Your Stylist: Style advice to soothe your sartorial woes
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Resident Image stylist and market editor Melissa Magsaysay answers your style queries in the weekly Your Stylist blog column.
I’m going to five weddings this spring and summer. One pretty fancy in Brooklyn, one low-key in Palm Springs, one fancy in Paris, one medium-fancy in Seattle, and a medium-fancy one in Pasadena. Since all my money will be going to travel, I’m wondering if one dress can take me to all these events? Any advice? - D.B, Pasadena
Talk about a summer of love! Finding one dress to suit the style, dress code and climate of each celebration is an almost impossible feat. Stick to something simple and elegant, mixing up your accessories to bring the dressiness factor up or down.
There are a couple of dresses from Catherine Malandrino that are versatile, sexy and flattering. And since they’re both made from silk jersey, they’ll be easy to pack and shake out each time you reach your destination.
I particularly love the deep blue color of the draped dress, which has an almost metallic sheen to it. Pair this with a gold statement necklace and metallic heels for the most dressed up affairs. Strappy summer sandals and layered necklaces or a couple of bangles will be perfect for the casual nuptials.
If solids feel too safe, the multicolor, printed dress is another easy option. It has ruching in the center, which always makes eating and dancing easier. I love the slightly ‘70s quality to this dress, with its plunging V front and pops of orange and green. The one drawback is that the print makes this dress a lot more memorable than something solid, which will be an issue only if the crowd overlaps at any of your events.
I REALLY want a pair of beige sandals matching my skin color...I love the way it looks in the summer but I want to get a pair at a reasonable price, suggestions? - M.B, Hollywood
Nude sandals will be everywhere this spring flowing seamlessly into the season’s neutral color palette. They’re also the best way to elongate and slim the leg under a short kicky dress or summer shorts.
There are several fairly affordable options for nude footwear, so should the light colored leather get dingy quickly, you can afford to buy multiple pairs to get you through your summer adventures.
The most sleek and simplistic pair I’ve found are from Vera Wang Lavender label. The Grecian inspired sandals come in a powdery pale color and will look great with the khaki cargo pants and slouchy trousers coming out this season.
Joie is making a nude Huarache inspired shoe that cages around the whole foot except for the toes, so showing off a neat pedicure will be no problem.
The tight weave of the leather elastic may be too constricting for those who like maximum foot exposure in the warmer months, but the whole “peep toe bootie” style is something to get used to as it will be all over the streets in the next few months.
-- Melissa Magsaysay
Send you style queries to melissa.magsaysay@latimes.com
Photos: Top: Catherine Malandrino dress, $475. Photo credit: Catherine Malandrino. Miriam Haskell necklace, $550. Photo credit: Miriam Haskell
Middle: Catherine Malandrino dress, $395. Photo credit: Catherine Malandrino. Valentino Rosette peep to pump, $770. Photo credit: Netaporter.com
Bottom left: Vera Wang Lavender, $195. Photo credit: shopbop.com. Bottom right: Joie, $245. Photo credit: Joie