What to Wear Over 50 for Special Occasions and Weddings this Spring Weddings
The emails started arriving in February. I have a wedding in April and nothing to wear. Then March brought more. Same panic, different event. A retirement dinner. A bat mitzvah. A graduation party that turned out fancier than anyone had mentioned.
I get it. Finding something dressy that actually fits your body right now, suits the occasion, and doesn’t make you feel like you’re playing dress-up in someone else’s clothes is genuinely hard.
So I went to Nordstrom and tried on a pile of dresses. Some I loved immediately, and a couple surprised me. I’ll tell you what I thought, how they fit, and what kind of event each one makes sense for, because an outdoor garden wedding and a formal dinner are very different problems to solve.
I’ve updated this post on what to wear over 50 for special occasions, with all-new options and links, because some styles have changed, and there are many new, fun options.
Let’s get into it.
The Dresses
I’m so tempted to just buy this Alex Evenings gown and wait for an event to wear it. It’s long and flowy with a dramatic collar, and the fabric is substantial enough that I wouldn’t require control garments. I felt glamorous and elegant in it without feeling trussed up or over-bejeweled. It has elegant covered buttons down the front and a fabric belt you can use to create a large, showy bow, or a small one with long tails, as I’m showing. And it has pockets, which not many gowns do.
This Pisarro mesh gown with its bolero jacket is the one that made me feel quietly elegant and sophisticated, which is harder to find than you’d think. The beading on both the gown and jacket is pretty without tipping into Christmas-tree territory. It’s fully lined, sleeveless, and has a back zip. I love the flowy skirt and the way the mesh and beads catch the light without screaming for attention. I’m wearing the blue, and it comes in six other colors.
This sleek, body-conscious gown comes in a beautiful Mallard blue that photographs even better than it looks on the hanger. The ruching at the waist is doing real work here, and the fabric has enough stretch that you can actually sit and move in it comfortably. It fits close to the body, which many of you will love, but it is sleeveless, so if you’re not comfortable with your arms, you’ll want to think about a wrap or shawl.
If you have an outdoor wedding, a garden party, or a shower on your calendar this spring, this Julia Jorgan dress is the one. The floral organza is lightweight and billowy without being flimsy, and it comes with a full slip so you’re not worrying about what the sun does to sheer fabric. The removable sash ties at the waist and gives you some shape without cinching.
This dress won’t cling anywhere you don’t want it to. Honestly, this feels like something you’d wear to a country club wedding or a garden party at a beautiful estate. If you’re a Kentucky Derby girl, this is your dress. And that skirt swishes when you walk with that delicious sound you only get from organza.
This Pisarro Nights Illusion gown is one size too small for me, and I tried it on anyway, which tells you something. The beading gives it some weight, substantial but not heavy, so if you’re sensitive to that, it’s worth knowing. In the right size, it would be comfortable, and I felt elegant in it, very much the mother of the bride in the best possible way. The godet bottom swishes beautifully when you move. It has a bateau neckline, 3/4 sleeves, and a flounced hem. I’m wearing Deep Mocha, and it also comes in Pale Blue.
This Alex Evenings Cocktail dress is hard to put into words, but I’ll try. It feels grown up and sophisticated in a way that a lot of cocktail dresses don’t. Modest without being matronly, which is a harder balance to strike than it sounds. If you’ve been frustrated by dresses that feel too young or too bare, this is worth a look. The Iced Aqua color is beautiful, and the attached lace jacket with 3/4 sleeves means your arms are covered without needing a separate wrap.
This navy dress fits close to the body and really shows your figure, which, depending on your comfort level, is either exactly what you want or exactly what you don’t. The bejeweled cuffs are a great detail, dressy without needing much other jewelry. It also comes in black and is designed to hit at the knee, though it runs a little longer on me. One honest note: I’d wear a slimming slip under this one and skip everything but earrings. I also like to wear these Thigh Society shorts to prevent leg chaffing, whether I wear a slip or not.
You may also enjoy Best Special Occasion Pant Suits for Weddings and Events
A few of these photos are from a few years ago. Different hair, different chapter, same great dresses, and they’re all still available.
This Karen Kane dress is stunning. The scalloped illusion lace in navy or black is pretty and feminine, and yes, a little alluring, but in a ladylike way. The sweetheart neckline is covered with lace, so you get the shape without the exposure, which is a neat trick. And it’s comfortable enough to actually enjoy wearing. It comes in petite and regular. I’m wearing the regular, which gives it a little extra length.
This Alex Evenings Faux Two-Piece Cocktail Dress feels elegant and graceful in a way that works for a lot of occasions. I keep thinking it would be perfect for a formal night on a cruise, a wedding, or the mother of the groom. The bodice is stretch lace with sequins, and the skirt is floaty chiffon, so you get structure on top and movement on the bottom. And here’s the best part…it looks like a two-piece, but it’s actually one dress with a hidden back zipper. It comes in eight colors, so you can find your perfect color.
How you feel in a dress matters just as much as how you look in it. If you’re tugging, adjusting, or thinking about your dress all night instead of enjoying the moment, the dress has failed you, no matter how beautiful it is.
If you have questions about any of these or need help figuring out what works for your specific event, drop it in the comments. I’m happy to help you sort it out.
You look lovely in the chiffon dress. Thanks for the tips.
Such great choices! The first lace dress is so beautiful and sexy too. It would be perfect for a cruise. All of these look wonderful on you.
All of the dress are lovely on you. My favs are the two shorter blue dresses worn with the gold slingback heels.
I love the Karen Kane dress, very slimming. That brand always fits me well. The petites are sized right.
Gosh, that was a lot of fun!
I love that first one on you, other than it needs shortening.
The navy rhinestone dress is very simple and yet wonderful. That would be a great dress if you needed a fancy dress while traveling.
I also really like the two piece lace top and solid skirt outfit. It look like it moves really well.
I, too, would have foot problems with any heel, so I would be looking for a full-length gown. I really thank you for the work you put into on this.
These are some really nice dress choices, but I’m in the camp with the ladies with foot issues. I think it will be dressy pants for me, since I need flats, or the tiniest of heels and no pointy toes.
I really love the way you look in the two shorter dresses! I especially feel the a -line skirt is very much You! Very pretty!
Thank you for sharing advice!
Jennifer you look lovely in each of these! Glad to see some really pretty semi formal looks!
Thank you! I found a dress for my high school reunion, but wasn’t sure about my shoes. Because of foot surgery I shop for comfort first and found a very plain nude pair. My heart yearned for a glamorous sequined pair. After seeing your first few photos I realized my new shoes aren’t just nude, but nearly invisible! I don’t feel over 50, but this will be our 50th reunion.
Love the V-Neck Lace number on you! Stunning.
I am going to join the camp of ladies who love the navy dress! I also agree with Kim, that due to issues with my feet and balance, it’s difficult to wear this style of dress. The shoe becomes a most important detail of the total look.
Regardless, this was a wonderful post that shows us all a gorgeous display of dresses that so many of us would love to wear. For me, it’s still so much fun to dress up! You inspire me to do so!
I love to dress up too. I’ll be doing more showing flat shoe options
As one who has been looking for occassion dresses for awhile, I appreciate your inspiration. I do believe this fashion creates a challenge for older women, not wanting to look restricted to a mother of the bride image. Your choices are wonderful!
I’m so glad you liked them
Great post on some lovely dress choices! Jennifer, the first navy blue dress is absolutely stunning on you! The style of it is perfect with your figure. My problem with dressing up for an occasion is the footwear. I can only wear about a one inch heel at most because of feet issues, and I can’t picture in my mind how a 1″ heel could possibly look right with a dress similar to the 1st or 2nd one in the post.
I’m going to do another post showing options with flatter shoes because you are not alone wanting flat shoe options.
I look forward to your daily posts. You are point on for my lifestyle and age. Classy, not too trendy from head to toe! You have given me many ideas. Looking forward to many more.
Thanks so much for styling dresses! It’s so hard to find some that are age appropriate and suitable for religious services.
You look beautiful in all these picks. I’ve been looking for a post like this, but with pants as I don’t wear dresses or jumpsuits. I have black dress pants but could use ideas for tops that would fit a semi-formal event. Any ideas?
I will see what I can put together for you, Kate because you’re not alone in wanting to wear pants.
Thank you!
I’ve had good luck over the years combining black pants with dressy kimonos, especially those made by designer Spencer Alexis (Google the name for a peek at the styles to see if they appeal to you). Most of the colors and designs work well with dark bottoms, and they’re made in a variety of sizes. I have to confess that I’ve never had to buy one new as they tend to be readily available through eBay, Etsy, Poshmark, etc. and are generally in A+ condition because women tend to wear them for special occasions only 🙂 I’d bet Jennifer knows where to get that label! Just a thought…
You looked fabulous in those two dressy dresses! Beautiful choices for how to look elegant!
Julie
Thanks Julie
You look lovely, Jennifer, and you must have put in some time to find them. It often seems the Special Occasion dresses fall into two categories: 1) super bare for very young ladies or 2) what I call Golden Girls outfits with heavy beaded jackets.
Well done for an elegant, stylish look.
You look lovely in all the dresses. But I see many/most mother of the bride and grooms and wedding guests wearing the same or similar dark blue lace dresses. I wish there were more to choose from. Look at the over fifty members in any wedding album and most are wearing a similar dress.
That seems to be what designers have in mind for us.
LOL, that does seem to be the two categories I see most often too. I will do this again with some more options
Very helpful post for dresses and shoes. Wish there were more options like this Alex evenings with a length of 44”
Thanks so much!
WOW!!! is an understatement of how gorgeous you look in all of the styles. And navy blue looks so pretty on you. Great post.
Thank you Leslie
You look stunning in those dresses Jennifer!
I second Jennifer’s comment! Absolutely stunning!