Joanna Avant is a personal stylist in Richmond, VA who strives to make wardrobe choices clear and easy for women who are short on time, overwhelmed by their closets, or transitioning from one period of life to another. She helps women feel confident, creative, and put-together and believes that styling can be personal and achievable, and loves wearing her Audrey dress! Connect with Joanna via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Fall is fast approaching, and with it comes weddings (hopefully at the beach), showers, anniversary celebrations, and lots of other special events. If you don’t have the perfect ensemble for each of these occasions, there could be a lot of shopping in your near future. Many women (including me) make significant, and sometimes costly, mistakes when shopping for a dress for special occasions. Let’s discuss some of them, shall we?
What should you consider when shopping for a dress for special occasions?
A big one is to head straight from the gym to the store to try on dresses. First of all, that’s gross. But more importantly, it’s impossible to know how something will look on you if you have your hair pulled back in a sweaty ponytail, wearing athletic socks and no makeup.
I know that life is busy, but before you start shopping for nice things, take a minute to pull yourself together. Fix your hair, put on a little makeup. Maybe even take a pair of heels along with you to get the overall effect of an outfit.
If you’re shopping online, order several things from places with easy return policies, and pretend that your room is the boutique dressing room. Don’t go directly from PJ’s to formal wear; make it fun. Invite a friend to come over for a glass of wine and get her opinion on what looks best — Audrey or Clara?
Finally, please don’t wait until the last minute to find something to wear. We’re all guilty of it, and I probably don’t have to tell you that it often leads to wasted money, regret, discomfort, and tears. It generally also includes a trip to Goodwill. Don’t you cringe when you have to give away something you’ve only worn once?
Start early. Take your time. Find something that you love, that flatters your figure and that really feels like “you.” You may even find that you can wear the same dress to multiple events, changing up only the accessories or shoes. Yes, you might have to block off some time on your calendar to do it, but I guarantee you’ll save time and money if you get it right the first time. You can find your next dress for special occasions by visiting our online store!
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