What to Wear: Winter Wedding

Winter weddings and cocktail parties call for a new surge of dress finding this month. Here is Jessica’s request:

I’m trying to find a dress for the wedding of my husband’s friend on December 16, 2007. I just got the invitation in the mail today, and I’m feeling perplexed about what to wear. It’s a Sunday wedding, ceremony starting at 4:30 with the reception immediately after. It’s not in a church, and in fact is in the historic building that my husband and I got married in just over a year ago.

The combination of Sunday, early afternoon, and likely cold weather leaves me puzzled as to what would be an appropriate look. I’m 5′ 3″ and 110 pounds- short torso and wide hips though. Medium-long hair that is currently a muddled reddish brown (in between dye jobs, ha), and am quite pale. I’d like to spend under $100 on the dress. Thanks for any advice you can offer. Oh- and their color scheme is red & black, if that helps at all.

As a fellow “twiggy” person, I also love a dress with a little bit of coverage. Something to take the edge off bony elbows.

Dress – I know that black is a socially acceptable color to wear to weddings these days…but I just can’t bring myself to recommend it. This brown and gray number from the Gap is modern, covering and only $60. Pair it with a gray wool coat or a trench.
Shoes – If the weather is really cold, you can wear brown boots with this dress. Otherwise, show some leg with some nude fishnets and gray suede pumps.
Earrings – Tie the whole thing together and give it a little more of a festive look.
Clutch – From Forever21.

Have fun at the wedding!