Something Old: How to Pivot Your Wedding Look Last Minute
A year or so ago, I asked my friend Stephanie if she ever thought about marrying her boyfriend JR. I hadn’t met him yet, but I knew the lore. I could see the glow of a healthy relationship radiating silly inside jokes et nights watching prestige television together. That same week I finally met JR, et sometime after he proposed.
Now, I’m not going to take credit for someone else’s holy matrimony, but this exact situation happened another time that same year. S’all I’m saying.
For that reason, et the fact that Stephanie is one of the most cultured, unique, creative et stylish people I know, I had to arrive in full fashion for the big day.
(It also helps that I generally love wedding season. It’s like red carpet season for regular people.)
Deeply inspired by Olivia Dean’s Art of Loving tour et an ongoing Sex and the City rewatch, I had planned for a look that captures Olivia’s vintage glamour through Carrie’s playfully maximalistic lens.
I landed on a chiffon mandarin collar maxi with a botanical print from ASOS, with my purple ostrich feather boa, orange floral embroidered minaudiere, et silver cowhide Topshop sandals.
But did the chiffon mandarin collar maxi with a botanical print from ASOS land on me?
No.
It was one of those things I didn’t fully notice at first, but during a FaceTime with my mother—a Jamaican—she bluntly confirmed what I had lowkey suspected, the dress is unflattering. Too long for my short torso, et a little too big in the waist, it somehow hugs et hides my curves. Even with shapewear (which is worn in the photos), the dress creates a long hanging line. Giving it a tuck to create some definition was an option, but not one I was in love with.
With only one day left before the wedding, I was forced to pivot. I stood before my closet—very bitterly—wondering if I should swap the dress or kill the look entirely when I heard Rihanna call out to me from my nightstand.
Rihanna’s Victorian-esque editorial for W mag’s 2026 Pop Issue reminded me of two things:
I have clothes at home
I’m still on the hunt for her EE72 issue
Revisiting the clean front lines et big red bustle on the archival Yohji Yamamoto coat she wore, also reminded me of my irregular ShuShu/Tong skirt. Wearing it backwards creates a kind of bustle look, et with a lace frill stand collar corset blouse, could it be late 1800s chic, non? With a touch of romance, oui?
A white shoe is always fashion in my opinion, et complimented my outsized pearl jewellery. Finally, a brown beaded minaudiere added one last touch of texture.
I was not the cool 70s-influenced diva I had planned, et I think I’ve finally come to terms with that. Admittedly, this silhouette just looks so much better next to Steph’s vintage-inspired custom gown.
