Savoir-Flair: Style File: Roast on the Coast

The Cape Fear region's chicest oyster roast is set to take place March 22 and it's all for a great cause. The Junior League of Wilmington will throw its first ever Roast on the Coast, a March Madness themed oyster roast at the Cape Fear Country Club, to benefit the League's community partnerships with New Hanover County Schools and the Blue Ribbon Commission. You already have your tickets, right? So now we have to figure out what to wear!

http://www.jlwnc.org/wilmington/npo.jsp?pg=fundraiser&article=506

We have a lot of fashion factors at play here so let's break down this party's style. The vibe is "coastal cocktail;" it's a sports-inspired event; it takes place at the country club at night...in March. Okay- the appropriate attire isn't exactly straightforward so let's consider what we'll be doing.

1- Eating oysters. (Duh.)

That can be messy so we don't want to wear anything too precious or fabrics that can't be cleaned.

2- Watching basketball.

But this venue is no sports bar so leave your jerseys at home.

3- It's March.
And that means one thing- unpredictable weather. Get ready for layers.

image via The Scout Guide

For the guys, it's easy: no jeans, no shorts. The rest is cake. Khaki pants and a sports blazer with loafers are easy and sophisticated or any chino-style pant with a collared shirt is perfectly appropriate.

via Low Country Wed

We ladies have lots of options though! The main thing to remember when getting ready for this evening is to have fun with your look. Stay away from any pieces that are too serious, like stiff blazers or heavy tweeds, and play with patterns or pairings you can't get away with at the office. Leave the over-the-top glitz at home though. A sparkly cocktail dress would be overkill in this case. But there are some other great ideas you could incorporate.

First off, let's check out the sporty vibe. Sporty chic is a huge trend for Spring and it would be perfectly appropriate for a March Madness event. I found a little inspiration at local boutique Beanie + Cecil...patterned pants and a peplum top would be comfortable and fabulous at an event like this one.

10 Crosby Derek Lam Look via Beanie + Cecil

Check out this cute tank and pant pairing from Ann Taylor...

I also love the idea of a flouncy printed skirt paired with a cheerful tee and statement necklace for this evening. The overall feel is a bit more girly but you'll feel easy and breezy all night. Cynthia Rowley nailed these options with florals based against black. Bonus points when your statement necklace is a lei printed on the top! Opaque tights and ankle booties will keep you warm in case the evening is chilly. If it happens to be a warm night, rock those booties without the nylons.

Of course, a classic wrap dress is always a good idea. Make sure yours is brightly colored or displays a fun pattern. The ease of jersey will keep you floating around from the shuckin bar to the band stand without skipping a beat. Riding boots would be super cute with this dress but if the evening is warm, wedges will keep you on your toes too!

MINKPINK dress via Nordstrom

Finally, a sporty cotton or silk-blend dress mixes sophistication with fun. Toughen up these frocks with a leather jacket or strappy heels. These pieces might be too casual for a wedding or too loud for the office but they're just right for a festive fundraiser.