Advice
Welcome to our advice section. Every week I answer new questions submitted
by readers on Organizing, Image, Fashion and Event Planning.
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Proper attire depends on the
wedding
04-15-2005
Dear Kathi,
I am going to a wedding in Florida next month. I’m not sure
of the dress code and can’t decide what to wear. Its an evening
wedding and my husband is the best man. I have a sleeveless black
dress and don’t know if it is appropriate to wear black to a
wedding. Do I need to buy another outfit?
Cathy, Cardiff by the Sea
Cathy,
I need to know more details about the wedding to offer you solid advice.
Will the ceremony be held inside or outside, on the beach or in a
church? These details help to define the formality of the wedding.
Black is not the optimum safe choice but with some investigation,
you might be safe.
If this is a formal wedding with more than one attendant, staged in
upscale surroundings (not beachside) and in the evening, your black
dress will probably be fine.
Is your husband wearing a regular tuxedo, tux with tails or a suit?
If your husband is wearing a tuxedo, the bride will probably wear
a long gown. This is almost guaranteed if his tuxedo has tails.
You never want to upstage the bride. Is your dress knee or floor length?
If she isn’t wearing a floor length gown than you can’t
either. Even if she is wearing a floor length gown, it is still much
more appropriate to wear a knee or shin length dress.
You haven’t told me how formal your dress is. Is it a tuxedo
dress, casual cotton or evening gown? I would recommend a classically
tailored knee-length dress.
Keep in mind that you can change the formality of your outfit with
jewelry and shoes. Less glitz is better, because again, you never
want to outshine the bride. Wear a classic style and don’t overdo
the “bling” factor. Let the bride take center stage while
you remain elegant and understated. Everyone will be pleased with
the results. Dear Kathi,
My husband wants to convert our shed into a workshop. I’m fine
with that idea if we can regroup and find more storage somewhere else.
Right now our shed is half full and contains books, power tools, garden
supplies and a few odd pieces of furniture. Any suggestions?
Hillary, Encinitas
Hillary,
It’s good to hear that your shed is only half full. As you decide
where to relocate your shed items, ask yourself these questions; Do
I use these items? Why are they in the shed to begin with? When was
the last time I looked them?
The answers to these questions will help you decide if you need to
find a new space for the displaced shed items or whether it is smarter
and easier to donate them to charity.
Books should not be stored in a shed to begin with. If your books
are worth keeping, they should be in your home where they have a better
chance of being read. If they don’t merit a spot within your
home, why do you still have them?
Your garden supplies can be stored in a plastic bench seat. Rubbermaid
storage benches serve a double purpose, storage and seating for your
deck. If you don’t like this idea, maybe your husband could
use his new workshop to build you a potting bench for your gardening
supplies?
The power tools will probably be incorporated into his workshop. The
furniture should be given serious thought. If it is already outcast
to the shed, you probably don’t need it, If it can’t be
incorporated into your home, it needs to find new owners who will
use it.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner
based in San Diego California.
Please
submit your questions to:
advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
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