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-dancefloor 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 dancefloor. 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. Oscar de la Renta’s romantic ruffled silk gown is a divine choice. Printed with geraniums in a pretty pink hue, the delicate straps are paired with a boned bodice for support. Style yours with Gucci’s ‘Marmont’ sandals to avoid any sand-sinking situations, then finish the look with a raffia beach bag by Saint Laurent and moonstone earrings by Alighieri to add instant glamour.
Cocktail receptions
Perennially stylish and effortlessly elegant: you really can’t go wrong with a slip dress for a formal event, especially when it comes to a city wedding. Loulou Studio’s slinky satin midi dress will frame your figure beautifully – pair with The Row’s chic ‘Aris’ coat for a considered balance of sensual and structured silhouettes. Finally, all you need to complete the look are tonal pumps – we love Gianvito Rossi’s ‘Ascent 55’ 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 Gabriela Hearst’s elevated powder-pink suit. Adorn the sharp neckline with Suzanne Kalan’s sleek white-gold diamond necklace, and complement the fresh palette with Valentino Garavani’s coveted ‘Vlogo’ clutch in cream-colored leather.
Alfresco venues
When it comes to celebrating love, florals are always fitting. This season, slip into Emilia Wickstead’s ‘Suzi’ midi dress, which is decorated with tonal-blue bouquets ideal for garden settings and is available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER. Match the dainty florals to Aquazzura’s ‘Love Affair’ white patent pumps and finish with elegant white-gold diamond earrings by Ananya.
Extending the life of wedding-guest outfits
NET-A-PORTER offers a luxury repairs-and-alterations service powered by The Seam, which includes 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 embellishments. 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 sensible to get the length of your dress tailored before the event.
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