Fashion

Our dress guide for every dress code

With our social calendars firing up for summer, it’s time to start planning your outfits. Making sure you look and feel your best while being comfortable without second-guessing your choices. To help you we asked our team for their standout dresses this season.

Read our guide covering the different dress codes for those all-important occasions. From wedding guest dressing to race days, summer parties to holiday dresses, we have you covered.

@hopeivylondon

Weddings Guest Dresses

Nothing beats a good wedding, especially if the sun is shining. Key trends this season are brighter colours and lots of print, which is often the case as we head into the warmer months. You might be looking for something with a little more colour to your usual neutral wardrobe, if so Hope & Ivy has some effortlessly chic prints this season. If you are looking for something extremely elegant and more on the dressy side Sister Jane is a team favourite.

Renowned for their exaggerated shapes their new floral dresses make an instant impression, truly a dress you don’t ever want to take off. Often with wedding guess dressing you want something a little longer for the formal event or even something to wear over your shoulders. Accessories to consider are a hat or fastener to complete the look but don’t forget your sunglasses, clutch bag and heels too.

Christening Guest Dresses

When shopping for Christening guest dresses you often want something softer than a wedding guest dress, slightly less formal. It’s nice to wear plush colours or neutrals to a christening in spring or summertime as it’s such a happy celebration. Opt for floaty looser fitting shapes that will not only look effortlessly put together but also be more comfortable.

@damsonmadder

Puff sleeves and whimsical shapes are always nice for a Christening, more conservative but fun and fashionable. Cras and Never Fully Dressed provide those versatile dresses that you will be able to wear for the Christening and beyond, always very flattering in the shape but without being boring or flat. Don’t forget to wear comfortable footwear, especially if there are lots of little ones.

Race Day Dresses

The races are always a great day out with Cheltenham kicking off the season it got us all thinking about our race day outfits. You always want to make the extra effort when it comes to the races, but there are no rules when it comes to dress code unless you’re heading to the Royal Enclosure. Whether you prefer a mini dress or a midi dress, an exaggerated shape or a fitted style, there are so many brands to choose from.

The classic high street brand Ted Baker this season has provided us with our favourite race day dresses. Elegant, sophisticated and a little unique with pops of colour they provide the perfect occasion dresses for the day. The Addalin floral tie-neck midi is very flattering and uber-sophisticated if you are looking for a lightly fitted dress or opt for the Adiie chiffon dress which does all the talking for you.

@stellanovacopenhagen

Summer Party Dresses

Summer parties can be anything from a BBQ to a 40th so you need to gauge how informal or formal the dress code is. Our advice would be to have a couple of dresses in your wardrobe that you can dress up or down for any type of summer party. These dresses are comfortable and flattering and most importantly you need to feel your best in them. The great thing about these dresses is you get your money’s worth out of the investment, as you can even wear them to work and other weekend events. Our new go-to brand is Damson Madder which has perfected those stylish but laid-back dresses. The sustainable brand has become super popular for its colour, and joy-inducing pieces, so pick out one of their dresses and we can guarantee you will want to wear it to every occasion.

Holiday Dresses

Finally some sunshine and a well-deserved break! It’s always nice to treat yourself to a couple of new things to make your holiday extra special. Having a trusty evening dress in your locker is a lifesaver but make sure you are comfortable and cool. You don’t want to be sitting uncomfortably in a heavy dress. So think light and breezy with cotton and linen fabrics.

Floral prints or pops of colour are always nice in the sunshine and can compliment our complexion. Green and pink are key colours this season and will give you that holiday glow against your freshly sun-kissed skin. Blue is always another great colour to wear on holiday, especially if you are visiting anywhere sunny or by the sea. Blue just always seems to be brighter and more uplighting on holiday.