Wedding season is here and with it comes the thrill of dressing up. Whether you’re going all-out attending a destination wedding or considering a slinky slip dress for a city ceremony, let these insider tips help you perfect (and extend the life of) your outfit …
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Everyone wants to be a stylish wedding guest. Indeed, the pursuit of the perfect outfit for a summer wedding is, for some, a sport. With wedding season in full swing, there’s never been a better time to swat up on your styling know-how whether you’re attending a city ceremony, headed to a bucolic wedding in a countryside bolthole, or travelling to warmer climes for a destination wedding.
A beautiful dress, for some, will always be the last word in wedding guest chic. In 2024, that means different things. For minimalists, brands such as Tove and By Malene Birger will spring to mind for fuss-free styles in muted colours that celebrate clean lines. Meanwhile, colour lovers will flock to the likes of Farm Rio, pictured below, which makes colour-drenched frocks that scream summer (look also to French brand Sézane). If you’ve bought a pair of bright-coloured heels to match, there are always options post-event, too. Delicate materials such as satin are prone to staining from dancefloor spills, so if they’re beyond saving in their current state, to increase their longevity take them to a repair shop that can dye them to a darker, more forgiving colour that can be re-worn with wardrobe essentials such as jeans or tailoring.
If the slew of special occasion outfits available are starting to feel a bit identikit, why not consider opting for something a bit different? “I feel like we don’t wear hats to weddings enough,” says Beauty Editor of THE GLOSS Sarah Halliwell. “Be brave and wear a great hat – no one will notice anything else about you, so you can wear something old, and you also have an instant talking point. For years I wore a black Philip Treacy fedora I found in a sale at weddings, and had so many interesting conversations because of it. A great hat can make you feel bolder,” she says. This advice rings true. Style influencer Leandra Medine Cohen, a fond hat wearer, says the ‘personality hat’ is back with a bang. Meanwhile, for AW24, New York brand Altuzarra went big on hats for dressing up, pairing them with immaculate black suiting and occasion dresses with statement chiffon shoulders.
As for following summer dress-up trends, it only works if the trend works for you. Sometimes the best thing is to revolt and stick to your style guns. “I love to wear black at weddings. I don’t care if everyone else is wearing summery florals. If it’s your comfort zone, ignore any supposed ‘rules’ and feel like yourself,” she says. Ardent lovers of black will find it hard to stray – and with the style inspiration out there right now, there’s no need to. Think: Greta Gerwig at this year’s Met Gala in a beaded black top with cape detailing and tailored trousers by Chloé. Even ultimate dress brand Erdem knows the power of dark colours: the brand’s pre-fall 2024 collection is all about moody and muted florals. On the high street, brands like & Other Stories and COS are fail-safe go-tos for a great black dress that boasts an interesting shape.
If you’ve settled on a great dress, odds are you’ll need a great cover up, too. Blazers are a foundational piece in our wardrobes, so it makes sense that we would want to wear a special one to a wedding. At a recent styling masterclass for THE GLOSS, style and beauty savant Trinny Woodall swore by the elastic band trick for securing blazer sleeves in place so that they stay in that sweet spot mid-way up your arm. (See the below video for a how-to.) Try it once and you’ll never look back.
Lastly, as for shapewear, it’s often a necessary evil for weddings, whether you’re the bride or a guest. While we’re resisting the encompassing long-length bodysuits that prevail right now (they’re great, but we choose comfort!) a camisole thong bodysuit (€89, by Spanx at Brown Thomas) is a nifty buy for tackling sheer fabrics in dresses and tops, and can easily be reworn throughout the year.
Nude camisole thong bodysuit, Spanx, €89, at Brown Thomas.
