What to Wear to a Summer High School Reunion

11:30 AM, July 3 2012

By Fawnia Soo Hoo

Bucking the traditional Thanksgiving timing, my alma mater is throwing my high school reunion next week–smack in the middle of July. Naturally, I’m obsessing over what to wear. There's pressure to make up for all the teenage angst with one stellar outfit...in a way that doesn't look try-too-hard.

Well, the nice thing about a summertime reunion is that you can get away with showing a little skin—tastefully, of course. Herewith, some options:

For the fancy-pants cocktail reception in a hotel ballroom, country club or otherwise swanky hometown locale:

The gorgeous shade of coral, combined with the cut-out, embroidered appliqué detail totally makes up for that junior prom dress faux pas. (And, you can recycle the look for a summer wedding.) Click through to shop accessories.

Gold retro-peep-toe sandals are a ladylike complement to the flirty dress. Plus, who doesn't feel more confident when you're taller than everyone else in platforms?

An elegant silky black minaudiere finishes it off.

The big city party in "the club" offers a little more flexibility when it comes to wardrobe risk-taking:

When in doubt, wear black, right? Well, this seriously edgy, leather-blocked mini-dress is much more inspired than your average LBD. Click through to shop accessories.

A towering pair of strappy, cut-out platforms are clearly in order.

A hard-angled, architectural cuff is a statement, not a distraction.

Or if it's at the bar-you-frequented-while-visiting-home-during-college (a.k.a. where my reunion is going down):

Resist the urge to regress to casual cut-offs. Dress it up—just enough—with a pair of tailored (i.e. grown up), printed shorts. Click through to shop accessories.