Chic Outfits For Summer Weddings

Allure Magazine Offers Selections On A Shoestring

(CBS)  Warm weather is here, which means wedding season is on the way. However finding the right outfit to wear when you're a guest can be tricky.

Linda Wells, the editor-in-chief of the new magazine, Allure Bride visited The Early Show to help crack the complicated wedding dress code.

Weddings have their own particular dress codes: You can't wear white; you shouldn't wear black; you want to look sexy without offending the bride's mother. It's a potential minefield.

This is the beginning of the summer wedding season and you want to look great, but be comfortable. And hopefully, find something you can wear again. So this spring, Allure magazine decided to create a hip, trend bridal magazine titled, Allure Bride.

Co-anchors Julie Chen, Harry Smith and Rene Syler went head-to-head in the Chic on a Shoestring competition. It was a tie between Julie and Harry in first place. Sorry, Rene.


The following are the looks featured on The Early Show:

Look No.1: Beach Wedding

Bohemian-style dress
These dresses in Moroccan-style prints are easy to throw on and look exactly right at a beach wedding. They're not too tailored or tight; they will billow attractively in the breeze. Bright, cheerful color looks good on pale or dark skin. Wear them with beaded sandals that you can kick off on the beach.

Steal

Zara cotton and silk dress, $129, Zara stores
Aldo sandals, $49.99, Aldo stores
Marciano beaded bag, $138, Guess stores

Grand Total: $316.99

Splurge
Diane Von Furstenberg silk dress, $345, Henri Bendel
Jimmy Choo beaded sandal with crystals, $690, Jimmy Choo
Cesare Paciotti beaded bag, $900, Saks Fifth Avenue

Grand Total: $1,935

What's The Difference? The splurge dress is made of high quality silk vs. the cotton/silk blend in the steal dress. The Jimmy Choos have crystal embellishment.

Look No.2: Daytime Wedding

Wells says the shift dress is the perfect choice for a daytime wedding. Shift dresses are classic and universally flattering; they're a wedding staple. Here she's selected a fun, bright color -- so that you avoid wearing "black" or a bridesmaid's pale color. The magenta is punchy, ideal for daytime weddings.

She's made this classic dress very "of-the-moment" by pairing it with the season's big beaded necklaces or with several strands of big fake pearls with ribbon ties. The shoes are not strappy or satin, which is more appropriate for an evening affair. Here the shoes are structured, but not too casual - another big faux pas. They are snakeskin for day, with a peep toe for summer. The bag is also leather, not satin.

Splurge
Marc Jacobs with three-layered ruffled hem, $1600, Bloomingdales
Christian Louboutin snakeskin pumps, $985, Christian Louboutin stores
Chanel leather bag, $1,595, Chanel stores

Grand Total: $4,180

Steal
J.Crew silk shift dress (from new wedding collection), $235, JCrew.com
BCBGirls leather pumps, $94.95, Bloomingdales
Banana Republic leather bag, $78, Banana Republic stores

Grand Total: $407.95

What's The Difference? The Marc Jacobs dress has more detailing, giving the shift a little bit more "oomph." The splurge shoes are snakeskin and not just leather.

Look No.3: Evening

A summer evening wedding is also difficult. You want something cool for warm weather, but you don't want to be too "casual" as at a beach wedding. You also want to "sparkle," but not be too formal. The outfit featured is a pink dress with gold lace overlay. Traditionally, an evening wedding calls for a little flash, just in case you want to catch the best man along with the bouquet. But you will need to cover yourself during the ceremony with a shawl or a cardigan, which you can whip off when you get on the dance floor.

Both dresses are very simple, but gold lace overlay makes them more formal and festive. Wells has paired the dresses with beautiful gold sandals and a satin clutch. Both are in gold metallic, which is very hot right now.

Splurge
Collette Dinnigan dress with beading and sequin trim and fine lace overlay, $1,288, Henri Bendel
Jimmy Choo leather sandals, $455, Jimmy Choo stores
Judith Leiber satin bag, $1,295, Saks Fifth Avenue
Yarnz cashmere wrap, $150

Grand Total: $3,188
Splurge is over 15 times the price of the steal

Steal
Shoshanna strapless dress, $85, Bloomingdales
Nina leather shoes, $75.95, Macys
Newport News nylon bag, $21.99, Newport-News.com
Newport News wrap, $29, Newport-News.com

Grand Total: $211.94

What's The Difference? Here the material is key. The splurge is using the best materials like cashmere vs. nylon and other less-expensive fabrics in the steal look.