What to Wear to Spring Events: Party-Perfect Looks from Nashville Boutiques
Whether you're celebrating a graduate or cheering on your favorite thoroughbred, these four Nashville boutiques can help you show up in style. Image: Kenzie Barron for H. Audrey
Between Motherβs Day, Steeplechase, graduation season, and beyond β¦ our calendars are packed. These four Nashville boutiques have all your May moments covered with special occasion-worthy pieces to see you through a season of indoor and outdoor events. Think light fabrics, eye-catching details, and versatile separates. Paired with warm-weather makeup tips from The Cosmetic Market, youβll look fresh wherever the day (or night) takes you.
*Please note that, while not all of the pieces featured in todayβs article are available to shop online, all are stocked in-store.
Table of Contents
Oak Hall
Neighborhoods: Green Hills & Franklin
More Info:Β oakhall.com
Since 1859, Oak Hall has been outfitting generations of the Southβs most stylish women in classic, yet current fashions. Here youβll find day dresses, gala gowns, and everything in between, along with a professional staff ready to help you pull it all together.
With so many reasons to celebrate this month, the team of stylists at Oak Hall has turned their attention to pieces that go the extra mile. βWe want our customers to invest in pieces that they will wear over and over again, but in different ways,β explains Assistant Ladiesβ Buyer Emma Jones.
Mix and Match Separates
When the RSVP calls for something special, it can be tempting to turn to a dress for a one-and-done, but donβt sleep on separates. Choose pants, skirts, and blouses in similar shades that can be worn together for a sleek, monochromatic moment, or broken up and paired with other colors in your closet. βMixing skirts or pants with a sleeveless top offers more possibilities than just one dress,β says Emma.
Choose Pastels with Staying Power
Spring shades of pale pinks, blues, greens, and lavenders are not only flattering to most skin tones, but they also play well with both gold and silver accessories. And while there once was a time when a good Southerner wouldnβt be caught dead wearing light shades after Labor Day, not anymore! Now, a pastel palette works all year, so donβt be afraid to invest. βThese colors pair well with the olive, wine, and navy shades that we are going to be seeing everywhere this fall,β Emma says. βThat makes them perfect transitioning pieces, which lets you enjoy them longer.β
Shop Alice
Neighborhood: West Nashville
More Info:Β shopalicenashville.com
When you want to stand out in the crowd, Shop Alice brings you plenty of options to get the job done. Owner and fashion industry veteran Betsy Taylor takes pride in sourcing brands that you wonβt find in other local boutiques. She, along with her daughter, Edie Lindsey, focuses on small vendors who rely on the highest-quality fabrics to create small-batch designs. The resulting selection caters to the woman who favors effortless elegance and understands the art of dressing. βI think the popularity of the show Love Story has rekindled a love of dressing up again,β Betsy tells us.
Extras and Embellishments
This season, Betsy is embracing embellishments and those little extras that turn a design from ordinary into extraordinary. Think peplum tops that can be worn over skirts or slim pants, removable ruffles, and interesting pattern combinations. βPatterns are big right now, and mixing and matching them allows you to show off your individuality,β says Betsy. We love this stripe-on-stripe combo by Odeeh, which pairs easily with other pieces.
Breezy, Breathable Fabrics
When it comes to dressing for an outdoor event in the South, the struggle is real! The heat and humidity can make you wilt faster than a fresh-cut hydrangea. βI like skirts and dresses for summer because air flow is important in our humid weather,β says Betsy, who favors light, airy fabrics like linens and silks. βAnything that has movement and can breathe is key.β
H. Audrey
Neighborhood: Green Hills
More Info:Β h-audrey.com
H. Audrey is a study in simple, sophisticated styles that whisper rather than scream for attention. For this season of social events, Creative Director Dakota Conn is turning to natural fibers, interesting elements, and plenty of separates that let your own style shine through. With another location slated to open in McEwen Northside later this year, H. Audrey will soon be bringing all the latest looks from the most sought-after designers to the fashion-forward in Franklin.
Skirting the Issue
According to Dakota, skirts are on-trend β and trending. βWeβve sold more skirts this season than ever,β she says. βPeople love a skirtβs versatility and how they can get multiple looks out of it.β This chartreuse skirt and blouse from Ulla Johnson exudes elegance when paired, but can go solo for a variety of casual options.
Go With the Flow
Dakota says sheβs seeing a diverse range of styles and fits, from loose and flowing to architectural. Think high-low hemlines, loose-fitting blouses, or sculptural designs like a bubble skirt. βThere are more interesting design elements when it comes to fit and flow,β she explains. βA normal blouse is now a little more boho looking.β
Donβt Ignore the Details
Jeweled straps peeking out from a floral gown. Statement jewelry that pops against a monochromatic palette. A bold, bright color that takes a basic style to the next level. Anything that adds an element of the unexpected is an easy way to put a little βspringβ in your step. We love how the floral belt on this Leo Lin blazer was reimagined as a necklace!
Made You Look
Neighborhood: Green Hills
More Info: madeyoulooknashville.com
Beloved by locals for its vibrant vibe, Made You Look is home to fun fashions, carefully curated by the mother-daughter duo of Madeline Carter and Macy Mulligan, to appeal to women of all ages. βWe wanted a spot where we could shop together,β explains Madeline. βA place where mothers and daughters could both find something to wear.β They can also find a place to hang, thanks to community in-store events like open-play Mahjong.
Dresses That Do Double Duty
The Steeplechase horses arenβt the only things racing this month. You may find yourself running from a morning graduation to an afternoon brunch and an evening party with barely enough time to touch up your makeup in between. If youβre double-booked, you need a dress that can do double duty. βWe love bright, colorful dresses that work with flip-flops and flats, but can be instantly elevated with a heel,β describes Madeline.
And donβt forget your accessories! Switching to a small clutch or adding a piece of statement jewelry are easy ways to give your look an instant upgrade.
Makeup That Can Take the Heat
To keep your face from melting like ice cream on a warm day, you need a light hand and the right products. βLess is more, but it does need to be strategic,β advises Cosmetic Market Makeup Artist Leslie Moore. βHow you prep the skin, the products you use, and how you apply them are the key to longevity in warm weather.β Look for tinted moisturizers or foundations that contain skin-moisturizing ingredients, like the Hydropure Tinted Serum from Jane Iredale.
Once you have prepped your canvas, apply your color sparingly. βA special event is not the time to experiment with trends,β cautions Moore. She recommends a neutral eye shadow palette combined with a rich navy or emerald liner to make eyes pop. βThey make the whites of the eyes look whiter,β she says. Try the Trish McEvoy gel liners in Emerald Green or Arabian Nights to get the look.
For the finishing touch, keep cheeks and lips cohesive. βWhen you marry your cheek and lip color, you look instantly pulled together,β says Moore. Swap your powder blush for a cream, and trade the longwearing lip stain for something sheer or glossy. βGloss is like a little white tee; it works with everything,β says Moore.
For touch-ups, Moore likes the customizable Trish McEvoy palettes that easily slip into your clutch and keep you looking fresh and photo-ready from day to night.
This article was made possible byΒ H. Audrey,Β Oak Hall, Made You Look, Shop Alice, and The Cosmetic Market.
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Bonny Osterhage
Bonny Osterhage is a professional journalist with more than 25 years of experience in both print and digital media. An avid fitness fanatic, when she isn't exploring the next trending topic, Bonny can be found cycling, running, and leading classes at SolidCore. Find more of her work at Mind Body Green, The List, Business Insider, and more.