June 3, 2016 • PARTIES, PEOPLE, STYLE, STYLE SCHOOL

Style School: Summer Wedding Weekend Wardrobe

Over at Draper James, we’ve got no shortage of questions. Like. . . Cowboy boots or heels? Collard greens or okra? Sweet tea or lemonade? (To name a few of the most pressing.)

Amanda Holstein, it turns out, has no shortage of answers. On her blog, Advice from a 20 Something, the 27-year-old San Franciscan dishes out sound guidance on everything from relationships to career to fashion and even weddings.

So when it came to dressing for a summer wedding weekend—that’s everything from the rehearsal dinner to the main event to the morning-after brunch—we knew just where to turn. . .

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Blogger Amanda Holstein is wedding-ready in our Vidalia Vine Shift Dress. (All images by Andrea Posadas.)

Talk to us about summer weddings—the good, the bad, the ugly!
I’m at the age where weddings have started to take over my calendar! From best friends to distant cousins, I have a handful of weddings to attend this year all over the country. I love the excuse to travel and to reconnect with friends that live in different cities. And since my family lives all over the world (my sister is in London!), weddings are often an opportunity to get us all together.

Talk to us about dressing for summer weddings. . .

Since I don’t often get the chance to get all dressed up throughout the rest of the year, I definitely take advantage of wedding season! I love getting to try out new cocktail dresses, hairstyles, and even makeup looks. The problem is having enough dresses to wear to all those weddings. Luckily, I’m not opposed to repeating a look if it’s for a different crowd!

One thing we know about weddings is that they certainly require a wardrobe! Any advice about packing your whole wedding ensemble?

I keep my nice dresses in garment bags in my suitcase to try to prevent wrinkling as much as possible. As soon as I get to the hotel, I take them out and hang them to loosen out any wrinkles. I’m also obsessed with using a steamer, both at home and when I travel. It’s the best for getting out wrinkles quickly!

Tell us about the Draper James looks you recommend for a summer wedding weekend. What kind of wedding do you envision them for?

I chose these three looks for a non-traditional wedding, perhaps at an outdoor venue with a view. I love the playful prints and colors because they’re perfect for the more laid back, fun weddings I often attend!

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“The rehearsal dinner is a great time to be a bit playful with your outfit,” says Amanda, who chose our Oak Hill Vine Nashville top and Oak Hill Vine Knoxville pant for the “night-before-the-big-night” look. “You can certainly wear a dress, but why not try a jumpsuit or pants? I had some fun with this look and decided to mix two bold prints with this structured top and sleek pants. I love how the two create a cohesive look that’s fun and different!”

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“This dress is the epitome of summer wedding dresses!” says Amanda, who chose our Vidalia Vine Shift dress for the main event. “It’s bright and colorful with a classic silhouette (and it’s really comfortable!). The unique print makes me stand out from the crowd a bit—without overshadowing the bride, of course!

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“I couldn’t think of a more appropriate summer brunch outfit than this girly white dress and jean jacket combo,” says Amanda of our Honeycomb Panel dress and Ryman Jacket. “The dress is made for a summer event and I love how the denim jacket dresses it down a bit.”