Let's be straight: wedding dress shopping is totally shit. No, we don't mean shopping for your own wedding dress (though the thought of that also sounds stressful), we mean shopping for a dress to wear to the myriad affirmations of betrothals that you'll no doubt be attending this August, September and beyond.
You don't normally wear a knee-length, cap-sleeved shift dress at the best of times – so why would you want to wear one to a wedding? No, what you want is something unique and a little bit sassy. So here are some tips…
Try a maxi dress with a sassy USP
A yellow maxi dress doesn't have to look like it came straight out of Hart Of Dixie – this fluted sleeved, lattice chest maxi dress from Nasty Gal is the epitome of sexy demure weddingwear. Seximure? We can discuss the finer details of the nomenclature later, but essentially look for cute colours in not-so-cute silhouettes. Think 90s camisole maxis and off-the-shoulder prints. The side split of this yellow one is everything.
Drifting Dreams Dress, £70.16, Nasty Gal and Leather Sandals, £24, & Other Stories
Palazzo pants are back! So take advantage
Ignore the age-old diktat that insists you must wear a dress to a wedding. It's the same one that tells you must wear a feather sprouting out of your head (masquerading as a fascinator). Be daring and try some wide-legged trousers with a sequin top instead of a jacket. Opt for a sheer one, with a plain lace bra underneath – and take a scarf if you're going to a church, just to be safe.
Menswear Florence Wideleg Trousers, £128, Otis & Maclain at Free People; Sequin Top, £260, Theyskens Theory at The Outnet, Alabama Cuff; Bex Rox and Gopher Suede Skinny T-Bar Heels, £58, Topshop .
Don't forget an all-in-one
Can you get away with a backless jumpsuit for a wedding? Yes! It's the summer! Especially if you keep make-up and jewellery to a minimum and ballerina-ize the saucy red playsuit with a pared-back bun. This ASOS jumpsuit is an absolute humdinger. If you are looking for a proposal at someone else's wedding – well, why not? – then this jumpsuit is the clincher.
Jumpsuit with Bow Back, £50, ASOS and Leather Sandals, £24, & Other Stories
Odelle Jumpsuit, £153.21, Reformation; Gettin' Knotty Dress in Red, £98, Free People; Hardware Square Toe Sandals, £50, River Island at ASOS; Hanore Hand-Painted Silk Maxi Dress, £200.25, Joseph at The Outnet; Keyhole Ruched Maxi Dress, £103.18, Blue Life at Shopbop; Star Embellished Metallic Leather Sandals, £405, Red Valentino at Net-a-Porter; Sequinned Top, £29.99, H&M; Cropped Printed Washed-Silk Wide-Leg Pants, £350, Suno at Net-a-Porter; Delilah Embellished Blouse in Nude, £85, Kimchi Blue at Urban Outfitter.s
Model: Adesuwa at M+P Models
Stylist: Pandora Sykes
Junior Stylist: Grace Joel
Art Direction: Anna Jay
Make-up: Mai Kodama
Hair: Tiffanne Williams
Follow Pandora on Twitter @pinsykes
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.