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Best Wedding Guest Dresses: Navigating The New World Of Wedding Guest Dressing
Really, the only rule now is: don’t wear white.
Few fashion scenarios induce as much perspiration as trying to find a wedding guest dress. If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’ve been dressing yourself with next-to-no drama for quite some time, yet having to clothe ourselves to witness someone else’s nuptials still seems to undo even the most accomplished dressers among us.
To be fair, it’s understandable if event dressing brings you out in a sweat. The rules used to be fairly simple – don’t wear black, don’t upstage the bride, wear shoes you can stand up in – but with today’s increasingly varied weddings it can be particularly tricky to work out what the hell you’re supposed to wear.
City weddings? Something chic, probably – but can you wear black? Really, the answer to that will depend on how chill your bride is. Country affair? Florals are always in, but shop on the high street and there’s a high chance you’ll be twinning with another guest. And as for those far-flung destination weddings? Nothing is more challenging than finding a dress that you won’t overheat in once the temperatures tip 40 degrees.
So, how to win the wedding-guest dress game now? An easy option is to embrace the world of rental, where you can borrow something extra special without the investment. Platforms like By Rotation and Hurr have incredible designer options to hire for a few days or even a few weeks if you're headed abroad – perfect for an outfit you might only wear once.
Generally speaking, something party-ready fits the bill for most weddings these days – I might not know how fun your friends are, but I’m willing to bet hardly any of them will be mad at you for making a major effort on their big day, so consider ruffles, feathers and highlighter-bright hues – especially while the summer is still here. Even cut-outs are acceptable (just perhaps don’t go for the full Kendall.)
As for length? Pretty much anything goes these days, but a midi usually comes with maximum wardrobe mileage after the big day – a calf-skimming floral-print dress will look just as good with thong sandals or chunky boots at the weekend.
So from nuptials in a country pile, modest church, local boozer or back garden, there's a wedding guest dress for each and every invite – here, see the ones we’ll all be wearing for this year’s long-overdue love-in.
The Wedding Guest Dresses We Want To Wear Again And Again
Aje’s creative cut-outs and sculptural ruffles make the chicest statement every time. My ultimate pick from the new season, the Asra dress gives just the right amount of frothy, feminine energy. Gold finishers are an obvious choice, but consider chunky silver jewellery for a fresh twist.
Reformation’s Kourtney dress is one of those brilliant designs you’ll find yourself calling on for so many occasions. It’s the small, thoughtful details that make it look so expensive: note the gently curved neckline, adjustable straps and discretely ruched back panel.
You really can’t go wrong with a sleek,square-neck column dress like Whistles’ sea-green Mila design. It’ll look chic with both gold and silver jewellery, and the straps are wide enough to conceal a bra seamlessly beneath. How practical.
Warehouse Square Neck Ruched Midi Dress
This is extremely cute – note how flattering the waist cut-outs are – and the price is frankly ridiculous.
Rotate Birger Christiansen Merle Ruched Jersey Midi Dress
Rotate’s dresses were made for partying – and picking one up from The Outnet means you can treat yourself to shoes to match, too.
Cecilie Bahnsen Shilo Off-The-Shoulder Matelassé Mini Dress
Cecilie Bahnsen’s cloud-like silhouettes are a modern classic – this is one you’ll wear for years to come.
Rixo’s collection with Abisola Omole is full of joyful summer pieces. In sizes 6 - 26, this vintage-style yellow slip dress is bias-cut (the mark of a decent design) and cleverly features an underbust seam to define your silhouette just enough.
Norma Kamali Diana Ruched Asymmetric Dress
Norma Kamali Diana Ruched Asymmetric Dress
Norma Kamali's classic super-stretch dresses are such a brilliant investment. Not only are they incredibly comfortable (even on a sweltering beach) but the all-over ruching is so flattering. You can't go wrong with classic black, but I love this neon green for a hot destination wedding.
Simone Rocha Beaded Heart-Insert Silk-Organza Midi Dress
Few designers encapsulate modern romance quite as well as Simone Rocha. This gauzy red dress will look spectacular when layered under a lace-edged slip.
So apparently there’s this thing called Barbiecore…
Loewe’s anthurium print is the chicest way to wear florals now – and thanks to Hurr, you can borrow it for a long weekend.
The Vampire's Wife Mini Cate Dress
The Vampire’s Wife’s Victoriana ruffles are equal parts sweet and sexy. An It dress for good reason, these precisely cut pieces are also incredibly flattering, with the peaked shoulders and defining ruffles creating a streamlines sihouette.
Taller Marmo Piccolo Ubud One-Shoulder Feather-Trimmed Dress
Taller Marmo Piccolo Ubud One-Shoulder Feather-Trimmed Dress
Size-inclusive occasionwear brand Taller Marmo is on all of our lists this year. The sweeping asymmetric silhouette of this feathered mini is made for twirling in .
Evening weddings call for maximum glamour, and Cult Gaia’s navy feathered mini is up to the task. Silver accessories will always look good, but try it with a contrasting pastel shade for maximum impact.
Liquid-metal silver is going to be everywhere next season, and Amy Lynn’s ruched party dress is a seriously fun way to wear the look.
A sweet pastel-blue hue makes head-to-toe sequins a daytime-appropriate option. Plus, the cut-outs here show just enough skin.
Warehouse Scoop Neck Satin Midi Slip Dress
A slip dress is the ultimate wardrobe problem-solver: in my opinion, every wardrobe should contain one. Warehouse’s is one of the best high-street options I’ve tried, with lustrous satin fabric and a flattering scooped neckline. It also comes in an excellent chartreuse colour.
Subvert the prim-and-proper vintage vibes of Batsheva's polka-dot dress with chunky platform heels.
Combining airy tulle with a neatly ruched top panel, Arket's taupe dress is a masterclass in flattering proportions.
Is there a fashion influencer out there that you haven't seen this dress on? The super-flattering cut can be dressed up with strappy heels and bold gold accessories, or down with sandals and raffia. A very versatile investment.
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