Real Chic, Real Cheap

Just Because I'm Broke Doesn't Mean I Have To Look Like It

Restyling a Bridesmaid Dress (For the Third Time)

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My husband and I traveled to Maryland recently for our friends’ wedding. We lucked out and were able to save on travel costs because
it was the weekend before I had an already scheduled business trip to the same location. This way I got to fly to my friend’s wedding for free since the
flight out on Friday costs about the same as the flight I would normally have taken on Monday and that minor schedule deviation was cool with my office. So we only had to pay for my husband’s flight, super sweet!
In line with keeping costs low, I hadn’t planned on getting a new dress to wear to the wedding. I was planning on wearing a favorite purple
lace dress which I think is perfect for weddings. Unfortunately, I started to notice how many photos I had of myself at other friend’s weddings in the same dress. I wore that dress to the last three weddings and rehearsal dinners I went to (except for weddings where I was a bridesmaid, those don’t count). Not that I really care much about people seeing me in the same dress. I mean, my friends have seen me in the same pair of jeans or shirt for years on end anyway. But I wanted to switch it up and wear something different.
Two days before we left I found myself standing in my closet wondering what I would wear if I took the purple lace dress off the table. I
researched the wedding venue online to try to determine how formal the wedding may be, checked the weather in Maryland, and brainstormed. I have many cute dresses, but actually not too many that are dressy enough for a wedding. That left me only about three choices. I don’t like wearing cream dresses to a wedding (been there, done that, was super embarrassed to be reminded that you don’t wear white or whiteish to a wedding *smh*). I’ve never worn a little black dress to a wedding and probably wouldn’t unless it was an evening wedding and would be very formal (neither of
which were the case here).
Weddings generally tend to match the personality of the people getting married. The venue, décor, and formality level tend to mirror
the couple. In this case, the happy couple are fun-loving laid back people, full of color and life; not formal or stiff, not fancy.  I figured the best note would be something bright and fun, but still dressed up and classy. I spied a bright blue frock in the back of my closet and thought “who
says you never actually re-wear a bridesmaid dress?” I actually wore this bridesmaid dress twice in 2012 because my sister and best friend fortuitously selected the exact same dress for their weddings a few months apart. They were both cool with me wearing the dress twice and probably wouldn’t have even noticed if I didn’t say anything (no overlapping guests or anything). So to wear this bridesmaid dress for a third time, I thought of my friends’ bright yet laid back personalities for their afternoon spring wedding and styled it with a bright necklace and woven wedges to give it a fancy yet relaxed feel. I wore my hair down to keep from being too bridesmaid-y, then added a few gold bangles and gold chevron studs for some shine.
Nailed it. Restyled bridesmaid dress and a new wedding outfit for nothing.

Dress: After Six– $187 (bought in 2012)
Shoes: Steve Madden on ThredUp– $20.99
Necklace: Plato’s Closet- $5
Purse: Gift from my sister from Italy
Of course my husband determined that he needed a new dress shirt and while at Macy’s he spied the 40% off sale on bowties (full disclosure, I noticed
the sale signs and know he loves bow ties so I pointed it out and immediately regretted it….weren’t we trying to only buy one thing and keep costs down?). He snagged a pocket square and bow tie set for 40% off and a clearance shelf dress shirt so together they were under $50. I have taught him so well. He perused the dress socks section and looked for matching socks but came up short.
I think he cleans up so well in his seersucker suit, don’t you? He bought this suit from Jos. A. Bank a few years ago on a summer super sale and has worn it several times since. My husband keeps his beard in line with B.I.G. Beard Balm which gives his beard shine and softness while keeping it moisturized and in control. This stuff is great and makes a great gift.

 

I restyled this bridesmaid dress by shopping my closet and my husband went out shopping for new clothes. Go figure. We had a fabulous time at the
wedding and were so happy to celebrate our friends’ as they tied the knot.Have you re-worn a bridesmaid dress before?

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