What Not To Wear

Trinny and Susannah discovered early on in their TV career that it is a lot easier to discuss what not to wear than what to wear.

A quick dash over to Google confirms that it’s something that a lot of people are concerned with – what not to wear to a wedding. And with two weddings ahead of me this season, it’s something that’s wandered across my mind as well.

When you’re engaged, weddings suddenly become a lot more important to you. You see elements of them everywhere. It’s as if overnight after a quick dash around the wedding section at your local book shop you become au fait with all things wedding-related and while the smaller details such as knowing your birdcage veil from your shoulder-length veil are second-nature, wediquette is something we learn from experience.

You will probably know what you are going to wear to your own wedding – that is a given. But someone else’s? Perhaps there’s a note with the invitation to say that the bridesmaids’ dresses were purchased in a certain shop so please do not wear anything that has ever been sold in that shop. Which may seem a little extreme, but each bride to their own. Wediquette may not be pretty, but it must – on the surface at least – appear to be civil.

The main points are to never (ever ever ever) wear all white unless you are the bride. Look your best (the photos live on so don’t wear something too trendy), don’t outshine the bride. And if, in the unlikely event that you show up in the same outfit as the bridesmaid/mother of the bride, improvise. Seek out your nearest department store for a cocktail dress or swap accessories with a friend to make it look different.