What Should I Wear for Easter?

     Growing up in a very religious family, Easter is one of the most celebrated religious holidays next to Christmas. And just like Christmas, Easter means only one thing, family -- oh, and those mini Cadbury eggs. I've done just about everything there is to do on Easter from going to church during the day, to finding Easter eggs with my little cousins, and having a family barbecue at the beach. Not everyone has the same tradition when it comes to this holiday, but one thing's for sure, we all have to look our Sunday best on this day regardless of the activity. 

     The goal is to create a look that's very appropriate for your planned activity for the day, keeping in mind both comfort and location. So before you put together your ensemble for the day, you should ask yourself these few simple questions: 

(1) What am I doing for easter? 

- Going to church

- Going to an Easter Egg Hunt with younger siblings/cousins

- Going to the beach

- Going to a picnic

- Other

- A combination of events 

(2) Where is the activity taking place? / Is it going to be indoors or outdoors? 

(3) Who's going to be there? 

These three simple questions should help you easily evaluate the event and activities that will be taking place so you could dress accordingly. It sounds simple enough, but he have to keep in mind that this is a religious holiday, and as much as I'd like to be very fashionable for any occasion, I also try and be respectful, especially with the way I dress. 

for Church

dress by H&M
cardigan by J.Crew

     

     Not everyone goes to church on Easter Sunday and also not everyone just goes to church on Easter too. There's a high probability that you will be doing other activities right after going to church so make sure you plan outfit changes if needed. The two things that you have to keep in mind when dressing to go to a place of worship is fabric choices and skin coverage. What I mean by fabric choices is absolutely NO jeans or anything remotely super casual. You always hear others say that people don't care what you wear to church, but what you have to keep in mind is that the word church is synonymous with the words 'be respectful.' So your best bet is to wear a dress with an appropriate hem line (knee length or longer, no minis, please) in a light fabric like chiffon or jersey. And since Easter is known for colors, especially pastel (oh, how I love pastel colors!) go for a dress in a pretty pastel hue. As for skin coverage, cover up those shoulder please, the best solution for a beautiful spring day like this one is a colorful cardigan. Maxi dresses are very on-trend right now, so my gorgeous H&M dress with a floral print is perfect for church, especially when paired with one of my colorful J.Crew cardigans and espadrilles. 

for Easter Egg-Hunting with children

dress by Zac Posen
necklace by Forever 21 

     Two things that you have to keep in mind when you go Easter Egg hunting with your little ones are: there's a 99.9% chance that it's probably going to be outdoors and that there's going to be a lot of movement involved. So with that in mind, when putting your ensemble together, make sure you pick an outfit that will let you move freely, which means no body conscious dresses or skirts, and that you're wearing comfortable footwear since there's going to be a lot of walking, and possibly even running. Another thing to keep in mind is to pick an outfit that's very weather appropriate. If the forecast is 80 degrees and sunny, you do not want to caught wearing pants and a jacket in the middle of a hot and sunny field. So go for pieces like a-line skirts, strapless dresses, or maybe even some shorts with a lightweight top. I know that I can't wait to wear my new Zac Posen polka dot dress for this occasion, it's festive and super cute. 

for the Beach

bikini top by Victoria's Secret / bikini bottom by Gap

button up shirt by J. Crew

fedora by Urban Outfitters

     One of my favorite Easter memories was when my whole family spent an entire day at the beach just swimming, playing in the sand, eating, and flying kites. This is the easiest Easter activity to dress for, because it really only involves a swimsuit! But in between playing in the sun and eating (because you know a day at the beach always involves food. All of that outdoor activity makes you hungry!) make sure you have something other than a towel to cover up. An oversized button up shirt, like my floral J.Crew one above, is perfect to keep me warm in between playing in the water, as would a jersey sundress, oversized tee, or those dress-cover ups made out of towel material (I own two!) And I think it's pretty standard to say that flip flops is your best footwear option for the day. Oh, and don't forget to put on SPF lotion! 

for a Picnic

top by Heritage 1981 / cardigan by Gap
vintage shorts
sunglasses by Ray Ban

     For those of us who can't enjoy the coastal blessing that is the beach (I went to a university that's landlocked. The nearest beach is about 30-45 minutes away) your Easter festivities just might involve hanging out with friends and having a picnic or a barbecue. Your friends might not care as much as the people in church about what you wear that day, but just make sure that you're comfortable. If the event involves sitting on the ground, make sure that you go for shorts or jean cut offs. Wearing a skirt or dress is tricky, because you might risk flashing the entire world your intimates, so just keep that in mind when you get dressed. If chairs are conveniently available for your Easter plans, then you have the freedom to wear just about anything! Just make sure that you incorporate colors and layers in your outfit to anticipate the cooler temperatures as the sun sets. Hey, it's better to be over prepared than being under dressed. 

     So remember, don't forget to put on sunscreen, eat lots of chocolate eggs, and enjoy this time with your family and friends. This should be a fun and carefree day so you don't want to be worrying or adjusting your outfit because of wrong and inappropriate outfit choices. Choose wisely so all you have to worry about is having a great time. 

Love, KB