The Best Dress Styles to Wear to a Wedding, According to Fashion Girls
If you have any weddings marked on your calendar in the months ahead, chances are you're trying to figure out what, exactly, you'll wear. Ready to kick up your wedding guest style for good? Then let me introduce to Who What Wear’s very own editors for their expert advice.
Between us, we've attended upward of 100 weddings, so we have experience dressing for the occasion. Whether you're headed to a black-tie event or a less formal affair, a winter wedding or a tropical destination, we have pieces that will work. And if you've been contemplating something black, rest assured that the color is editor-approved for a wedding; we have you covered with a few black dress styles that are worthy of a wedding guest outfit. Scroll on to see the best dress styles to wear to a wedding, straight from our editors.
"If you want a dress style that can work for a wide variety of weddings, I'd recommend investing in a long-sleeve midi dress. The sleeves mean that it can work if the weather turns to the chillier side and if you're attending a more conservative wedding."
"For weddings, I realized I have a habit of buying (and wearing) dresses that are black but still feel special. That way, I don't worry about looking boring but am also more comfortable repeating the outfit should I need to!"
"The balance between the deep slit and the high neck makes this dress feel both sexy and elegant."
"I typically go for something that's figure flattering but also has an interesting detail, like the low back on this amazing dress from Vatanika."
"I think that dresses with a sleeve lessen the chances of an unflattering photo, so that's what I typically gravitate toward. This particular one would be perfect for a New Year's Eve wedding."
"I love a slip dress for pretty much every kind of special event, including weddings. This hot pink color is so me."
"Dressing for a formal occasion can be tricky because it's so easy to fall back on an LBD or a simple, solid-colored dress. However, ideally, I like to incorporate a print that shows a bit more personality. I also love the ruffle and sheer details here that make this number feel extra special."
"I love a printed wrap dress for weddings because they're so comfortable and versatile. This one from Rhode Resort is particularly special with its hand-embroidered star details."
Next: 23 investment pieces our editors are buying now.
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
-
Law Roach's World: His New Book, Bag of Choice, and What He Grabs on a Target Run
"[Styling] has made my world so much bigger."
By Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
-
These 30 Pretty Gowns Are Just Begging to Be Worn to a Fall Wedding
Prepare to be the best dressed guest.
By Grace O'Connell Joshua
-
I'm in My 20s—Here Are 6 Style Lessons I Learned to Look More Polished and Grown-Up
Sophisticated styling 101.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
8 Copenhagen Street Style Trends I Plan to Replicate in New York
Pared back yet never boring.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
31 Black Dresses That Are Actually Wedding Appropriate
It's sweaty out there.
By Natalie Cantell
-
My Wedding Guest Vibe Is Chic on a Budget—7 Under-$300 Outfits I'm Buying
Make a stylish entrance for less.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
I'm Going to a Summer Wedding in Europe—35 Stunning Dresses I'm Considering
Wedding guest dresses have never been chicer.
By Caitlin Burnett
-
30 Stunning Dresses That Will Get Compliments at All of Your Summer Weddings
These are instant confidence boosters.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes