After 18 months of cancelled plans we are now finally able to get glammed up and celebrate with family and friends once more.

The prospect of having several events in the diary can be a little daunting for some - especially as many of us will have lots of postponed weddings/christening/birthdays in a shorter space of time.

And the big question is…. what am I going to wear?

We often invest more money on a single special occasion outfit than we would on several items of clothes to go into our everyday wardrobes so it’s only natural we want to look and feel fabulous.

I’m a big believer in re-styling and re-wearing items; with careful planning and clever purchasing this is entirely possible for occasion wear too. There are also some great rental options available meaning you can wear some stunning designer pieces at a fraction of the cost they’d be to buy.

In this month’s article I’m sharing some top tips on how to shop smart for special occasions and ensure you’re the best dressed wedding guest by far…

Shop Your Wardrobe

Most of my clients have a section of their wardrobe reserved for special occasions which often contains items in pristine condition -this should be your first port of call before buying anything new. With a little re-styling previously worn clothes can be made to look and feel completely different and you already know they fit you and feel good (there must be a reason you’ve held onto it after all).

If there is something in there that can work then you have the luxury of being able to invest in some new footwear and accessories to re-style and refresh it from the last time you wore it. Really think about creating colour pops with shoes and jewellery, adding or switching a belt or simply styling your hair differently to give it a new lease of life.

Buying New

If nothing you already own fits the bill then you’ll need to hit the shops. Shopping for a specific occasion can be very stressful as there’s a real pressure to get something sorted. Allow yourself as much time as possible and try following these steps….

• Research online beforehand - create a mood board of looks that you want to take inspiration from and do some research to see which stores have similar items. If needs be order the items you’re interested in and have them delivered in-store so you know they’ll be there in your size. You could also call ahead to check availability in store.

• Underwear is essential - make sure you have the right underwear on or with you for when you’re trying items on, it can make ALL the difference (and if you haven’t been fitted for a bra in the last six months get that sorted before you do anything else)

• Look for separates or items that can be dressed up/down - think outside the box and look for separates that could be styled more casually as individual items or try a jumpsuit/dress that could be worn day-to-day with different footwear. You really want to be able to wear whatever you’re buying as much as possible - I don’t believe in saving anything for best!

• Accessories are key - headwear, jewellery, footwear and jewellery have a HUGE impact on how something looks. If you have some pieces in mind that you’d like to wear take these with you so you can try on the whole ensemble.

Renting

There are some amazing rental websites where you can borrow beautiful designer pieces for a fraction of the retail price (as Carrie Symonds did when she married Boris Johnson recently). Some of the most popular include By Rotation, Rotaro, Hurr and MWHQ. Aside from shopping your own wardrobe, renting is by far the cheapest and most sustainable way to dress for special occasions. With more and more sites popping up the choices are becoming ever more varied - this is absolutely something I’ll be advising my clients to look at moving forwards.

Remember…

Whilst shopping for special occasions can feel stressful, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If in doubt, opt for a style that you know has worked well and felt good in the past, use accessories to add interest and personalise your look and don’t choose footwear that you can’t walk (or dance!) in! Plan ahead so you have plenty of time, enlist the help of an honest friend (or personal stylist) and trust your instincts.

Happy shopping!

Anna xo

Anna Mewes - Personal Stylist was established in 2012 and has helped thousands of women with their personal style ever since. With a strong focus on using style as a form of self care Anna uses her expertise in colour and body shape to help her clients build a wardrobe of clothes that ensure they look fabulous for day-to-day life. A wife, mum of two and now with a new puppy in-tow, Anna caters for women with busy lives who want to feel their best whatever the occasion.

Alongside her successful career as a stylist, Anna is also a Fashion & Lifestyle writer with a Journalism diploma from London College of Style. Anna publishes articles weekly for her own blog as well as regularly contributing to fashion and lifestyle publications both in-print and online.

Visit Anna’s website here, read her blog here or follow her on social media here.

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