10 Wedding-Guest Outfits Our Editors Can't Wait to Wear
Our We Try Before You Buy series aims to take the stress out of shopping and eliminate the number of post-office visits you make each month to return failed online orders. We test new-season buys and styling ideas so you don't have to. Here, we're letting you know what's actually worth investing in or styling tricks you can re-create with pieces you already own.
Together as a team, we probably have over 20 wedding invitations, and so a lot of our chat on Slack and during our coffee breaks has been dedicated to one topic: wedding-guest outfits. After years of cancelled nuptials, this is certainly the year of the wedding, and we're all wanting to dress up and have fun with our outfits. So we ordered dozens of dresses to the office so we could try on all the styles that have caught our attention online and let you know if they measure up.
Our favourite dress was unanimous: Taller Marmo's fringed crepe kaftan, which our social media editor, Joy Ejaria, tried on, is quite simply the most fabulous dress we've ever seen. If you have a fabulous destination wedding, a black-tie dress code or a bride who will want everyone to have drama with their looks, this is the dress. We also tried on trending styles from Self Portrait, Rixo and Ghost (to name a few) and found some cool spins on classic floral midi dresses and colourful satin dresses that you'll wear again and again. Keep scrolling to shop the 10 wedding-guest outfits our editors can't wait to wear this summer.
"My go-to dress shape when I want to make a statement is always a puff-sleeved number. This Self-Portrait option is perfect for a wedding because the dainty florals and pastel blue keep it feeling appropriate for the occasion, but the dramatic sleeves add a cool fashion edge. I would always recommend checking out rental options for wedding-guest dresses so you can try out more adventurous brands and styles and get that 'new dress' feeling without the pressure to spend money on something you might only wear a few times a year. Plus, you get to flounce around in dresses like this all day, totally guilt-free—it's a win-win!" — Emily Dawes, affiliate editor
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"I love shopping, but when it comes to shopping for a wedding-guest outfit, count me out. It's such a tiring process because there is so much to consider: location, structure of the day, food and so much more. I'm not a fan of florals, but I love colour, so this Taller Marmo dress is perfect. It’s everything you want a dress to be. The fringing brings all drama you need for a fabulous event." — Joy Ejaria, social media editor
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"I am just obsessed with this dress and will absolutely be wearing this to a wedding this summer! Ellen Mae Williams collaborated with Jigsaw on a collection of paint-printed silk pieces that are all made using plant-based, organic dyes. I absolutely love the blended bright pink and orange colours, and I love that this would also look amazing in autumn with knee-high boots. The dress is cut on the bias and has a beautiful flared skirt and draped V-neck, which makes it feel really relaxed and comfortable." — Emma Spedding
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"Halterneck dresses are such a pretty wedding-guest option. Not only is the shape is not only flattering, but they usually have some kind of cute bow on the back, which adds an elevated twist, especially when it's quite a simple linen dress like this one. Worried about bra options? These stick-on options actually work and will come to the rescue every time. If you've gone for quite a feminine dress like this pink Zimmermann number, opt for chunkier accessories. Platforms are the fashion person's heel of choice for 2022, and they're a sturdy, comfortable option for dancing all night, too." — Dawes
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"I had to try to famous Diana Dress from Norma Kamali and rented this one from Hurr. I was surprised to find a bodysuit under all the draping, so it took me a minute to detangle myself, but once it was on, I could understand the appeal. It's very comfortable and easy to wear, but I would recommend sizing down as I felt the drapes fell a bit saggy on me. It was a chilly day when we photographed this, so I had to opt for a blazer—a clashing oversized jacket played into the '80s vibe of the dress." — Hannah Almassi, editor in chief
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"I take the role of being a wedding guest very seriously—specifically, the duty of being the first person on the dance floor. This is why I always opt for light, floaty dresses, which I can then dress up with heels, jewellery and handbags. Although I usually choose block colours, I fell hard for this mint and white shadow-floral dress from Rixo. The bias cut perfectly shapes to your frame without being clingy or constricting. Because of the lighter colourway, I stuck with ivory accessories, but more on those later. I finished with a beautiful tennis necklace from Daphine. This is a wedding-guest outfit I want to wear over and over again." — Maxine Eggenberger, acting assistant editor
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"It can be easy to think you need to wear a printed midi dress to a wedding, but a beautiful trouser suit an be so elegant and pack a punch. I am particularly drawn to suits in soft colours and love this mint suit from Zimmermann, which has lovely flared trousers and a single-breasted blazer. The raffia belt is a beautiful added touch. The best thing about a suit is you can keep the rest simple and pair it with a camisole and simple heels." — Ejaria
"Rixo florals have become a mainstay in any British countryside wedding, and one of the most popular silhouettes this year is the Gio. This style comes in several different prints, such as a navy polka-dot and a vibrant paint-brush stroke, but I opted for a classic pansy print for the more traditional weddings I have this year. I love the sweetheart neckline combined with the exaggerated blouson sleeves, which also look amazing pushed up to the elbow." — Spedding
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"I love choosing an unexpected colour for a wedding-guest outfit as it guarantees no one else will probably be wearing it! This chartreuse sequined number from Stine Goya is modest but unusual with its slight shimmer and asymmetric drape." — Almassi
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"Satin is one of my favourite fabrics and one I regularly choose for weddings. There's just something about its light-catching fluidity that instantly feels sophisticated, even in the boldest hues. I already own a handful of Ghost dresses, so odds were I was going to enjoy this button-down midi, too. It's a hue I wouldn't ordinarily pick for myself, but I'm now a pink convert! For easy comparison, I wore it with the same accessories and shoes as my first ensemble, which goes to show just how versatile well-chosen accessories can be. These Russell & Bromley platforms are the most comfortable heels I own hands down, and they're ideal for any outdoor celebrations as I know the heel runs no risk of sinking into the grass." — Eggenberger
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Next up, the guide to the autumn/winter trends for 2022.
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