What to Wear: Fancy Schmancy Wedding (& Hide the Arms!)

A Facebook friend, Sandy, recently inquired:

Q. post request! what to wear to a schmancy nighttime wedding in april. in florida. without showing off your not-so-tiny arms ;)

A. Glad you asked! Weddings season is just gearing up so all us gals need to start thinking about what to wear. Do you go the safe black dress route with some killer heels and jewelry, or do you mix it up? And, it's no longer necessary to do floor-length gowns, even for black tie, so find what suits you best.

As for arms, I am not a fan of trying to cover them up.
****Seek out flattering necklines, not-to-wide straps (avoid too-tight cap sleeves) and bold or smart, graphically-designed prints to draw the eye where you want!

****Bring a shawl to drape over your shoulders -- which is much more delicate
-- and cooler in the warm weather.

(ps: it's already 85 and humid in Florida; brace yourself, and your hair!).

Here's a few looks from Macy's that I'm loving:

Evan Picone, striped dress, $99.
(love well placed stripes... don't even notice the arms!)

BCBGeneration, ruffle maxi, $158.
 (gorgeous ruffles draw eye in, away from arms in this notice-me-purple! A favorite).

JSCollection, striped cocktail dress, $118.
(oh la la! Again, all about helpful stripes in this stunning black cocktail dress.)

Suzi Chin, silk empire waist dress, $158.
(if you insist on some sort of sleeve, adore this light-weight floaty look.
You do not want sleeves to look tight. Will only make arms appear larger).

BCBGeneration, striped, three-quarter sleeve, $198.
(ps: this look can be very flattering; seek out something similar with a darker color -- only the bride gets white or beige -- but avoid this dress if you're more apple-shaped.)

Maggy London, evening gown, $148.
(A classic gown with a super flattering, and forgiving, shape.
Navy offers a nice alternative to basic black and this will pair well with a light-weight shawl.).

MOST IMPORTANTLY.... HAVE FUN!!!!