OUR HANDY GUIDES
What to Wear to a Wedding
The invitation has arrived!
You're getting ready to attend a celebration of love that promises to be unforgettable.
But what will you wear?
Whether you're a guest, a bridesmaid, the mother of the bride, or the mother of the groom, finding the right dress for a wedding can be tricky. What type of dress is appropriate for a summer wedding? What colours should you avoid? What accessories should you focus on?
Follow our guide to be the best-dressed guest.
You want to stand out for the right reasons, so it's a good idea to know what sort of wedding you're attending. Step one: check to see if the invitation mentions a particular dress code. Is it black tie? Is there a special theme?
Don't forget to take the wedding's location into consideration. Will it be indoors or outdoors? Will it be in a city or at the beach? Will it be chic or rustic? Will the ceremony take place in a church? All of this information can help you choose an ensemble that's appropriate for the event.
But what type of dress should you wear to a beach, rustic, or chic wedding?
The sky's the limit when it comes to your sartorial creativity. The possibilities are absolutely endless. However, to give you some direction while shopping, keep in mind that a beach wedding often features bright colours, sunny prints, and lightweight fabrics. We love maxi dresses that won't get swept up by an ocean breeze.
Rustic Weddings
The key words are soft and delicate. This type of wedding often features romantic ruffles, pastel colours, delicate lace, and floral patterns. In terms of materials, we love diaphanous fabrics or natural fibres that exude casual elegance, such as linen and cotton. If most of the wedding is taking place in a field, leave the stilettos as home since they will sink into the grass.
Urban Weddings
Weddings in the city are often very chic, so it's the perfect occasion to wear satiny, velvety, or structured fabrics in darker, more reserved tones. We prefer cocktail dresses to long elegant gowns, since the latter can seem more like red-carpet attire or prom dresses and might steal the spotlight.
Urban weddings are also a great opportunity to wear something less traditional, like a jumpsuit, pantsuit, or co-ord set. These options are the perfect union of elegance and modern allure!
Types of Dresses
Knowing the different dress styles that are out there will help you shop. Here are three main types and some tips for how to style them.
Long Dresses
Maxi dresses that skim the ankle became an icon of hippie fashion in the 1960s, and they haven't left our closets since! Often associated with major events, they now come in a wide variety of styles, ranging from chic mermaid dresses to cute and colourful summer frocks.
How to Style a Long Dress
Think that long dresses only look good on tall, slender people? Think again! It's just a question of finding the fabric and cut that flatters you best. Choose one that's cinched and form-fitting to accentuate your waist, or one that features draped, flowy fabric for a boho style that's Grecian goddess-worthy. Whether straight or sculptural, it will make you look tall—an illusion you can play into with a pretty pair of pumps!
Midi Dresses
Characterized by a sensible, modest length that hits below the knee and could go as low as the mid-calf, the midi dress flourished in the late '40s, thanks in particular to Dior's famous “New Look.” It has since regained its former glory and is in high demand today as an elegant, classy option. It still retains the flattering fit-and-flare silhouette of previous decades, and stands out for its many modern iterations. The satin midi babydoll dress is a contemporary must-have.
How to Style a Midi Dress
Due to its peculiar length, this dress might seem a difficult challenge. However, midi dresses are really made for everyone. It's as simple as following a few specific rules to get the look you want. To balance the length, wear a style that has a high or empire waist, or use a belt to accentuate the waistline. For a seductive, feminine look, choose a form-fitting style with a flattering drape that perfectly hugs your curves. High-heel shoes also work great to elongate your silhouette and show it off at its best.
Short Dresses
Whether it's knee-length or mini, the most popular style going is the little black dress. And no wonder—it's so versatile! You could wear it to a wedding and easily wear it again to other events. As for cocktail dresses, they're often made from luxurious fabrics such as brocade, chiffon, crepe, satin, or taffeta. They're very festive, making them the perfect plus-ones for a chic occasion like a wedding.
How to Style a Short Dress
Short dresses are some of the most versatile styles, and they don't follow any strict rules when it comes to adding accessories. They go well with sandals, ballet flats, pretty boots, and high-heels depending on the context and style of the garment. Here, the sky is the limit!
Shop by Dress Type
While the coldest months aren't traditionally associated with weddings, they have the advantage of adding a beautiful twist to the ceremony. There's nothing like a snowy landscape to create magical moments. Since you may need to layer up to protect yourself from the cold, you can play with textures and various fabrics like taffeta, velvet, and faux fur.
In terms of colour, seasonal tones and deep shades like burgundy, emerald, and navy blue always make a big impression and are easy to wear on other occasions. And don't forget to match your coat to your outfit, especially in terms of length, to create a harmonious look.
What kind of dress should guests wear to a spring or summer wedding?
Garments made of linen, silk, cotton, or chiffon are perfect for the warmest months of the year. If it's hot out, you can also opt for a sleeveless or backless dress to stay cool. That said, it pays to keep a shawl or bolero handy for the parts of the ceremony taking place inside air-conditioned spaces.
As for the colour palette, vibrant tones are most welcome during summer weddings, as are floral patterns. Chlorophyll green, azure blue, fuchsia pink, tangerine orange, lemon yellow, and other bright colours stand out on dresses and dress sandals.
Colours
What colour shouldn't you wear to a wedding? And what colours are best to wear? Since these are some of wedding guests' most-asked questions, we've put together a little guide to help you out.
Do
Wear almost any colour, including dark hues.
Can you wear black to a wedding? There was a time when this was frowned upon, but that's no longer the case. Unless you're attending a very traditional wedding, black is A-OK!
Wear joyful colours like pastels and bright tones—these happy hues are favourites for celebratory events like weddings. Neutrals are perfectly acceptable as well.
Don't
Wear white—it's reserved for the bride. Unless you're specifically told otherwise, leave this colour in the closet if you're a guest.
Also avoid similar shades, such as ivory and cream.
It can be okay to wear touches of white to the event, for example if it's part of a pattern.
It's also a good idea to check what colour the bridesmaids will be wearing so you can differentiate yourself from the bridal party. The dresses of the mother of the bride and mother of the groom generally correspond with the colour of the bridesmaid dresses, without necessarily being identical.
Shop by Colour
Enclosed high-heels or those that are a sandal or mule style are always a great choice for adding elegance and femininity to your outfit.
But don't forget that stilettos can be inconvenient for outdoor weddings, because they easily sink into grass and sand. Instead, you could go with a block heel, a wedge heel, or platform soles, all of which are particularly contemporary silhouettes. Heeled booties and tall boots can also be great options for autumn or winter weddings.
For those that aren't as comfortable walking in high-heels, don't panic! Sandals and ballet flats can also look very chic and stylish.
Jewellery and bags are the perfect plus-ones that can take a look from ordinary to extraordinary.
To brighten up a dark-coloured dress, add some accents that pack a punch. If a busy print or a vivid colour is the focal point of your outfit, opt for more understated accessories.
As for bags, choose a compact size to keep all your effects stylishly stowed away. Clutches and minaudières will be your best buds!
Finally, don't forget that sometimes the key to a perfect outfit is what you wear underneath. We offer a range of undergarments that will provide you with invisible comfort all day long.
In-Store Clothing Alterations
Your clothes will fit you like a glove thanks to the expertise of our specialized team of tailors who can make any necessary alterations on-site.
