8 ways to do wedding guest style

From unexpected suiting to minimalist slip dresses, read our fashion editor’s guide to styling wedding season.

From unexpected suiting to minimalist slip-dresses, read our fashion editor’s guide to being the best-dressed guest this wedding season.

Words: Anish Patel

As invites start stacking up we’re all thinking about what to wear this wedding season. These days, the big day could involve a relaxed garden party, hay-barn soirée, a grand black-tie affair – the list goes on. The key to navigating a season of nuptials is to invest in pieces that can be worn way beyond the wedding day. Here’s our fashion editor’s guide to getting it right.

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1. Disco-ready dresses

No longer limited to December, sequins, feather trims, paillettes and metallic fabrics are perfect for weddings where you know you’ll be spending the reception on the dance floor. Look to a brand with a cult following, such as The Vampire’s Wife or Kitri. Both are well known for dresses that will help you stand out from the rest of the congregation.

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KITRI - Allegra abstract-print woven mini dress

Galvin rebecca sequin embellished maxi dress

GALVAN LONDON - Rebecca sequin-embellished stretch-woven maxi dress

THE VAMPIRE'S WIFE - The Falconetti metallic wool-blend midi dress

RICK OWENS - Panelled peplum-hem stretch-cotton top

KITRI - Allegra abstract-print woven mini dress

RIXO - Eleanor halterneck woven midi dress
CHLOE - Marcie large leather tote bag

JIL SANDER - Giro brand-embossed leather tote bag

Jacquemus SS23

2. Destination dresses

Weddings by the coast, or in sunnier cities, call for lighter fabrics, looser-fitting silhouettes and summery colours. Luckily for us, sensual drapery, cut-out midis and silk minis dominated the SS23 runways. Jacquemus’ ruffled ecru maxi dress is a perfect example – the light, linen-rich fabric makes it just right for shore-side ceremonies.

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3. The LBD is back and more reliable than ever

The answer to wedding-guest dressing dilemmas, the little black dress and its sophisticated sibling, the long black dress, need very little in the way of accessories. This season, designers have reimagined them in a variety of silhouettes: there are off-the-shoulder styles, draped minis and midis with subtle cutouts – and all avoid upstaging the bride, of course. 

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FRAME - Cut-out stretch-crepe midi dress

ALAIA - Semi-sheer slim-fit cotton-blend knitted maxi dress

RICK OWENS - V-neck wrap-over woven gown

COPERNI - Cut-out asymmetric-hem stretch-woven mini dress

JIL SANDER - Concealed-button single-breasted wool blazer

STELLA MCCARTNEY - Tapered mid-rise stretch-woven trousers
CHLOE - Marcie large leather tote bag

JIL SANDER - Giro brand-embossed leather tote bag

Dires Van Noten SS23

4. Love in full bloom

When it comes to outdoor weddings, florals will always be fitting. This season, countless designers looked to Mother Nature for inspiration. They were romantic and pretty at Alessandra Rich, exotic and vivid at Dries Van Noten, and abstract and minimal at Ganni. Over at Loewe, Creative Director Jonathan Anderson put a surreal spin on anthuriums for his SS23 collection, enlarging the flower to blown-up proportions on dresses. When looks are this loud, go quiet on the accessories. 

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Dries Van Noten SS23

5. Pure minimalism

90s nostalgia is still dominating for SS23 – and minimalist slip dresses will always be a winner for weddings. The best thing about them is their versatility – to change up your styling from wedding to date night, just swap out your shoes and accessories. For city ceremonies, wear yours with chunky gold hoops, a black clutch and black heels.

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ARMARIUM - Tina cowl-neck stretch-silk midi dress

MOTHER OF ALL - Kelly sleeveless stretch-silk midi dress

VINCE - Sleeveless satin midi dress

JENNY YOO - Bellini V-neck satin midi dress

Stella McCartney SS23

6. Black-tie gowns

Three words on an invitation that can fill us with fear: ‘black-tie preferred’. But it’s an easy dress code to master if you keep a few things in mind: firstly, you can’t go wrong with floor-sweeping hemlines. And secondly, don’t be afraid of a few extra flourishes – such as the intricate florals and puff sleeves on this Erdem dress. For dresses to wear just once, look to Selfridges Rental.

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7. Party dresses

Often designed with dramatic details, cocktail dresses will be your ultimate dance-floor partner. Look for styles with glittering fabrics, metallics and ruffles – this pre-loved frilled dress from Lanvin by Alber Elbaz is the perfect post-nuptials party piece. Style it with strappy sandals and a minimalist clutch bag to let it take centre stage.

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16 ARLINGTON - Solaria sequinned stretch-woven maxi dress

PRADA - Technical voile pleated satin midi dress

DAVID KOMA - Halterneck satin jumpsuit

MON VINTAGE BY MARIE BLANCHET - Pre-loved Lanvin by Alber Elbaz frilled-panel velvet mini dress

Ferragamo SS23

8. Unexpected suiting

High-drama dressing and sharp tailoring went hand in hand at this season’s shows. For summer weddings, tailoring looks elegant and a little irreverent. Choose playful colours to avoid anything that looks too corporate: Ferragamo’s red double-breasted blazer dress, or Valentino’s hot pink suit, are high on our wish lists.

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