What to Wear to a Graduation!

Happy Monday! I'm not in the Big Apple at the moment--had to fly home to watch my sister graduate this weekend. Graduation is one of those occasions where nobody tells the guests (or the graduates) what to wear. Fortunately, The Gathered Lady is here to help. Below are some quick tips for this graduation season.

Macy's

1. Leave your jeans at home. I know, I love my denim too, but it doesn't work for every occasion. If you want to wear pants, consider a pair of slim-fitting, cropped pants like these from MICHAEL by Michael Kors. Choose colorful or printed pants for extra style points.
2. Be careful not to overdress. Think slightly more casual than your Sunday best. The rule here is similar to our advice on dressing for a first date. You want to aim for pretty, not fierce. Remember, you'll be surrounded by parents and grandparents!J. Crew
3. Don't be afraid to rock a trend. You can still be stylish without going full fashionista. There are many spring trends that are perfect for a graduation outfit. Think about incorporating pretty florals, stripes and lace detailing. This past weekend, I wore a multi-colored faux-wrap dress with an ethnic print to my sister's graduation, while she wore a bright orange strapless dress. Quick note for graduates: stay away from full skirts on graduation day. The extra volume will be visible (and not very flattering) underneath your gown.
4. It's May! Be colorful! It can be tempting to throw on a LBD (little black dress) and be done with it, but resist! You'll be celebrating a happy occasion, let it show with your outfit choice.
5. Don't overdo the makeup. Remember, it's graduation. It will be the middle of the day and you will be in a ton of pictures. Heavy makeup is not your friend. Try a fresh-faced look with warm, light colors. Think golds and neutrals for your eyes, pinks and peaches for your cheeks and lips, and light on the eyeliner. Zappos
6. Wear cute, practical shoes. I cannot stress this enough. If you're a graduate, you are going to be doing a lot of walking, including up and down stairs when you cross the stage. The last thing you want is to take a spill because you're teetering on six-inch stilettos. Graduates and guests alike will be doing a great deal of standing around after the actual ceremony to take pictures and it will be a very long walk back to the car if your feet hurt. Days like this are best served by cute sandals and wedges. Just don't forget to take care of your heels and toes before the big day!
7. Mind the weather. The last thing you want is an impromptu rain shower ruining your hair and makeup. Don't forget to bring an umbrella, and stay away from suede shoes, which can be ruined if they get wet. If it's an outdoor graduation, check the weather beforehand and pack a coat or extra blankets if it is going to be chilly.

Have a graduation to attend this month? Are you graduating? Send us a picture from the big day, and if we love it, we'll share it! Congratulations to all of the fabulous graduates from the ladies of The Gathered Lady!

Weekend Fashion Mash-up (May 11, 2013): The perfect smokey eye

Cheers to the weekend! It's Saturday and the perfect opportunity to rock some sexy weekend style. Check out the videos below for the sultry smokey eye. The first video is great for beginners and women with darker skin tones. The second video is a "dark clubbing smokey eye" and she uses a lot more products, which is better for ladies with advanced make-up skills. Watch both to master the technique.

Happy Mother's Day to all the gathered women who continue to give to their families and love their children! You deserve gifts! Daughters, did you forget your mother's day present? Shame on you! No worries, Macy's is having a 1 day sale TODAY both in store and online, so you have time! 

Here's a style inspiration that I would wear to rock the smokey eye!

 Have a hot outfit that will inspire others? Submit your 'fit to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and if we like it, we'll share it.

 Do you and your friends have style when you go out and about? Submit your fierce pictures to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and you may make our weekly Gathered Fashion Spread!

What to Wear to a Wedding

Spring has segued into early summer, and guess what? It’s wedding season! There’s not a gathered lady of any age that doesn’t have a wedding to attend at least once a year, and some even more. The most pressing question: what to wear? We’ll save the bridal advice and wedding trends for another post, and give the advice most helpful to the masses... how to be a gathered guest!

Of course, being a gathered guest is more than wearing a cute ‘fit, ya know? However, everyone from David Tutera to Emily Post has written tomes and blurbs on what and what not to do and say with regular updates. And so today, we gathered lady bloggers will stay in our lane and help you out with style inspiration!

But first, some cardinal rules....

DO NOT wear solid white. Patterns or color blocking where the white is not dominant are a-okay. Yes, some brides don’t care... but many do. Or their mom. Or granny. You get my point. There is a clever way to wear white (it is summer, after all) that will not offend, and it includes tucking it into a pattern, or in a color block. See below for examples. Now, if it’s an all white wedding and you’ve been asked to wear all white, ignore me.

DO NOT dress too sexy. Yes, you can meet a hottie nice young man at a wedding, but that is a happy circumstance and not a mission. Don’t vamp it up and be that girl. Be a gathered lady instead.

DO pay attention to the posted “attire” on the invite, e-vite, website, whatever. If you haven’t a clue what the attire is, or need some help understanding the made up phraseology (what the hell is "picnic chic"?! < -- This is a real example!) call someone in the know.

PS: Remember to always rsvp and never get drunk and hit on someone in the wedding party, steal the table flower arrangement, or comment on how bad someone’s kids are  be the ungathered guest.

Here are some examples of wedding guest ensembles that will work wonderfully with the most common wedding types. (If you get invited to a crazy themed, superhero, or renaissance fair wedding, you’re on your own... our bad.)

 Garden/Outdoor Summer Wedding 

• A garden or outdoor occasion is a perfect time to work in the spring/summer florals trend.
• Use the accessories to add a pop of color!
• We suggest platforms or flats... you never know what the ground surface will be like. Wear stilettos at your peril!
• White is hidden beneath a pattern!
• Hat is optional. Use your judgement.  

Formal Evening Wedding

• True formal weddings mean adhering to a formal dress length for the guests also.
• Emerald trend alert! Check out that amazing draping on that dress.
• Gold accents are classic and pair excellently with green.

Semi-Formal Wedding

• A semi-formal occasion means is pretty synonymous with cocktail attire. Don’t be afraid to use color.
• White is a part of a color block pattern and serves only to play up the coral.
• Depending on whether the occasion is indoors or the climate, you may want to pair this with a jacket or scarf. Use the opportunity for another pop of (complimentary) color!

Church Wedding

•  Because you have no earthly idea what another person’s church’s rules are, be sure to follow general modesty rules. Cover your shoulders, stomach, back, and knees COMPLETELY.  
•  Again, white is a color block in the dress, and not dominant.
•  We were daring here and included a transparent top, but make up for that with a camisole.

Casual/Informal Wedding

•  Casual means casual. However, as a Southern gathered lady I just have to advocate wearing structured and fitted clothing to an occasion! Hence, no baggy sweaters. Remember, you will be in pictures!
•  The neon and denim are daring choices, but go ahead if the wedding is casual. These are perfect dancing clothes!

Vegas Drunk Wedding

•  Wear what you like! No one will remember.

What’s the craziest outfit you’ve ever seen at a wedding? Did you gasp out loud? Dish in the comment section below, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter @thegatheredlady!

Did we miss an occasion that you don’t have figured out? Send us a message at thegatheredlady@gmail.com and we’ll help you find an outfit and post the results!

7 Heavenly Tasks for a Spring Makeover

Fashionista Feature: Angie

This weeks fashionista is Angie, a 21 year old Filipina from Los Angeles, who is graduating this month with a Bachelors in Business. Angie plans to work as an entrepreneur in the fashion/entertainment industry. Not only does she has a passion for fashion, but Angie is one of the rare women in Mfest, a Los Angeles car club. Angie's style is impressive and caught our eye in Hollywood for the weekly Gathered Fashion Spread! We're happy to share her style story. Check it out:

 

1) Describe your fashion style in 5 words:  Chic and Classy Street Style

 

2) Who are your fave style icons? Recording artist Rihanna, - Fashion designer, model and singer Victoria Beckham, - Fashion blogger Aimee Song, - Actress and Singer Selena Gomez

3) Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? ZARA, TopShop, Brandy Melville, Timeless Boutique, J.Crew, Club Monaco and online based stores such as NastyGal and Miss Karmaloop

4) Worst fashion mistake you ever made? The worst fashion mistake I've ever made was piling on too much jewelry and accessories. There was a point where I wore so many bracelets and necklaces that I looked too loud. Besides, I think accessories should compliment your wardrobe, not overwhelm it. You never want to look ratchet and have too going on, at least not for me. Now my accessories are kept very subtle but still noticeable to make a statement.

5)Finish this sentence: I can’t help but buy more one strap heels for my closet.

6)Lazy day- what are you wearing?  On lazy days, I utilize my harem pants or sweat pants; they give me a loose feel while saving the extra bagginess. I throw those on with some wedge sneakers and a fitted top. I emphasize FITTED top because harem pants also give an outfit the loose look, therefore, I don't like when my outfit looks like I don't fit into my clothes (too much bagginess).

7) Surprise! Impromptu papparazzi photo bomb in 2 hours! What do you wear? Céline PARIS t-shirt with ZARA leather shorts and one strap RED heels, Ray Ban aviators, gold Michael Kors watch with my gold BLVGARI matching necklace and ring set.

8) Tell us a fun random fashion fact about yourself: I only wear yellow gold. Everything, from earrings to bracelets, needs to consistently be a yellow gold tone. I never do silver, it just doesn't go with my style, and even little things like the color of jewelry, makes a fashion difference for me.