Every time a calligraphied envelope lands on my doormat, I am filled, of course, with delight at love’s young dream. But soon after comes the wardrobe planning, followed by the ‘woe is me’ at the thought of all the money I’ll have to spend.
Wedding season is upon us, folks.
Of course, you don’t need a new outfit for every celebration, but sometimes a new outfit is a nice thing to have. And let’s be honest, it can sometimes feel like you’re the only one without an endless supply of lovely dresses. If you are one of those awesome women who cleverly recycle outfits, then more power to you. If you’re not, don’t despair, we’ve got your back.
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The four outfits here all come in under (or just a tiny bit over) €150, and while that is no small amount of money, it’s certainly less than your average wedding outfit cost. Lots of the items can be mixed and matched into your daily wardrobe, or used again with other special occasion outfits. The little bits and pieces such as accessories and shoes are often what push the price up. It helps to buy neutral accessories, such as shoes and bags, at the beginning of the summer to see you through with lots of outfits.
This isn’t rocket science; if you have to buy, it helps to buy clothes that you’ll wear again. Separates are your friend in this instance.
All about the dress
Sometimes all you need is a beautiful dress to speak for itself. This maxi dress from Asos comes in at €85 and the floral print is timeless. These block heels (€19) and round sunglasses (€3) from Penneys add a current, yet 70s feel to the outfit. Whole outfit = €107
LBD with a twist
A little black dress could be considered sombre for a summer wedding, but add some stripes, as with this dress from Arnotts (€69.95) and you have the makings of chic. With pink block heels (€62) from Topshop for some colour and fascinator (€24.99) from New Look, you’re ready to party. Whole outfit = €156.94
Off the shoulder
The shops are filled with Bardot, or off-the-shoulder tops, and if you want to give the trend a go, this orange version from New Look (€14.99) is a great place to start. The style shows off the décolletage and shoulders without leaving you feeling too exposed, and paired with these striped trousers from River Island (€43) should leave you feeling all chic and French Riviera. The top would work equally well with high-waisted jeans and the trousers would be great paired with a black blazer in autumn. These sandals from Penneys (€26) are begging for a new home, and the clutch from Kenneth Cole (€40) at House of Fraser goes fabulously with them. Whole outfit = €123.99
Pink and powerful
This gold pleated skirt (€47.50) from M&S looks great dressed up, but would work equally well worn with runners or boots and a chunky knit. Same goes for the pink satin bomber jacket from Zara (€39.95). Bombers are popular this season and add a little toughness to this otherwise feminine outfit. The strappy, flat pink shoes (€39.99) from H&M will go with most outfits, and will allow you to dance the night away. Don’t feel the need to wear heels unless that’s what floats your boat. The gold necklace (€18) from Debenhams will add a little bit of detail. Wear a white tank underneath, and you are wedding ready. Whole outfit = €145.44
The modern man
Putting a suit together for under €150 is a challenge, as it should be. A good suit for a man should last years and with a bit of good tailoring can last decades. That being said, this two piece from H&M is from the David Beckham essentials collection and comes in at under €100 with each piece being €49.99. If you don’t already have a shirt in the wardrobe, I would recommend spending a little more and investing in one from COS. This granddad collar shirt for €69.99 will go perfectly with the H&M two piece, and the collar detail will keep you modern.
