As I sit down to write this, we are officially coming down from a four-wedding circuit this year — a new record. Between planning my own wedding and navigating everyone else's, I realize an unholy amount of my bandwidth this year has been consumed by travel, logistics, and, in true SK fashion, obsessing over what to wear. Putting it all down on the blog feels long overdue.
Looking back at my approach, I’ve realized I don't actually have a plan of attack for wedding wear (shocking, I know). Usually, I’m just constantly hunting for pieces that can work across a plethora of events, but sometimes I like to rent something new or invest in a piece I know I am going to rewear.
Wedding dress codes usually give me some kind of anxiety, especially as someone who is a bold and creative dresser. But this year we went to lots of weddings for people that I knew well and who I knew loved fashion, and let me embrace that, which was a gift.
Cocktail
Spring/Summer
I actually found this dress last November while rewatching Confessions of a Shopaholic. What started as an impulse buy turned into a fun choice for occasion wear. This dress is made from three oversized silk scarves sewn together, and the colors are so fun, vibrant, and completely speak for themselves. I paired the dress with a fresh haircut and dye, an orange manicure in OPI's Summer Lovin' Had Me a Blast!, Bottega Veneta drop earrings, a vintage Gucci watch, and my trusty Gucci Super Mini Marmont bag that has quite literally seen and done it all. For shoes, I wore Harajuku Lovers wedges that I've held onto since the tenth grade!
Indian casual
End of summer
My cousin Kristi’s wedding was a big, beautiful weekend with three distinct days of dress codes. For the Maticoor which was held outdoors, synthetic fabrics were a hard no. I turned to Farm Rio, which is always my go-to for rentals because their pieces are colorful, comfortable, and fun. This dress had a subtle Indian-inspired vibe that felt perfect for the setting. With it, I wore my same Gucci bag, a pair of Burberry espadrilles I've owned forever that turned out to be the ideal shoe for the occasion, a pair of Versace earrings that I thought I needed, and a tikka from my cousin Yash.
Indian or formal wear
Traditional Indian clothes and I have had a complicated relationship. Growing up, I rarely wore them, so whenever I put them on, I’d look in the mirror and think, Who is she? It just never felt like me, and as a kid I was unable to explore what 'me' even looked like in them. Today, the landscape is much different with modern designers, but that doesn't mean logistics can't break your heart. I’d be lying if I said I didn't lose sleep over the wedding look! Because buying traditional Indian outfits can cost the price of a beater Honda, I had rented a gorgeous corset and draped skirt set from Masaba months in advance — only for it to not arrive on time, throwing me into an absolute mentyb.
Left scrambling, I had to pivot to a traditional sari, which wasn't my plan, came severely wrinkled, and required help from my fiancé (several rounds of ironing) and my cousin Yash (wrapping and pinning). The last-minute accessory scramble was a mix of Deepa Gurnani Suvani earrings (similar), bangles from an Indian store near me, a borrowed necklace from Yash (Thank you Yashi), and a bigger black Gucci Marmont bag. While I didn't feel completely in my comfort zone, it ended up working out and people gave me lots of compliments!
Black Tie
For the reception, I wore a dress I bought last fall with the idea of wearing it to a few weddings, which now I realize was kinda crazy. It's by the designer ASHISH, whose work I have always loved, and it's so bright and sequined. Sequins mean it is loud — not ideal for jumping to the Killers or Good Charlotte or if you're coming in late and trying to be quiet, but you live and you learn. I wore this dress (similar) with Gucci heels I got for a steal on ThredUp, Bottega Veneta drop earrings, and a Vivienne Westwood bee necklace I bought while we were in NY. I felt most like me this evening, which is hard to explain but such a wonderful feeling.
Semi-formal
Fall
There were lots of things I could've worn from my closet for my friend Marylou's wedding, but I didn't feel inspired particularly by any of them. Plus it has been such a hot, October! Initially I wanted to rent an Aje raffia dress or a Helsa stretch cotton midi dress, but dollars for these weddings were limited, so I rented a Marchesa dress off Pickle for this wedding and another in October. I think what I love about renting clothes is that it is a fun, more sustainable way for me to try new brands and clothes, so it is really a treat to rent a dress, though it can become a pain quickly. Initially I didn't love having to wear it for two occasions and didn't want to be an outfit repeater, but reflecting back, I'd say it was the right choice not only because it was cost-effective, and the person who lent me the dress was great. Sometimes renting an outfit comes down to whether they will fulfill your order, ship it in time, or double book you, but this time it was stress-free and arrived early, giving me time to see how it paired with my closet.
I was dubious about this dress but came around, and what is always the best outcome is that I felt good and like I had dressed appropriately. I wore one of my most comfy pairs of Erdem x H&M heels, trusty bee necklace from Vivienne Westwood, a Louis Vuitton bag, a vintage watch, and I finally got my hair cut and redyed after five months.
No dress code
Fall outdoor/indoor
While I had originally planned to wear my ASHISH dress again, you know, really get that cost-per-wear down lol, I came to my senses and realized that was an absolute no for this wedding. So instead, I re-wore my rented Marchesa dress for our final wedding of the season in Abilene, Kansas. My fiancé was in the wedding party wearing a khaki suit with a burnt orange tie, so part of my strategy with choosing this dress was coordinating with him.
I knew this wedding would have the wildest mix of guest attire. We’re talking everything from shorts, hats and jeans to beautiful sequined and velvet dresses, so I consciously tried to reel myself in a bit. I styled the dress with a pair of earrings my Aunt Indira gave me (similar), my python Gucci Mini Marmont bag, Erdem x H&M kitten heels, and switched up my makeup a little from the previous wedding. I was more on the formal side but still felt great!
Overall, I have come to find through this year of wedding guest shopping, is that it is difficult! It's hard to interpret dress codes, find the right thing — that expresses your personal style with the right materials and for the right price. So here are some of my takeaways:
- Plan ahead & explore resale. Try to think about what you want to wear and how you want to feel early on. If you see a dress or outfit that speaks to you, works for a special occasion, and is something you could see yourself wearing more than once, save it! Even better, start hunting for it on resale sites like eBay, Poshmark, Depop, Vinted, Vestiaire Collective, The RealReal, and ThredUp.
- It's okay to be an outfit repeater. With four different weddings on my calendar this year, I’ll admit I fell prey to wanting something new and unique for every event. But honestly, it’s completely fine to wear a piece, be photographed in it, and repeat it. A look can drastically change with different hair and makeup, shoe choices, or playing with jewelry versus keeping it bare. Wearing what you love, posting it, and wearing it again is conscious fashion.
- Invest where it counts (and rent the rest). Put your money into pieces you know you'll re-wear; shoes and bags are particularly worthwhile investments for me. On the other hand, renting dopamine inducing dresses from time to time makes so much more sense than buying something I won't ever wear again.
- Treat yoself. Invest in beauty and wellness services if it’s feasible for you. While I don't always get my hair done (unless a wedding is local), what I really love is booking a massage or a dermaplaning facial beforehand. Between travel logistics and everyday life, I'm often carrying a little stress, so these services go a long way.
- Try things on. It’s hard to know how an outfit truly fits or works together until you physically see it. We often host fashion shows at home to test out full looks, or I’ll send a video to some friends to get feedback across a broader mix of style perspectives.
- Reflect on your shopping habits. Looking back on this year, I bought a lot, sold a ton and rented some. While I was intentional about most of my purchases, I'll be honest — I definitely got a little swept away and bought a few items that I'll now have to be very conscious about styling into my everyday wardrobe. (I was glad to have them in the moment, but perhaps I can do better next time). Still, I’m grateful for the chance to experiment — every outfit helps me learn a little bit more about myself, my evolving style, and how to strike that balance between fashion and comfort.
Well that's all I've got for now, friends! Talk soon!
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