What to Wear to a Summer Wedding...
I do love a good wedding, as you are probably aware. The romance, the smiles, the unique touches - it's a magical occasion for all involved.
However, as
a guest, it can be quite tricky to decide what to wear to a wedding. Is it
appropriate to wear white? Is a short or long dress better? Hat or no hat?
As those
of you who have been here before will know, I am a keen advocate of etiquette
because it can help to avoid embarrassment.
Some
couples may specify a dress code in their invitation - in which case, you're
sorted. If hats are required, wear a hat - it's non-negotiable. But, more often
than not, a dress code will not be specified and, if you're not especially close
to the couple, it can be difficult to gauge the appropriate level of dress.
The
best tip I can give you is it is far better to attend
over-dressed than under-dressed.
Quick
Tips:
White? Just
don't do it. Seriously; there are thousands of colours in the colour spectrum,
so choose something else. Pippa Middleton might have made cream wedding attire appropriate, but her sister was marrying a prince. Don't steal the limelight.
Long or short? This perplexes me because, unfortunately, 'maxi' dresses tend to connote floral, flimsy cotton dresses with unflattering waist-lines. These really belong on a beach or at a barbecue. But, on the other hand, if you turn up in an elaborate full length lace and silk affair, then you could commit another faux pas by upstaging the bride. See? Minefield.
My advice is to look at knee length (or thereabouts) and midi length dresses. Don't go for a mini dress. Don't be that girl.
Midis are usually overlooked yet can look extremely elegant.
Day to
night? Consider whether you're going to be able to change between the wedding
breakfast and evening reception. It's so much easier when this is the case, but
if not, think about whether your pink floral dress will look quite as chic on
the dance floor under the stars.
The
weather? We Brits love to discuss the weather - it passes the time at bus stops - but it can be a devil. Use your common sense here,
ladies, and have a back-up plan. Don't wear a floaty dress in gale force winds;
do wear a jacket or cover-up in cold weather; and DO have a pretty umbrella. That is a
British wedding guest essential.
So,
with all this in mind, here are my summer wedding picks (with a bow
to the midi dress):
The light blues
On-trend and perfect for every skin tone. Style with cream shades or be bold and add a splash of pink or red.
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Raindrop Print Tea Dress, Jigsaw
|
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Issa Silk-jersey dress, £565, net-a-porter
|
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Elsa Peplum Dress, Anthropologie, £128 (more like this here)
|
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Hoss Intropia, £100
|
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Byron Lars Fleurs-de-Lys Dress, Anthropologie, £178
|
A great choice for taking your outfit from day to night. Cream or sparkly accessories add sophistication and drama.
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| Cream Georgette Trim Sequin Dress, Jigsaw, £259 |
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Silk Chiffon Embellished Dress, Jigsaw, £259
|
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Lela Rose Lace-print silk dress £1,655, net-a-porter
|
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Strappy Lace Vintage Slip, £38 Topshop
|
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Beatrice Sleeved Dress, £149, Monsoon
|
Bright, bold and a little more daring than the rest. Green is perfect for the spring/summer months. Try a number of shades to get the right match for your skin tone. Cream or nude accessories work especially well for a demure finish.
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| Grace Dress, Poppy Children, £98 - more here. |
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Alice by Temperley Kyoto pleated crepe dress, £375,
net-a-porter
|
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Wiggle dress in border wallpaper print, ASOS, £42
|
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| Latia Lace Dress, Coast, £145 If you like this style, there are more like it here. |
The citruses
Yellow is a key colour for summer - and it's happy, happy, happy. Go for gold accessories for real colour commitment.
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| Sculptured Crepe Dress, Whistles, £135 |
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Tory Burch Isidor embroidered silk-organza dress, £520,
net-a-porter
|
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Erdem, Amina printed silk and organza one shoulder dress,
£770, net-a-porter.com
|
The pinks
The ideal go-to colour for summer events. It's feminine and flattering and there's a shade for everyone. Nude shoes finish off the look perfectly.
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| Gracie Dress, £58, Oliver Bonas |
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| Condu Dress, £49, Oliver Bonas |
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| NW3 Constable Dress, £110, Hobbs |
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Jardin Lace Dress, Anthropologie, £238
|
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| Lace and pleated silk-organza dress, Valentino, £3,385, net-a-porter |
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| Invitation Maida Vale Dress, Hobbs, £299 |
The dark blues
My favourite colour - and a fantastic investment piece. This is perfect for every season and always looks chic. Silver or gold accessories work well - but really, pretty much anything goes.
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Sunburst Midi Dress, £88.95, Anthropologie
|
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Midi Dress in Floral Print with Buttoned Waist, £42, ASOS
|
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Prabal Gurung, Floral print cotton and silk-blend satin
dress, £1,850
|
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| Lace Dress, Milly, £318.49 |
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Alberta Ferretti Wool and silk-blend midi dress, £1,280,
net-a-porter
|
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Hobbs Invitation Audley Dress, £149
|
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Roksanda Ilincic, Izumi colour-block wool-crepe dress, £885,
net-a-porter
|
The patterns and shapes
A guaranteed good choice. Ensure the dress has a strong structure to make it stand out from your standard summer day dress.
A guaranteed good choice. Ensure the dress has a strong structure to make it stand out from your standard summer day dress.
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| Floral Dress, £70, Nomads |
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Oscar de la Renta Embellished lace and silk-faille dress, £5,950, net-a-porter
|
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Strappy lace midi prom dress, Topshop
|
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Jacquard Striped Dress £139.50 Hoss Intropia
|
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| Honour Cats Eye Tulip Dress, Zimmerman, $680 |
Perfect dresses for the perfect wedding guest. Mind you, the etiquette doesn't extend to rules on catching the bouquet...
~x~
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