What To Wear To A Wedding
With wedding season upon us, there’s never been a better time to embrace the joy of dressing up. So, whether you’re heading to a ceremony in the city, alfresco nuptials in the countryside, or an elaborate event by the ocean, our guide to stylish guest attire has you covered
The ceremony-to-dance-floor dress
A summer wedding is the perfect setting for a vibrant maxi dress, bringing a joyful pop of color to the mood of the ceremony. Lanvin’s stunning one-shoulder gown – available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER – is cut in a zesty shade of orange and features a dramatic, ruffled hemline that cascades beautifully as you shimmy across the dance floor. Complement the bold hue with minimal, black accessories to keep the focus on this show-stopping dress.
Destination weddings
A wedding by the sea encourages guests to reach for more relaxed pieces – think your best resort dress but elevated with the right accessories. Part of our NET SUSTAIN edit of more consciously crafted pieces, Cortana’s ‘Tami’ dress is a divine choice, as the breezy, silk fabric has been locally made in Barcelona with tropical destinations in mind. Style yours with the Emme Parsons ‘Agnes’ sandals to avoid any sand-sinking situations, then finish the look with a beach-ready rattan bag by Cult Gaia and pavé diamond-hoop earrings by David Yurman to add instant glamour.
Cocktail receptions
You really can’t go wrong with a slip dress for a formal event, especially when it comes to a city wedding. Perennially stylish and effortlessly elegant, Christopher Esber’s slinky, ribbed-knit maxi dress will frame your figure beautifully – pair with The Row’s chic ‘Biana’ coat for a considered balance of sensual and structured silhouettes. Finally, all you need to complete the look are simple, black heeled sandals – we love Gianvito Rossi’s ‘Vernice 85’ style for a refined cocktail vibe.
Unexpected suiting
A tailored suit delivers easy sophistication with a touch of non-traditional irreverence that makes it undeniably cool. Consider playful colors to avoid anything that looks too corporate, such as Brioni’s elevated powder-blue suit – a NET-A-PORTER exclusive. Adorn the sharp neckline with Maor’s directional, gold-and-silver necklace, and complement the fresh palette with Saint Laurent’s coveted ‘Le 5 à 7’ bag in cream-colored canvas.
Alfresco venues
When it comes to celebrating love, florals are always fitting. This season, slip into Loretta Caponi + NET SUSTAIN’s ‘Melinda’ maxi dress, which is cut from GOTS-certified organic cotton and decorated with pretty Madonna lilies. Match the white florals to Aquazzura’s satin pumps and finish with elegant pearl earrings by Sophie Bille Brahe, available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER.
Extending the life of wedding-guest outfits
NET-A-PORTER offers a luxury repairs-and-alterations service powered by The Seam, with services including mending pulls and snags, dyeing satin shoes, restoring intricate beading and embellishments, fit alterations and strap adjustment.
1. Care for delicate materials. Occasionwear is often crafted in delicate fabrics that are prone to snagging, like silk satin and sheer chiffon. The Seam's Makers offer invisible repairs for snags, pulls, and rips on delicate materials and eveningwear fabrics.
2. Dye satin footwear. Satin shoes are a statement piece for formal events, but they are prone to permanent marks and stains, especially styles in lighter colors. These pieces can be cleaned to some extent, but when signs of wear aren't removable, The Seam offers dyeing solutions to transform well-worn satin heels into a pair that looks brand new.
3. Restore beading and embellishment. Beaded handbags and embellished dresses are a hallmark of wedding guest dressing, but it’s important to fix damage quickly to avoid the beading becoming entirely unraveled.
4. Tailor for the perfect fit. There’s nothing worse than putting a sharp heel through the hem of an evening gown (a common repair at The Seam), which is why it’s proactive to get the length of your dress tailored before the event. Other popular alterations to occasionwear include fit tapering and strap adjustments.
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