Atypical shopping day & outfit for wedding

[Crankin]

It's really hard for me to see the top.
I wear skirts that short all of the time. Go for it!

[lph]

I think it's a lovely skirt, but I can't comment on the suitability for a wedding. Depends on the occasion and the people.

Why would you only wear a top once, though? Won't there be other occasions in the future that warrant something similar? Other weddings, parties, christenings, what-have-you. I love clothes that are multipurpose and can be used for work, but I still have a handful of really nice dresses that are only suitable for quite formal occasions. I feel gorgeous in them, and the styles will last, so I don't mind that they don't get used more than maybe once or twice a year.

[indysteel]

I'm in the the "it depends on the wedding" camp. For an evening wedding, it could be too informal IMO.

But like lph, I see some utility--even if it's limited--in having some dressier pieces in my wardrobe. I was mostly done with weddings before I married DH, but he's younger so I find myself having to go to more of them again. I recently purchased, this dress for an upcoming afternoon wedding in which DH is a groomsman (he'll be in a tux). While I don't intend to wear it to work, I do I expect to wear it multiple times to weddings and other events. Depending on the shoe and jewelry, I think I can dress it up or down and wear it most seasons (if paired with a sweater or wrap). I also have a black cocktail dress, too, that has served me well for evening weddings.

[shootingstar]

That's an elegant dress, indysteel.
I know for me, it would look terrible on me, since I'm short (don't know if the original pic reflects that I'm only 5'1"). For me to wear a black dress, probably needs to be more fitted...and not make me look tired. (I have black hair and with advancing age, I have to be very careful wearing black close to my face....especially at a wedding.)

Sad thing, is that we're crossing my fingers that my father (who's cancer is now worse. I found out 3 days ago) we hope he will still be alive by this late May. Seriously. I just hope I wont' be attending a wedding, then funeral in short order or reverse of that.

What I wore about 6 years ago at my partner's son's wedding. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=23707&page=2 I decided to be more formal at the time. Now the strapless dress (even with a pink chiffon shawl) feels too bare for my nephew's wedding. (One needs to scroll down the page, after getting to linked pg.)

You have to understand, he is the son of my sister who died.
I will wear black....at my father's funeral when the time comes. Not at nephew's wedding. That's too much. He saw all of us in black at his mom's funeral.
Anyway, this is the close-up of my top (very different from the top part of indy's black dress). I need light colours around my face to offset the tiredness in my face in the past few years:

[Crankin]

Indy, I'm like you; I have a few more timeless type pieces that are dressy and I do have occasion to wear them a few times a year. Not so much weddings, but going out for a more special dinner, birthdays, charity events, etc. That's why I bought the dress I did for my son's wedding. Every few years I take stock and clean out this part of my wardrobe.
I used to think that I couldn't wear black at all. I am more of a "fall" color type person (jewel tones), but I wear almost all black, grey, or off white/white now, with a splash of red or pink. I find that using accessories with color and the right make up takes the "tired look" away. I know you've said you don't wear make up, Shooting Star, but for a special occasion, some neutral type blush and a little lipstick might make a difference.
The blouse is lovely. Maybe a colorful wrap/sweater, if it gets chilly?

[indysteel]

That blouse is pretty.

But I think you may have taken the example of my own dress a bit too literally. I wasn't suggesting that you necessarily buy a navy or black dress or one with the precise fit of my dress. Rather, I was suggesting that having some dressier pieces in your wardrobe might be useful even if you can't wear them to work or ride your bike with them. Pick a cut and color that flatters you or stick with separates if you prefer. The point is that you will likely find it helpful to have those options when you need them.

[malkin]

I think you look wonderful in that skirt and top and if it is right for the event, and you feel good in it, then you're set.
I guess you'll still need shoes.

With weddings it can be hard to tell how formal it is going to be. Sometimes everyone looks like they're at Cinderella's Ball, and other times people look like they're clean and heading out to a restaurant for dinner.

I just went back and looked at your other wedding picture, and I think you look beautiful there too!

Having a bit of anxiety with your family situation is completely understandable. Go with what feels best.