An indulgence: putting words & images to the summer wedding look I’ve been daydreaming about…
- A silk shift dress in deep navy (inspired by this and this)
- Simple sandals, a bit fresher than my current pairs (these arrived just in time)
- An airy, earthy handknit shawl
- A little bit of shimmer
- Messy-chic hair (like this)
My brother’s wedding is just around the corner and I’m thrilled to join our family and friends to celebrate in a little mountain town in Colorado. They are keeping the ceremony quite small and I was honored when he asked if I would stand with him in lieu of a traditional bridal party; I’ve taken to calling myself “the best (wo)man”
Then, of course, came the question of what to wear. My soon-to-be sister-in-law is so lovely and relaxed, and was open to pretty much anything. Still I wondered, anything anything? So I’ve been collecting and sharing ideas with the bride and her sister, who is the bridesmaid. My ideas really started to take shape when I found an amazing length of deep navy blue washed silk crepe de chine at a local fundraiser full of donated supplies and cast-offs.
Then I had to narrow down the exact form I was going for: something I could re-wear, something understated but elegant, flowy but flattering. I’ve settled on a simple shift shape inspired by slip dresses, with a scoop neck on one side, deep V on the other, and side slits and a midi hem for a modern twist.
To complement: neutral sandals (to re-wear with casual attire), a handmade shawl for when the sun drops, minimal jewelry that I already own, a bit of shimmery highlight and a low-key hairstyle to polish up the look.
Later this summer I’ll put together a post on self-drafting the dress, as well as details for the resulting dress (sneak peek over here) and shawl.
Wardrobe Ecology 
Oh this is so fresh! We got married earlier this year in a wedding (ceremony and a party) that was almost entirely against my will (not the marriage, but the way it was celebrated and legalized). I had to compromise on so many things I can’t get this out if my mind. I would like a re-do, a ceremony that will be ours, including a dress I will not hate making. If I ever actually go for it, a dark blue maxi dress will be perfect… Or a pink tulle skirt 😉
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I hope you get to celebrate in a style that suits you! Pink tulle skirt sounds festive too 🙂
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How lovely! I’m a huge fan of special-occasion pieces that can be integrated into my wardrobe afterwards. I was a bridesmaid last weekend, and I made sure to sew a dress I’d like to wear again (which was a really fun challenge.) The navy silk sounds like such a find.
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thanks! Yes, such a relief to not end up with the stereotypical bridesmaid dress that never sees the light of day… Turns out the silk held a few secrets but the sewing still went well 🙂
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