What to Wear To All Of The Spring Events - Nada Manley

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Spring event season is right around the corner! I know it still feels like we are in the thick of winter (February can be bleak for sure!) but Valentine’s Day is the last official holiday of winter before we head into spring and what I like to call floral dress season!

Today, I am encouraging you to ignore the gray day outside and focus on spring, which is right around the corner. Even if the temps don’t warm up for another few months, the invitations will start coming in for spring events, from weddings to cocktail parties to, of course, Easter.

Spring is officially floral dress season, and if you’re a flower girl like I am, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to wear pretty dresses. From tea and garden parties to ladies luncheons, bridal showers to baby showers, Easter to weddings, this is definitely the season to pick a dress or two that makes you feel beautiful!

You can find all of the items mentioned in this post/video, and many more, right here.

Here, what to wear to all of the spring events!

Easter

The main event of spring, in my opinion, is Easter, and even though many churches (including mine) are more casual, Easter offers an opportunity to dress up in classic spring style! (I only have traditional style when it comes to holidays.) Here, from the Jennifer Sumko collaboration with Antonio Melani for Dillards are a few Easter-worthy pieces.

Note: I KNOW that these dresses break many of the rules that I share for pattern and flattery and detail, and they are definitely NOT for everybody. They are, however, fun and feminine and perfect for the woman who is not afraid to try something different. You can find all of these dresses right here.

Ladies’ Events

Whether it’s a luncheon or a tea party, a baby shower or bridal shower, a garden party or a daytime soiree, these events offer an opportunity to wear our most feminine or classic styles and to have fun with being a woman. If these frilly styles are totally not for you, go with a dressier version of what you would wear to church or someplace similar. These dresses can be found here.

Wedding

As a wedding guest, you want to honor the invitation by dressing for the occasion. Take your cues from the invitation, the setting, and of course the dress code. Stay away from lacy white, although black is now considered acceptable at most weddings. If the invitation doesn’t specify a dress code, a special church or cocktail-style dress is usually appropriate. These dresses can be found here.

Cocktail Party

A cocktail party is one of the most fun and creative dress codes, because there are few rules and it’s more about dressing up in a way that expresses your personal style. This could be anything from a party blouse with simple pants to a sparkly sequiny dress. I like to keep it festive with some element in my outfit that says party, whether it’s a special dress or satin shoes. You can find this jumpsuit and other items here.

Black Tie

Black tie calls for pulling out all the stops and wearing a formal look, usually a full-length dress and always in a dressy fabric. In spite of what some websites try to tell us, a summery maxi is not a formal gown. For a change, you could also try a jumpsuit, as shown here, if it’s in a really sparkly or formal fabric. Find this and other options here.

Artsy Event

Whether you’re headed to a concert or a gallery opening, an art exhibit or a wine walk, an artsy or eclectic event calls for an equally interesting outfit. Wearing something with a little flair that expresses your personality is always a good idea. You can find this and other options here.

Outdoor Event

Whether it’s cocktails by the pool or a wine walk, an outdoor brunch or window shopping, an outdoor event calls for fun and stylish clothes that are also practical. Casual pants and a pretty top are always a good idea, or try a fun but easy dress and sandals. You can find this and other options here.

Mother of the Bride/Groom

This is a big night, and you want to feel special and confident and your absolute best. Don’t settle for the dowdy dresses in the “mother of the bride” filter on websites. Instead, filter by the formality of the event and you can’t go wrong.

Some of my favorite brands for mothers of the bride/groom are: Adrianna Papell, Tadashi Shoji, Dress the Population, Fame & Partners, Anthropologie, Baltic Born, Mac Duggal, Maggy London, and Chiara Boni. You’ll find many more options here.