Searching for clothing for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, prom, class reunion? We all have special events that warrant a new outfit. I recently took my daughter shopping for her bridal gown. Before we went, I asked Janna for her expert opinion on how to go about the daunting task of choosing a dress for the most important day in a girl’s life. Janna has worked with hundreds of brides and MOBs (mothers-of-the-bride) through the years.

Her advice: “Think of three words you would like to come into your guests’ minds when they see you approaching?”

Classic, sophisticated, sparkling.

Romantic, timeless, elegant.

Boho, natural, eclectic.

Sexy, sexy, sexy.

Dramatic, ethereal, fabulous.

Simple, demure, modest.

What is it that you want to communicate? Perhaps you want to appear elegant, fun, sophisticated, feminine, romantic, authoritative, powerful, sexy, dramatic, glitzy, or mysterious.

Country, chic, feminine.

Or you could simply ask yourself: “What reaction do I want to get when I enter the room?” Is it WOW, BAM, or AWW?

In Quintessential Style, we call this: intentional dressing (page 12).  It means:

“Defining the way you ultimately want to be perceived and following that lead by dressing accordingly.”

You may also want to consider your personal comfort level. Are you an outgoing, flamboyant person who wants all eyes focused on you? Or are you more reserved, preferring to dodge the limelight?

Let’s say you want to wear a red dress to your class reunion. First, be aware that the color red is an adrenal stimulant and often symbolizes passion, sexiness, danger, or rebellion. Is that the message you want to send? (See ‘Sending Messages with Color,’ page 31).

If so, remember, the color red already connotes passion, so you may not want it to be too revealing. Look at these lace red dresses. What messages are they sending?

Miss Va Va Va Voom

Miss Demure

The better you know yourself (your colors, your body, your comfort level) the easier it is to choose outfits that ultimately give you the look you’re after. And, the less often you’ll return home from an event complaining that “you wish you’d worn something different.”

Oftentimes we hear the phrase, ‘she really owned it,’ to describe a woman wearing an outfit that was absolutely perfect for her. What that means is she knew herself well enough to completely be herself.  That’s personal style. And that’s the best way to dress every day.

So the next time you are considering an outfit for any occasion, remember to dress with intention and keep in mind those three magic words.

By the way, my daughter’s words were: natural, beachy, and beautiful…just like her!