8 Great Uses for Bridesmaid Dresses After the Wedding

Everyone says that they want to buy bridesmaid dresses that they will use again. In the past, this was fairly difficult. Some of the puffy sleeve pastel wonders of the 80s were a bit, ahem, hard to love. Today’s gowns, however, are utterly wearable. Stylish and versatile, the idea of wearing them again is no longer a distant dream. Rather, it is a dream-fulfilling reality!

Struggling to think of more than one practical way to reuse your bridesmaid dress after the wedding day? We’ve compiled a list of seven ideas, all totally possible if you make a point of choosing a bridesmaid dress that can be used again.

1. If you are in high school or college, wear your bridesmaid dress again to a prom, dance, or sorority formal.
2. Choose a versatile cocktail dress in a color that flatters you, or that is timeless like dark grey bridesmaid dresses are, or even one in solid black if it works with your bride’s palette, and you’ll have a go-to party dress for any number of social situations.
3. Have a generous heart? Donate your gown to charity. Most major cities have organizations that accept gowns as donations. They are offered to underprivileged girls and those suffering from life-threatening, serious diseases.
4. Taking a family cruise or have a cousin or girlfriend who is? Multiple formal nights on a single cruise necessitate a selection of dresses, so keep yours in your travel fashion arsenal.
5. Select a style that you can wear to a future wedding. Many bridesmaid gowns these days are simply great dresses. If it doesn’t scream wedding party, don’t be afraid to wear it as a guest.
6. Start a swap. If you are in a close circle of ladies all around the same age and with similar body types, you could start a swap. You’ll infinitely expand the number of dresses you have to choose from next time you need something pretty or impressive.
7. Contact a local community or school theater program and donate your gown as a costume for a future production.
8. If you simply want to have fun with your dress, offer to crash your bride’s “trash the dress” session – a photographer can do great things with a few extra participants willing to put it all on the line.

Are you a bride trying to choose gowns for your attendants to wear to your wedding? Whether they are paying for their attire per custom, or you are gifting their dresses to them, it is highly advisable to choose a color and fabric and allow your bridesmaids to select a style that they feel amazing in. This goes an extra long way toward making their dresses appropriate choices to wear in the future.

Is your color palette very bold or avant garde? Consider selecting a gown in a neutral color, or one that is appropriate to multiple social situations, and then accenting with jewelry and flowers in your other colors. For example, if your palette is turquoise, grey and tangerine, choose grey bridesmaid dresses with turquoise jewelry and tangerine bouquets. If you select shoes that will go with other outfits as well, your attendants will only love you even more than they do now!

Bridesmaids shoulder enough expenses as part of a wedding party – bridesmaid dresses should be both beautiful and practical, and are the best value when they can be worn again.

Copyright: <a href='http://es.123rf.com/profile_dolgachov'>dolgachov / 123RF Foto de archivo</a>Azazie Adriana

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   P.S. - This is a collaborative post with Azazie. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nainital Travel Diaries: Under the Floral Arch

During my trip to Nainital, we visited this beautiful cafe set in the midst of hills. We had a sumptuous freshly prepared continental meal in the prettiest garden with a view of the mountains on one side and a heritage mansion turned hotel on the other. Cafe Chica in The Abbotsford was a delightful way to spend an evening indulging in a lazy lunch.

There is nothing extraordinary about what I was wearing that day. But I want this blog not to be only about extraordinary clothes. This outfit has some of my fall basics which I would put together on an average day.Somedays I feel like dressing up, put together a lot of thought behind my outfit, the pictures and the location. And somedays, I just wear what I usually wear anyways and get some pictures clicked. This was one of those days. 

This top is currently one of the favorite things to wear in my wardrobe. I love wearing clothes that are easy to wear yet have a little bit of drama in them, either through color or by a drape like this one has. Since, the holiday involved quite a bit of walking, I paired it with these comfy shoes, denims and a sling. The weather in hill stations are a bit erratic, depending on the amount of sun, and this floral, blue snood was a great for when it got a little chilly. 

Top: Forever 21. Get similar at Amazon.in.

Snood/Infinity Scarf: Woolworths. Get Similar at Amazon.in . Also worn here. 

Bag: Pieces/Vero Moda. Get Similar at Amazon.in. Also worn here.

Jeans: Vero Moda. Get Similar at Amazon.in

Shoes: MG Road, Gangtok. Get similar at Amazon.in

Earrings: Gifted. Get Similar at Amazon.in

Cardigan: Borrowed. Get Similar at Amazon.in

Nainital Travel Diaries: Coming Back Home

Do you have one of those holiday spots where you have been to so many times that it almost feels like a second home. Where you always stay at the same places, know exactly where to go and what to do. Nainital is one of those places for me. To be honest, we used to go there almost every other year since I was a year old because it was one my dad's favorite places to go. And then, I went through a period when I did not want to go there anymore since I felt that I had done all there was to do there. But this Puja Vacations, when we decided to there I readily agreed so that I could relax a bit without the sightseeing and the itineraries. 

And it was a blissful week, I slept early and woke up late. I ate five times a day and curled up with my books and a glass of wine at night. I played board games and bonded with my siblings. I discovered new places while I was walking around and stumbled into this new cafe. Honey Hut is a gorgeous little cafe that serves coffee, tea, desserts and snacks made using pure, natural honey. Besides the delicious coffees made using honey instead of sugar, they also had an assortment of organic products up for sale. The location facing the lake is stunning and I could happily spend hours there sipping on my cappuccino and people-watching. The next time you visit Nainital, add this place to your list of must-go cafe's. I can't wait to go there again.

Dress: Zara

Stockings: Bhutia Market, Nainital

Fedora: Nainital Mall Road

Shoes: Mall Road, Gangtok

Belt: Stylefiesta.com / Still Available.

Cuff: New Market, Kolkata

Wallet: Michael Kors

Bag: Pieces/ Vero Moda

P.S.- This is not a sponsored post. All views expressed are my own.

Vineyard Romance

During my trip to South Africa,we had the opportunity to visit The Spier Wine Farm for a vineyard tour and vine tasting.The day we were supposed to leave for the tour started out extremely rainy and gloomy and rainy and we were all worried that any outdoor activity was pretty much out of the picture.However,the weather gods heard our silent prayer and by the time we reached,the rain had slowed to a drizzle and soon stopped altogether.The weather was beautiful and everything looked fresh and green and had a romantic air to it.

We had a wonderful day with a segway tour of the vineyard which was great and our instructors were really nice and helpful navigating the bumpy roads.We tasted some delicious wine and cheese.We had the most delicious lunch at their farm to table restaurant and saw some incredible eagles and owls at the Eagle Encounters Rehabilitation Center. At the end,we left wishing we had more time to explore the huge gardens and relax in the midst of nature at the Spier Wine Farm.If you have this as a part of your South African itinerary,I would reccomend you take a full day to visit and make a picnic out of it, or if possible stay the night at their hotel.You will go back refreshed.

Cowl Top: Forever 21

Pants: Zara

Boots: Steve Madden

P.S.-This review is not sponsored.All the views expressed are my own.