. Most people just don't have the feet for it. Feet are ugly - especially past a certain age.

snowrooster

bjboothman - I guess you'd think I'm a giant slut then 'cause I haven't worn pantyhose in years !! I don't have beautiful skin tone on my legs, but I don't have beautiful cuticles either - that doesn't mean I wear gloves every day. I love strappy sandals - I'd wear them year round if I could. Glad to hear most think I am on the right track for my wedding attire. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO SHOPPING!!!!!!

ckfior

Try Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs. It is amazing, hides all little flaws but doesn't look "fake" and allows you to go hose-free. Just practice applying it once before the event, and remember that it takes a few days for it to truly wear off. Definitely wear sandals - black, maybe with some sparkle if you are wearing black and silver if you are wearing a color (please don't wear "skin-colored" shoes as the other poster suggested). Have a great time!

bjboothman

I'm sorry snowrooster, I forgot to mention that I realize it is my own personal fashion pet peeve and I know that few people agree with me. But shoes without stockings????? It's making me cringe. I know --- it's just me.

snowrooster

Sally Hansen Airbrush sounds perfect - can't wait to try it! I love sparkly shoes. I saw a pair of sparkly lavender sandals (w/a clear lucite heal) this summer and just had to find a dress to wear w/them. Wouldn't you know I picked out a lavender spaghetti strap dress for a wedding this summer then made a mad dash around the mall to find those shoes. Found 'em, wore 'em, loved 'em. Now my 2yr old daughter is always dragging them out of my closet and prancing around in them (until she topples!).

strass

Panty hose does seem to be "out"--I don't own any and haven't for awhile (I'm 28). Although in "Vogue" and "InStyle," etc., I do see some models in very sexy black hose, with seams, prints, etc. So I think that could work, but NO nude or tan hose, in my opinion!

I think bare legs and open-toed shoes can work in any season. After all, the event is indoors! You also might be able to find some sexy strappy close-toed shoes--pointy high-heeled shoes are very "in" this year.

ckfior

I was at a wedding last weekend in NY and wore a long black dress with strappy heels with big sparkly butterflys on them, and a silver sparkly bag. They really dressed up the plain black dress and I got tons of complements on the shoes! You can certainly do a cocktail dress to the rehearsal dinner or maybe something even more casual, like a skirt with knee high boots and a sweater, depending on where the dinner is. If you did a skirt/boots then you could try the patterned hose that is very cute right now as strass mentioned (but keep it simple). Let us know what you end up getting!