What to Wear Over 50 for Special Occasions and Weddings this Spring Weddings

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.

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.

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.