Don’t Forget The Frosting! 10 Ideas to Look Shockingly Sweet at the Gala

The Fraser Gala, presented by Meristem | Cresset, is at a new location, the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, on Fri., Nov. 3, 2023. This year, gala guests have a theme they can really sink their teeth into, the childhood game Candy Land.

Join us on a magical path to King Kandy’s Castle. Chill out in the Peppermint Forest, or maybe you’ll bump into Queen Frostine in the Frosted Palace. You won’t want to miss a night with specialty cocktails, a decadent dinner, enchanting entertainment, and most importantly, an inspiring testimonial from a Fraser family. Register here.

But the sweetest part is all the delicious ensemble possibilities! Read on for ideas to really add the cherry on top of your look.

Add whimsy with polka dots

Polka dots are inherently whimsical. The pattern adds a light-heartedness to any look. It probably comes as no surprise then that there are “dots” throughout Candy Land. Think of the Gooey Gumdrops, the cherries on the top of Candy Castle and the lollipops dotted throughout Lollipop Woods. It’s also easy to be inspired by an old-school favorite — candy buttons — the white strips of paper with pink, yellow, blue and green drops of confection.

Consider a polka dot tie, shirt, tights or dress. Or maybe go super daring and select a head-to-toe polka dot outfit! You could even add a few polka dots to your makeup.

Counterclockwise from left: Bell sleeve flower dot dress from TheHippieShake.co.uk, Polka dot pocket square from Bows-n-Ties.com, Christopher John Rogers black and white polka dot outfit on Vogue.com, Polka dot makeup inspo from ModernTeen.co

Perfect your outfit with pops of pastels

When I picture the Candy Land board, it’s Queen Frostine’s pale blue ball gown and matching blue hair that appears. And let’s not forget the pink bubbles of the Ice Cream Sea and King Kandy’s pale pink beard. All the pastels offer a lot of fun outfit ideas.

Try a pale pink slip dress or a mint green suit. Slip on a pair of pastel-striped trousers or periwinkle patent leather Mary Jane shoes. Or don a pale pink lip with matching pink eyeshadow. Let’s see how far out you can sail on that Ice Cream Sea!

Counterclockwise from top left: Pink slip dress from &OtherStories.com, Pink confetti headband from TwineandLove on etsy.com, Cotton candy pumps from HotChocolateDesign.com, Pale green suit from Amazon.com, Pastel striped button-up from Incerunmen.com

Bubblegum pink with #Barbiecore

Speaking of pink (and who isn’t lately), maybe you’ve heard of a movie called Barbie? The movie has created a trend known as Barbiecore. It’s basically dressing in all things pink, the more bubblegum, the better, which fits perfectly with our Candy Land theme.

Pair a hot pink sequined skirt and top with sky-high pink platforms. Throw on a drapey, pink evening gown with pink gloves, or go icon-status and wear an all-pink tuxedo jacket, pants and ruffled shirt. Don’t forget the Barbie makeup! Many YouTube and TikTok tutorials show you how to perfect the Barbie face.

Counterclockwise from top left: Barbie makeup inspo from bit.ly/4676CC3, Aquazurra heels from MyTheresa.com, Christopher John Rogers pink tux on Vogue.com, Alexander McQueen suit on Vogue.com 

Keep it colorful with the rainbow trail

The trail winding through Candy Land looks like a twisty rainbow. You may also remember a little shortcut at the beginning of the game called the Rainbow Trail, which lets players skip ahead. The main takeaway in Candy Land is all about color, so embrace ALL THE COLORS with a rainbow look. Pick up a rainbow-striped dress, a sparkly rainbow jumpsuit or a pair of psychedelic rainbow platforms. You could even grab an iridescent sequin skirt, which changes to a rainbow look as you move and shake. More is more with this look!

Counterclockwise from top left: Dolce & Gabanna iridescent skirt from Net-a-Porter.com, Rainbow pumps from Unique-Vintage.com, Rainbow vest from Jayley.com, Rainbow woven purse by DuruBagStore on etsy.com

Charm with candy stripes

The name of the game is spelled out in candy-striped white and pink letters. Then there’s the dapper Mr. Mint surrounded by candy canes in the Peppermint Forest.

Go bold with a pair of red-and-white candy-cane-striped tights or a long, striped coat. Try a striped sweater, a striped blazer and pants or a simple striped button-up.

Counterclockwise from top left: Simon Miller green striped dress on Vogue.com, Miguelina pastel striped pants from Net-a-Porter.com, Rainbow striped dress from FarmRio.com, Tommy Adaptive dress from Tommy.com

Stick to one hue with a monochromatic look

Like Candy Land characters Queen Frostine and Mr. Mint, dressing in different tones of one color creates a bold fashion statement. Pick up a suit in pale blue, or try a head-to-heels look in chartreuse. You could also double-up on trends and pile on the shades of pink à la #barbiecore.

Counterclockwise from top left: Orange dress from Muehleder.com, Yellow suit from LuqManArtandDesign on Etsy.com, Green satin skirt from &OtherStories.com, Pink suit from Design Villa Art on etsy.com

Here’s an adaptive monochromatic look. Counterclockwise from top left: Tommy Adaptive pants from Tommy.com, Tommy Adaptive cardigan from Tommy.com, Pre-tied gingham bow tie from Otaa.com, Tommy Adaptive button-up from Tommy.com. According to Tommy.com, “Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive was created with one goal – to deliver classic, American-cool style with innovative design twists that make getting dressed easier for the entire family.”

Dress like a cake with layered tulle

What’s a gala without some tulle? So layer it on with a dress of tiered tulle, and top your outfit with a tulle coat or try a layered tulle skirt.

Counterclockwise from left: Full-length ruffled tulle coat from Akira.com, Rick Owens pink tulle trench from SSense.com, Tulle ruffle dress from Anthropologie.com, Carolina Herrera ruffled tulle skirt from Vogue.com

Make it extra sugary with candy accessories

Love sweet treats? You can adorn your ears with gummy bear earrings or carry your phone in a gummy bear bag. Or, maybe you’d like to eat your cake and carry it too? Try a clutch shaped like a slice of cake. Add a literal cherry on top of your outfit with a cherry-topped beret or cherry fascinator. 

Counterclockwise from left top: Cake purse from MeghanFabulous.com, Bannan wedge shoes from FarmRio.com, Cotton candy fascinator from MySweetBoutique on Etsy.com, Conversation hearts headband from Sercy&Co.com, Gummy bear earrings BetseyJohnson.com

Hair color as light as a fluff of cotton candy

At-home hair color options now come in a rainbow of hues. You can try periwinkle, pale pink, mint green or a combination of colors, often referred to as mermaid or unicorn hair. But for a multi-hued hair color look, you might want to get an expert’s help. You could also opt for a wig for an easy (and easily undone) version of cotton candy hair.

Counterclockwise from top left: Rose gold hair dye from Overtone.co, Cotton candy wig inspo from bit.ly/3EzSPIv, Rainbow wig from Amazon.com, Light purple wig from Amazon.com

Frost your lids and lips

What’s dessert without frosting? Whether you go shimmery white, frosty blue, strawberry pink or sparkly purple, frosty eyeshadow options will make you look straight out of Candy Land. You can even blend a few eyeshadow shades together to get a cotton candy effect. Consider a pearlescent shade on your lips, too.

Counterclockwise from top left: Frosty pink lipstick from RunwayRogueBeauty.com, Cotton candy eyeshadow inspo from bit.ly/3sSh6XT, Cupcake makeup inspo from fahriair on Instagram.com, Pink eye makeup from Nylon.com

Want some more ideas? Check out our Pinterest board –2023 Fraser Gala- Candy Land.