I Think I Finally Figured Out the Perfect Wedding Guest Outfit

I’ve been to quite a few weddings over the years. And when I haven’t been in a bridal party, figuring out the right outfit hasn’t always been easy. There are texts to my sister, calls to my mom, and emails to friends with links to the dresses I’m considering, punctuated with messages like, “What about this one?” and “This but in blue—ignore the sleeves, I would have them altered.” It’s a process, guys.

But recently it occurred to me that it doesn’t have to be that way. Maybe it’s because I’m a few years older, or that I’ve been to enough weddings to get the hang of it, but I think I actually cracked the code on the perfect wedding guest outfit. It involves a mid-length dress, low heels, and cool earrings. That’s it. The beauty is that it works for almost any dress code you could find at the bottom of an invite.

Here is what’s great about this wedding guest formula: By choosing a dress that falls somewhere around the mid-calf, you know it will be appropriate for the occasion—plus it’s elegant and stylish. And opting for a pair of low heels means you won’t be suffering from painful feet by the end of the night, and you’ll feel up to hitting the dance floor. (This editor’s favorite part of any wedding.) Then, finishing off the look with a pair of cool earrings is a way to make the everything feel pulled together, whether it’s something simple and dainty or a statement earring for something fashion-forward. If you’ve ever wanted to make the process a little easier, consider this formula and shop my wedding guest picks.

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