If you have ever stood in front of your nicely stocked closet, had a number of discarded outfits beginning to pile up on the bed, and still had no clue what to wear to the occasion that you are already running late for, then you should know that you are not alone! As a matter of fact, there is not one woman alive who cannot boast the same difficulty at one point or another. Of course, the other reason why the outfits are piling up could be the fact that a well-meaning spouse or friend took one critical look at the ensemble you were wearing and simply remarked "you're not wearing that, are you?". While this indecisiveness appear to be epidemic for New Years Eve parties, the company holiday party, and assorted other celebrations of friends and families, thus far a bridal shower has not really ranked as an event that required a special kind of attire. Nonetheless, don't you wish somebody would have given you a hint as to what kind of dress would be appropriate? Perhaps it is time for this to change! After all, you have spent a lot of time coming up with the perfect bridal shower theme, so why not go all the way and choose your bridal shower attire accordingly?
For example, if you are planning a bridal shower for your friend who will be going to Hawaii on her honeymoon, why not make the theme, as well as the attire, a Hawaiian celebration? Guests could wear Hawaiian shirts, dresses, perhaps even grass skirts! On the other hand, if the bride will be going surfing, why not dress in the height of California surfer fashion, complete with bleached blond wig and cut out surf board? As you can see, the possibilities for bridal shower attire are truly endless and guests as well as the bride will be able to capitalize on the individuality of the bride, her planned honeymoon, or simply the interests her and the groom share. If you are more formally oriented, or if the shower will be held at a formal location, you may wish to stay with the conservative ensemble of a skirt and blouse, or perhaps a pair of dressy slacks and a nice blouse. Depending on the kind of bridal shower you are planning for the bride to be, it is imperative to communicate the propriety of attire to the shower guests. As a matter of fact, there are actually some commonly understood "buzz words" that get the point across without getting into too much detail.
If you will be having a fancy party at a luxury restaurant, please be sure to include on the invitation that the dress should be "cocktail attire." This signals to the invitee that this is the equivalent of a black tie affair, and she will know to get the little black dress off the hanger and pressed. This is especially appropriate for exclusive restaurants or hotels.
If the party is not held at the ritziest place in town but a close second runner up, please be sure to specify "evening resort attire." This simply means an alternative to the little black dress, such as a nice conservative yet festive dress or skirt and blouse.
Once step down from this occasion would be "business casual" or "resort attire." This is most appropriate if the party is held at the local country club. Shorts, skorts, and even short skirts are appropriate, if they are properly cut and fit well. This is not the time for the bargain basement mini skirt!
As you can see, questions of fashionable attire are entirely appropriate when considering attending or hosting a bridal shower. If you are fortunate enough to be hosting one, please take the guests' guess work out of the equation, and instead let them know how to dress for the occasion! On the other hand, if you are on the guest list of a bridal shower, be sure to ask if there will be a dress code. Most often you will be able to glean this bit of information when taking a look at the location of the event, but in case you are unfamiliar with the venue, a quick phone call to the hostess will clear up any questions and prevent embarrassing misunderstandings.