Dearest devoted reader, THANK YOU for being here! I have been touched by how many new names have signed up for this newsletter as of late; truly feeling like the luckiest girl. I am now at a point where I am getting comfortable with this craft, and have so much in store for you all — one of these things includes turning on paid subscriptions for real now. For now, I plan to start paywalling one post a month, starting at the end of August, though paying subscribers will see more benefits in the future. I want to make it as accessible as possible, because I’m conscious of both the time I put into writing and the potential constraints on readership (financial, multiple subscriptions, etc). I’ve detailed the options at the end of this post. x
Somewhere, this summer, an ABBA song is waiting for you on a wedding dance floor.
At a recent party for a successful monogamy merger, I took in the sights and splendors of the gorgeous estate grounds and dresses alike — lots of satin, open or low backs, and a halter twist that I have coincidentally noticed in every bridal party photograph I’ve seen in the year since I wore the same as my sister’s maid of honor.
If you’re like me, you have the burden of wanting to a) turn a look that’s flattering and full of personality, and b) do so with little chance of being cut from the same cloth as another guest. Did you ever realize I’m so vain? Don’t get me wrong, I will make a bestie out of someone I’m matching, but I prefer us to have our own thangs going on if you get me.
I don’t think being ‘show-stopping, spectacular, never-before-seen’ requires a separate budget for a new outfit each time… we all know the more weddings you attend, the more likely you’ll only want a couple reliables you can put into rotation anyway. Let’s cut the crap with the constant add-to-carts before our closets look like the inspiration for 27 Dresses.
Below, I’ve put together a couple elements that feel newer to the scene without being inaccessible; I found most of these dresses on rental and resale apps like Hurr, Rent the Runway or Nuuly. Each style is replicable (either with existing items or from a circular business), and in my humble opinion sits at the intersection of trendy and timeless. There’s a lot of familiar forms you’ll recognize, but with adjustments that slightly shift each dress into a new gear.
NEW ROMANTICS
With this group, I wanted to give alternatives to a few of the existing top four girly looks of late. Ditsy florals, bows, puff sleeves, and drop waists are all I really see (and often, wear!) these days. What if you were to partake while adding something new?
Let your florals dance more with frills, shirring or tiered layers! I love how Rat and Boa adds these accents in the dresses above, particularly on the sleeves in place of a puff shoulder. I have a cotton dress in this perfectly loud red-and-teal print from my travels in Accra, Ghana, that has a tiered skirt just waiting for a good shimmy.
Many drop-waist dresses have either a distinct V-shaped bodice, a wider emphasis on the hips, or both. And I love this so if you have it, wear it! If you want to lean into the look without feeling like you’re weighed down in taffeta, I think this yellow Tove dress is a good contemporary North Star. Its asymmetrical body really opens up and accentuates the natural curve from rib to hip, allowing the drop waist to quite literally drop lower and flow from the line your hip creates. There’s a Grecian feel to it as well that makes it really classic rather than full-on sweetheart, and I’ve really been into soft yellows this summer after thinking my dark hair and pale skin couldn’t make it work for the longest time. I’m all about reclaiming things this summer!!!
Finally, if you’re bow’ed out but still trying to scratch the same itch, may I suggest a rosette appliqué? I hope it doesn’t fall on deaf ears when I say we may have distanced ourselves enough from Fanci Club’s brief oversaturation to return back to this sweet little number. It’s done best as a gathered dress’ eye of the storm, like in the Coperni example above.
Polka dots would probably be included in this list if I weren’t so against any distinct elements of white when you’re not the bride. You might remember one from Realisation Par that I mentioned in this post. I also thought
did a brilliant download of all things polka recently, so have a look there.SILK SCARVES
An air for the dramatic, yet a desire for the subdued. I’m so glad we made it past the skinny scarf to get here! Bring back your grandma’s pashminas!! A majority of the scarves I’m seeing maintain a monochromatic look, though what I love about the image on the far left is that the most vibrant aspect of her dress is emphasized by the scarf’s hue. It’s also one of the larger drapings I’ve seen, serving as a healthy reminder that we can refresh an older dress with a statement overlay.
SHOWING SKIN
Don’t let your cowl necks and cutouts grow tired.
A key issue with the former is a material deficit; the neckline requires more to work with, as seen on the far right above. I prefer a higher back and lower neck for this style — I don’t have much bust to be fair, so choose your own adventure! — with (again) enough material at the hem to give a bit of fluting. Cowl necks don’t look drippy enough these days otherwise!
We need to experiment more with how we expose skin, and being smart while doing so. I know most of our friends are going to be more wtf? than work! if we roll up to their big day sporting a lower back whale tail. Own your sh*t, but come correct! It’s all about balance here. Similar to my notes on the Tove look above, find a cutout that allows your midsection to do the talking. The bigger the cutout, the more coverage up top, which can make the top and bottom pieces more balanced and harmonious. You still want cuts that elongate your form: both dresses above open the torso and angle out and down, letting the eye follow the rest of the way down. Christopher Esber kills it on this front.
The fringe is a fun one. It applies draping elements of the scarf and the movement of the frills, showing skin with demure elegance. My original intention with the fringe was to find something that can replace glitter or sequins, without releasing loads of microplastics or being a hassle at the dry cleaners. The fringe definitely needs to be long enough to shake but short enough that it doesn’t compete with your ankles or a statement shoe. I love the jewel tone blue and think it’s perfect for summer skin!!
FANCY FEET
Make sure your dress has a friend to play with. There’s tons of ways to go with it, but I have two notes…
Adhere to the Wrong Shoe Theory (
forever!). If the dress is classic, go nasty; if the dress is showing off your figure, maybe add some funk with a printed mule. has some great curations from eBay in this department.When in doubt, grab your nastiest, strappiest sandal — but keep it relatively clean. You want to keep a lightness and carefree quality to it, so don’t have too many ties at the ankle or heavy platforms. Lotion up your heels and let your pedicure do most of the legwork!
What’s been your go-to wedding guest outfit this summer? Let me know what you’re seeing or how you breathe new life into some of your older silhouettes.
With lots of love for my dancing queens!
Ryann x
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ADMIN
Per the note on paid subscriptions switching on, I’ve decided to start off with a few options:
Friends, Family and Collaborators: Friends and fam, you’re in the clear! And if you’re a writer and want to do a collaborative post or recommend each other to our subscriber bases, I want to extend a freebie to you! If you fall in this camp, message me and I’ll send you a link for a comp.
Engaged Reader: This newsletter gets a lot of traction when readers are bouncing their ideas off in the comments, sharing to Notes, or giving a nod in their own newsletters. Consider this 50% off as a token of my gratitude for your commitment to building the discourse.
Reader on a Budget: I recognize some of my readers may be students, early professionals, or subscribers to multiple Substacks. If you want to support me, you can do so for roughly $10 (if I did the math right!) on an annual subscription.
August Kickoff Offer: AUG24 will give you 24% off an annual sub as a thank you for joining during the launch!
ICYMI
My local London recs and a minor sob story that I’m sure anyone who’s moved countries, or watched Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn can relate to:
Perhaps you’ll enjoy getting ready to my ‘drop-waist dress’ playlist or another summer-themed option from this post: