Rissy urner irl on a budget
Navigating hot-butrainy special occasion dressing
Finding an outfit that caters for every eventuality is no mean feat
Ihave two weddings to attend this weekend. It’s the August bank holiday and both are near the coast, in Worthing and Southend, which should make dressing for them easy: this is prime summer occasionwear territory.
But since the weather has been up and down for weeks now, with “summer” making only rare appearances, finding an outfit that caters for every eventuality (because, let’s face it, driving winds and rain are just as likely as a heatwave) and ticks the occasionwear box is no mean feat.
I learnt this the hard way last year, when I wore a cotton midi smock dress to a beach wedding in Barbados and thought sunshine and blue skies would be guaranteed. Both were present, but so were strong gusts of wind, and nothing – except my chin – stopped my dress from blowing all the way over my head as we stood to leave after the ceremony.
Since then, I’ve avoided high splits, wrap skirts and smock styles, choosing dressy jumpsuits instead. They’re warmer, too, which is great when the nuptials last well into the evening – even Caribbean beaches are breezy come 10pm. If I do opt for a silky fabric, I’ll add warmer (read: Spanx) underwear. Invest in the real deal to ensure they’re comfortable for all-day wear.
A jacket is crucial in this weather, but the wrong one can kill a great outfit. Keep it simple: a neutral blazer (my favourites are from massimodutti. com) with a high wool content is smart enough for any occasion and will look effortless over a silky dress. I’m protective of my fanciest footwear, so if rain is forecast
I’ll steer clear of velvet, suede or white. I have a pair of black vinyl mules from Zara (£39.99, zara.com) that have had tons of wear: even though they’re open-toed, the block heel is high enough to stop your whole foot getting wet, and the vinyl wipes clean.
Should the heavens open, I’ve waterproofed my straw sunhat with clear shellac
(it also has ties, should the wind pick up). A naff umbrella ruins your outfit as easily as the wrong jacket does: instead, make like the
Queen (who always nails occasionwear) and coordinate your umbrella to your look. Totes does an array of PVC dome options (so you can still see the action) with coloured trims for £20. For more traditional options, London Undercover’s classic exteriors hide fun clashing linings. My favourite is the beige (it’ll work with every outfit), which is bright orange on the inside.
And if it’s actually just a lovely sunny day? I’ll eat my waterproof hat.