I’m going to assume you’re not the bride, owing to the staggering number of elegant strapless wedding gowns we’ve all seen in recent years.
As a wedding guest, your attire should be somewhat dictated by what kind of wedding it is and what’s appropriate to the season (i.e., probably not a pastel print dress to a November wedding, even if it’s your favorite). If it’s a church wedding and reception, or an outdoor wedding, you might want to keep your fashion on the conservative side-however, on a sunny spring or summer day, a strapless (or strappy!) sundress would be perfectly appropriate, as long as it isn’t too revealing. Bring a light, dressy sweater to wear inside the church for the ceremony to ward off Grandma’s critical eye, or to ward off a chill later on. If it’s a more sophisticated venue and the reception will have a cocktail-esque aire, you are more free to dress accordingly.
Do bear in mind that in deference to the bride, solid white or ivory should be avoided; and likewise, acknowledging the joyful nature of the occasion, black should be avoided as well. Even if the bridesmaids are wearing black to set a tone of sophistication–with black-clad bridesmaids and groomsmen in black tuxes, there will already be enough black in what should be a happily colorful room.
Communication is key: speak to the bride or one of the bridesmaids, and simply ask. You’ll be appreciated for being considerate enough to take the time to do so: the bride has a vision of what she hopes her event will be like, and you’re helping her to fulfill it. Another cue would be, what kind of dresses are the bridesmaids wearing? Not infrequently, they will turn out to be strapless. While you’re not going to be expected to match the formality of the bridesmaids’ dresses (in fact, it shouldn’t even cross your mind–a wedding guest in a ballgown would be over the top).
Speaking of “over the top,” for a sophisticated reception, cocktail dresses on the sexy, flirty side are perfectly fine (it’s all about romance, after all)–but again, within the bounds of good taste–in other words, not to be confused with club-wear. No “wardrobe malfunctions” among the guests on the dance floor, please.
And it’s not only about the top: consider the length as well. For a short dress, 3-4 inches above the knee should be maximum. And there’s also the question of balance: the more you show on top, the more conservative you’ll want to be with your hemline.
If Pamela Anderson would wear it, don’t. And actually, that’s a pretty good rule to live by in general.
03.02.09
