While i love the green, if you feel less comfortable with that look, classic will be lovely. For my personal wear, light-weight earrings are most important to me. I have some old David Yurman hoops that always felt heavy and clunky, therefore uncomfortable.

You have to be comfortable thats priority 1. I like both 3 tier drop earrings( upper left and next to them a little lower ) and the pearl droos with it looks like emerald stone (upper right)

Much depends on how you are planning on wearing your hair. If down you want something large enough to show. If up you can get away with somehting a but smaller.

Shoes will be a big influence with this dress as it is a column style so shoes will show and be a big part of the look. I woud make sure the shoes and earrings compiment each other.

Here are the shoes I ordered:

Just a comment from your resident coat checker, here. I saw over 300 women in formal wear last night. I remember only one handbag (it was a classic beige clutch type bag that went well with her navy gown.) Other than that one, I don't remember a single other one. Oh, wait. There was one that was a cool boxy almost picnic box bag. I remember that one because the guest dropped it the contents spilled to the ground.)

My point is the bag won't be as noticable as we all think. Whatever you choose will work,.

I like the middle pair - pear shape! I wore a shorter version on my wedding.

Top left earrings and emerald are two favs. Get both and give yourself options. Shoes look pretty but would kill my feet. See how they feel and look when you get them. Might try another alternate pair to get best fit. You are getting there.

They're all gorgeous, seriously, but my vote is the bottom right- pearl drop earring.

Those shoes! (I remember when I would consider wearing those. Those days are gone for me but more power to anyone who could wear them.)

Definitely want to order a couple of options in both earrings and shoes. I can comfortably wear a 3.5" - 3.75" heel but absolutely no higher. Used to be able to handle a 4" but those days are long gone. One of the options I considered was a Sam Edelman platform sandal but it even with the slight platform, it was a 4" heel height. So no.

Since you are keeping your earrings more traditional and neutral and the venue is on the coast have you considered a metallic shoe?

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/vince-camuto-saprenda-sandal-women/6542375?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FShoes%2FDress%20Shoes&fashioncolor=Metallic&color=710

This one has a nice tone to it and the heel is lower so might be more comfortable

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/jewel-badgley-mischka-charisma-ii-sandal-women/6763738?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FShoes%2FDress%20Shoes&fashioncolor=Metallic&color=710

This one offers a little sparkle

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/naturalizer-vanessa-sandal-women/5425056?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FShoes%2FDress%20Shoes&fashioncolor=Metallic&color=710

These are rated for comfort

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/bella-vita-karlette-sandal/544198?activeColor=042

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/lifestride-masquerade-sandal/542594?activeColor=020

I want Design Interior South to take me shopping and overhaul my entire wardrobe.

Jill that made me giggle.

Here is a little secret.

My first job ever age 16 was at a shoe store.

I quickly moved over to employment at a department store called The Broadway. There i sold cosmetics for two years.Clinique to be exact. Then when a Nordstrom opened I went to work there. Started out in shoes but after about a year became a personal shopper for Nordstrom. This was my first year in college. I attended a Junior College and entered it with a major in Fashion.

After a year I realized the fashion industry wasnt going to be my path and switched my major. Finished out the JC and transferred to a four year college. So that meant leaving my job. However I did manage a Gap and a Limited to put myself through college after leaving my Personal Shopper job ;-)

So I thank you for the compliment. I guess all that retail work has paid off!

That is so cool!

I think people with such strong fashion backgrounds have an edge on the rest of us in interior design. So much knowledge and experience regarding textures, patterns, textiles, colors, styles, human behavior, etc. :)

@Design Interior South I worked in Women's Tailored Clothing in the late 80's, then cashiered for sales & holidays in Town Square through the early 90's.

My point is the bag won't be as noticeable as we all think.

Agree, made this point way back. Same for earrings. Mock ups are not to scale and can lead us to believe that items have more impact than they do.

I am still team green, though I would add green shoes. The clutch will be a minor detail but unless it is uber expensive I say, why not? It's fun and different and is for your enjoyment, too.

I think you should add color to avoid looking like the MOB, since you have said the MOB is wearing a long black dress.

Here is a similar dress with a metallic shoe to give you an idea

Consider a closed heel back so nice to not get dress caught in back of your shoe.love the all gold earrings tassel style gorgeous!

🤗

I so appreciate having all of this experience and good taste available to me!

mtn - yes, I am trying to avoid the black dress and platinum diamond/rhinestone look. The MOB is wearing a black dress with crystal embellishments. I have not ruled out the green/emerald look. But I am not brave enough for anything other than black shoes. My set point seems to be "conservative" and while I try to push myself, I always come running back to my default. Sigh.

I get that mock-ups are not perfect, but I do find them helpful to get a visual or set a direction. Despite all evidence to the contrary in this endeavor!! Effortless...I can only aspire...

Just saw the new posts. Design Interior - the metallic shoe looks great! So, guess I wll push myself and order something as an option. Thanks!

Love those gold and cystal earrings Home Interiors! Source?

I don't wear many long dresses - is getting one's heel caught in the back a thing??

Ida - you have no idea how much time I am spending on this! Ridiculous.

But I can certainly understand how everyone else would be beyond bored with this topic by now.

I don't wear many long dresses - is getting one's heel caught in the back a thing??

I've not had that issue but could depend on fabric, cut, length?

I’ve never had an issue with that, either, and I love to wear long dresses. I live in long, flowy maxi dresses and open heeled sandals in summer, besides formal dress experiences. I’m wearing a long dress and open heel sandals in my profile picture. It was our elopement, glad I didn’t trip down the aisle! :D

Ruby..yes as you walk the back of the dress can get pinched under your heel…have worn several long gowns…3 weddings…corporate events..and tripping is not a good look! I learned early on….get closed heel…open back is fine for a cocktail dress. The earrings are Alex Bittar…my fav jewelry designer…I have several pieces…have had great success on poshmark for some of the retired designs…some are a tiny investment…every time I have worn them I get so many compliments…

A good seamstress will be able to hem to the proper length so getting your dress caught in the heel isn’t an issue. Generally if that is happening it is because the dress isn’t the correct length or the shoe isn’t a good fit. Your heel should not be lifting up enough for your gown to catch. Mules will cause this but if the shoe has a strap your foot should not be lifting. That said everyone’s step and stride is different and if you are a ball to heel walker vs a heel to ball walker this could happen.

Before choosing earrings, how do you plan to wear your hair?

If this is an evening formal event, there will be a lot of woman and men wearing black so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about “matching” the MOB unless the invite came with a specific line about what colors to and not to wear.

This is a wedding, not the Oscars. The focus and attention should be on the bride. Where did the idea come from that the wedding guests need to draw attention to themselves? You already have a show-stopper gown. All you need is a nice pair of earrings.

Agree. It’s about the length of the dress so you will know once you try things at home! DIS. I loved my personal shopper at Nordstroms!! She was fantastic. Sadly, she passed away a few years ago.
Nordstrom also made changes and I haven’t shopped with them much since.

Once you get actual items at home, I am hoping things come together for you. I think all black with the green earrings is just right for you. Gives beautiful line, and just that hint of color that says “I might surprise you!” Lol. That earring is just right size for you too. Can work no matter how you wear your hair too. You can do this!

The focus and attention should be on the bride. Where did the idea come from that the wedding guests need to draw attention to themselves?

Weirdly confrontational.

What in the world leads you to think the poster wants to take the focus/attention away from the bride (as if that were even likely ... people are focussed on the bride and groom because they are the raison d'etre, no matter what anyone wears.)

How does wanting to look your best get distorted to need to draw attention to themselves?

Flo, I am not surprised. We had great relationships with our clients. I know one personal shopper who was even in her clients will!!! Sad to hear yours is gone and the experience died with her. Nordstroms is just not what it was and with that said department stores in general are just not what they were. At least Nordstrom still manages to keep their displays tidy. I went into Dillards to shop for a gown for my sons wedding and nearly fainted. The store looked like a clearance center. In its day Nordstom was so nice and we had such strict policies to insure that it was held to a certain standard. For one as employees our personal attire and presentation was kept in check. I returned some shoes there a few weeks back and the sales girl was wearing leggings and sneakers.........I was shocked! The west coast and large city Nordstroms are better but still not what they were. I think most brick and mortor shopping will likely not last more than 10-15 more years. :-(

Looking your best is one thing and that's easily accomplished by a nice dress and jewelry and being well-groomed. Typically the fuss over details is because you are the bride, in the wedding party, or the parents of the bride and groom. You will be in photos that last a lifetime. But a wedding guest?

"This is a wedding, not the Oscars. The focus and attention should be on the bride. Where did the idea come from that the wedding guests need to draw attention to themselves? You already have a show-stopper gown. All you need is a nice pair of earrings."

Since when does caring about ones appearance mean you are trying to make a specticle of yourself or draw attention to yourself and take it away from someone else? There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance.

How often do people get the opportunity to attend a beautiful formal wedding? It is an event and everyone attending should want to put their best foot forward.

I have never been to a wedding where the attention hasnt been on the bride.

Just deleted my 'joking' comment above, which could be viewed as weirdly confrontational as well, I suppose. It was NOT directed at Ruby, I will add, and I don't want to give the impression that it was.

Eileen - I will grant you that this seems a bit trivial and unnecessary. But fussing over details is what this group does best! And, being there for you for any need large or small.

This wedding is for a very close family member. And this is a beautiful crowd - there is 0% chance of me stealing any focus. This is for me. It is also likely to be the most glamorous event I will ever attend so forgive my harmless obsession. You probably have many other things you could be spending your time on other than this silliness.

Just another influential thought: most photos will be from the waist up - especially small group photos. The emerald earrings will frame your face beautifully. And they will stand out just enough to get compliments.

And no one upstages a bride so ignore that unnecessary comment. This wedding, according to your description of the family, will be very elegant so spending time on your outfit is perfectly normal.

Okay so ill admit this dress might take attention from the bride…… 😂🤣

I am Interested in your journey RubyClaire! I I love the dress you have chosen and black shoes will look perfect. I also think the emerald green is very pretty for the earrings. Hope you find some you love.

Above all I hope you enjoy the wedding.

Ruby-I just wished there were more people who took pride in their appearance like you!!! First, it’s half the fun! Second, a lot of “fashion” today is just plain ugly. So stay the course, you will look and feel wonderful which always enhances your overall experience!

Ruby…just have fun…adding info to just help..now that I am older things are different…as a young women I never tripped or lost balance..wore open back heels and flip Flops with long summer dresses…but as I got older and was still attending events that were formal it became a problem with open back heels…they still had a stretch element near the buckle that allowed my heel to lift slightly….believe me all my gowns where tailored correctly…because I am only 5’3” ! Everything needs tailoring! just sharing my experience certainly didn’t want to ruffle anyones feathers over it…I am always open to any tip that stops me from tripping! Have fun be a Diva and enjoy yourself! Just having fun looking at jewelry ideas…love clothing and shopping!

Coming back to this quick then gotta run....I'm still on the vintage pucci-type bag like the one posted upthread. Crazy bag collector here....I took a quick sample of bags and earrings next to a black dress for ideas and scale. My model Heddy, the dress form, would be happy to show more detail when I get back later today. Here's my original suggestion (again, not one of my listings) and some ideas.

I have loved watching this evolve and by Ruby posting we all get great ideas through the vitural shopping. I am flying out to a funeral in a few days and have been caught up in my own details of what to wear, but this may be the last time I see a lot of these folks and want to be remembered well, I certaininly understand where Ruby is coming from and besides it fun!

Thanks all!

Home Interiors - at 5'2", I have to have soooo many things tailored. Small fortune but worth it!

Spanish - I love your collections! While I may not be so bold as to go with a Pucci bag for this event, I have added it to my saved search list on ebay. Love it.

At 5’ and 5-1/2 size shoe, all clothing has to be tailored. I feel your pain!! Shoes now mostly start at a 7!!! At one point in my Corporate life I had 92 pairs of shoes! Every time I found my size I bought it! Stewart Weitzman is my favorite shoe company. The “last” of their shoes fits my foot perfectly. Check them out.

I will grant you that this seems a bit trivial and unnecessary. But fussing over details is what this group does best! And, being there for you for any need large or small.

Trivial and unnecessary is our specialty! Anyone who is not interested can just SOB. No one suggested this was a deep endeavor or consequential. Why does it need to be? I think those of us who participate enjoy it. If one doesn't it is easy enough to ignore.

Hope they never find the towel pig thread!

Consider yourselves fortunate that you can get something altered down. I am 5' 11" and before back surgery I was 6'. You can't add length. As far as shoes, It is just as impossible to find a 9.5 narrow (the size I wore pre kids) and now an 11 shoe, as it is to find a small shoe, but more and more manufacturers are adding larger sizes in shoes to accomodate for the change in society. Stuart Weitzman was my go to shoe too Flo. One of the few designers that made a 9.5 narrow shoe at the time. You would have loved working in the shoe department at Nordstroms. The small feet gals were given all the sample sizes and the designers would come in and talk about their shoes and give them samples too. Ferragamo especially. I was so jealous!

Yep! I loved shopping here in a SW shop. Cost me! Lol

Ruby- been wondering about your choices for the wedding! Can you share? Of course, we would love to see pictures of some of the wedding which I think is later this month?

Sounds great. So glad you had time to check options in person. Always best. I can’t wait to see final choices! Nothing as much fun as dressing up for beautiful experience!

Classic choices will work for other occasions too!

Great choices all around