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An invitation to a garden party is a wonderful excuse to don a floaty dress and sip midday cocktails in the sunshine. Garden parties are generally outdoor affairs, which means that the dress code for a garden party should reflect the weather, the environment, and the formality of the occasion.
If you’ve ever asked yourself ‘what should I wear to a garden party?’, then this is the perfect article for you. Elegant yet understated are the key buzzwords to bear in mind when dressing for a garden party. To help make choosing the perfect outfit as easy as possible, here are some of our top tips:
In this photo: Turtle Bay Short Kaftan Dress
Most garden parties are held outdoors during the summer months when the temperatures are high, so it is important to choose lightweight and breathable fabrics for reasons of both comfort and style. Think cotton, linen or 100% silk dresses and kaftans, whilst leaving synthetic fabrics like polyester and rayon at home. After all, the last thing you want to worry about when enjoying a party is sweating through your clothing!
The dress code for a garden party is often undefined, giving you plenty of freedom to choose the outfit that works best for you. Take advantage of this to work with existing pieces in your wardrobe that you know feel great whilst making you look fantastic.
Sometimes clichés are clichés because they work so well: and wearing feminine floral patterns to garden parties is one of those situations! Allow your outfit to reflect your environment in dresses that feature blousy blooms in pastel colours. If you’re concerned that you don’t suit florals, or you tend to shy away from colour, then look for a print set against a black backdrop: not only are these more discreet, they also tend to be slimming too.
Coco Chanel once said: “fashion is like architecture – it’s a matter of proportions” and that is also true of choosing the right florals. We recommend picking a floral pattern to suit your figure: if you have a petite figure then look for a petite ditzy floral print. Women with plus size figures can carry on-trend oversized floral patterns. And if you have an apple or pear shape then choose a dress where the floral print moves in the same direction as your curves, rather than working against it. And if you’re worried that your floral dress is too formal for the occasion then simply pair it with a demin jacket or a lightweight cardigan to inject a more casual air to your outfit.
In this photo: Antibes Short Kaftan Dress
When considering the dress code for a garden party, the accessories you choose are just as important as the dresses that you choose. Don’t risk wearing a stiletto or a spike heel if you’re going to be walking outside on the lawn: you’ll only sink into the grass, and end up losing a shoe! Instead opt for flat pumps or embellished sandals for a look that is pretty but practical.
Don’t want to give up the leg lengthening benefits of your favourite heels? Don’t worry, you don’t have to. Instead opt for wedges, espadrilles or even block heels that will have all the glamour you’re looking for whilst still being suitable for walking on uneven outdoor surfaces.
In this photo: Nika Island Mid Length Kaftan Dress
Finally, garden parties tend to entail spending hours outside in the sun, and at many garden parties you will even eat outside without the benefit of the shade or a gazebo. To keep your skin protected, don’t forget to accessorise with sunglasses, a hat, or even a lightweight scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders and protect them from the sun’s harmful rays. When the sun is shining, don’t forget that the most fashionable accessory of all is a high level SPF sun lotion, applied before you reach the party.
Why not carry a lightweight and on trend straw or raffia bag along with you, one of this season’s biggest accessory trends? Not only will this coordinate perfectly with your outfit, it will also provide a much roomier alternative to a clutch bag for you to store your scarf, lotion, and other sun safe accessories.
