Badasswitch & Evilyn's Fashion Advice Column

[BadassWitch]

Back by popular demand - but now two for the price of one! Ask us all your fashion questions, tell us all your clothing woes. We're here to help!

[zuk]

Pinstripe shirts and ties? How can they work together? (The question men are afraid to ask...)

[BadassWitch]

Pinstripe shirts and ties? How can they work together? (The question men are afraid to ask...)

Very easily! A pinstripe is, essentially, a neutral, as long as you don't have some bizarre orange shirt with bright pink pinstripes. So, pretty much any tie will go with it. Try and pick up the pinstripe color in the tie in either color or pattern. Yes - you can do a pattern! Just make sure it ties back to the shirt and outfit as a whole.

Here's a good example of pattern mixing with a pinstripe. There are 2 different patterns, but they are tied together through the grey neurality of it all.

[zuk]

I don't know... they always look too busy with patterned shirts as well as ties. Besides, I don't look half as sexy as that guy...

[Eppy]

A friend of mine is getting married and she wants me to help pick out her dress. So far, she's narrowed it down to either this or this.

I was going to suggest the former largely because a dress that "runs small in the bust" doesn't seem like a comfy fit for her. But I want your opinions. Make me look knowledgeable!

[Shyaporn]

A friend of mine is getting married and she wants me to help pick out her dress.

A "friend" hmmm...?

I think the second, longer one would bring out your "friend's" eyes and mustache, Eppy. But I'm curious to hear what the ladies have to say on the subject.

[BadassWitch]

A friend of mine is getting married and she wants me to help pick out her dress. So far, she's narrowed it down to either this or this.

I was going to suggest the former largely because a dress that "runs small in the bust" doesn't seem like a comfy fit for her. But I want your opinions. Make me look knowledgeable!

These are both very cute dresses - but I have a couple questions before I can give a verdict. What does your friend look like? Height, general shape, etc. This is very important! Also - where /when/what type of wedding is it?

[ambergypsy42]

I wasn't aware we could also ask about wedding "fashions," so here is my question.

Three months from now, I am going to be one of four "bridesmaids" in my friend's wedding. I use quotes on bridesmaids because this is no ordinary wedding, but a crunchy hippy pagan handfasting. As in we will each be assigned a quarter (element) to invoke.

My friend is not very wedding crazy, so to get anything out of her is difficult beyond the date and place is difficult. In talking with the other bridesmaids, who are actually pagan, I will be given the element of fire to invoke. This means my dress should be red.

We are not being given any rules other than the color for the dresses. The wedding is outside on September 12. My own wedding dress was red, but it is semi-fancy and covered with jewels that equal about 25 pounds.

Two of the other three bridesmaids are getting custom-made ritual robes to the ceremony. I think these are the blue and green people. The other person, wearing yellow, is crafty and sewing herself a yellow robe-like dress.

I don't think I want to wear a red ritual robe, but I wouldn't mind something robe-like and flowing. I also gather it doesn't have to be all red, just mostly red. I would like something that is plain enough to go with the others, but doesn't look so fruity and pagan that I can't wear it again.

HALP!

[Evilyn]

Seconding what BAW said, as it's tough to determine what dress is best, since there are so many factors involved.

Ultimately she's going to have to just try them on, especially if there are areas (bust, hips, length) that present an issue. And most importantly she's going to have to feel comfortable in said dress as well.

That being said, I'm inclined to go with the second dress because it's a tad more formal than the first (which is cute but in more of an every day kind of way). I'm all for going with non-standard wedding dresses for the bride, but I also feel it should be something a step up more glamorous/special/different for that special ol' day. And hell, it's even a little less than the Antro dress! And vintage, so you know it's not the same cookie-cutter bridal pap.

[Evilyn]

Dear Amber,

Well, at least you can be thankful that your friend isn't going totally witchy-poo and requiring "traditional" skyclad nudity for her party.

I'll look for some pics, but there are lots of great drappey, flowing dresses this season that I think can invoke a natural and feminine feel and still keep you in this century. I'm a fan of the dreaded gladiator sandal too, which I think with the right one would be great paired with one of these dresses and you can rock it like a Grecian goddess. And stay cool in our early September heat waves we see more and more of every year.