Is your wardrobe looking a little full of wedding outfits you’re unsure when you’ll wear again? We feel you – this year has officially been the busiest wedding season since 1984. Not to mention, we’re all guilty of spending a pretty penny on our looks. In fact, research reveals the average wedding guest this year has spent £136.59 on their outfits.
So, is there a way to claw back some cash or repurpose the outfits when it comes to our post wedding looks? Our resident Head Stylist, Megan Watkins, has provided her expert tips to help you make the most of your post-season wedding wardrobe.
1. Rent
First things first, there’s money to be made if you happened to get a little bit spendy on your wedding outfits. With the second-hand marketplace looking to double in 2023, there has been no better time to rent your already-worn outfits.
Megan recommends: “Renting on platforms such as Rotation and Hurr, can give your attire a new lease on life without losing it from your wardrobe completely. They are super easy to use and if you have a desirable item to rent, you have the potential to earn the money back!
“If you look on Hurr’s website, it tells you that, on average, you can earn the cost back of one dress if you simply rent it out five times… It sounds like a winner to me.”
2. Upcycle
Give your dress a new purpose by upcycling it into a brand new look. Something as simple as shortening the garment or taking the sleeves off can elevate your dress’ versatility.
Megan suggests: “Your local tailor may offer alteration services from as little as £8. If you’ve had a dress where you love the print but are unsure when you’ll wear it again, a skilled seamstress will be able to make this into a killer two piece for you.
“If you’re not a fan of the sleeves or length of the dress, a simple snip will get sorted in no time whatsoever.
“Be sure to ask them to keep some of the excess fabric and get looking on Youtube to see how you can make a matching scrunchie.”
3. Donate
If you’re really not sure when you’ll wear your look again, why not donate it to a charity who will ensure it goes to good use.
Megan suggests: “Local charity shops like the British Red Cross or Oxfam often have a bridal section.
“However, a favourite idea of mine is donating to a women’s charity such as Smartworks that dresses women seeking employment or the Wedding Wishing Well Foundation, that provides wedding dresses to couples undergoing cancer treatment.”
4. Customise your bridesmaid dress
Let’s be honest, a dress chosen by someone else aimed to accommodate a number of other people may not be your favourite thing in your wardrobe – especially if the bride opted for a fashion trend that was never going to stand the test of time.
Therefore, it might be time to get a little handy…
Megan suggests: “A favourite reuse of outfits of mine was when Emma Watson wore an upcycled gown by Harris Reed last year by making it exclusively with wedding dresses from Oxfam.
While we may not want to go to that much effort, it shows how you can put a spin on a look.
“If you’re not a fan of the colour you can opt for a home dye kit or you can simply style the dress in a different way.
“For instance, if your dress was a silk slip style, simply pop a jumper over the top tucking it to create an AW style, or, if you happened to wear a halterneck style, you can have this altered into a top. Pair it with some tailored trousers and you may even have your next wedding guest look!”
5. Go non-traditional
If you haven’t bought the outfit just yet, there’s still a chance to do something different. In the light of the pandemic, there has been a rise in non-traditional weddings, with more and more brides and guests opting for fashion-forward and pared-back styles such as mini dresses, tailored suits and simple slip dresses.
Megan adds: “There’s been a huge rise in both guests and brides purchasing outfits they know they’ll wear again. Take a suit style for example, as a bride you may wear this look again at events, dinners or celebrations.
“If you’re a guest who wore a suit style outfit, each item will work hard in your wardrobe as separates.”
