15-05-2025
What to wear to every occasion this summer
What is it about event dressing that can floor even the most confident of dressers? The weighted significance, the (possibly unwritten) rules, the fear of looking at oneself in a photo in 10 years time at an outfit that somehow missed the mark…
' Occasion wear is difficult because there are a few conflicting psychological things at play,' says Sara Parker Bowles, a former fashion editor and now co-founder of personal styling platform Wrapp10 (also a woman we'd trust to navigate just about every dress code there is). The Wrapp10 occasion wear style guide begins with the words: Don't do fancy dress – stay true to yourself and your natural style.
Parker Bowles is refreshingly relatable when it comes to sharing sartorial advice. In fact, she says the concept for her business came about 'when I was stressing about what to wear to Royal Ascot that year. I just wanted highly curated, well-informed, inspiring style advice and I wanted it to be immediate and affordable. '
The pressure of special occasion dressing is: 'You need to get it 'right' – ie there is a literal/official dress code and a cultural 'received wisdom' of what is appropriate/correct . So you need to tick that box first and foremost because no-one wants to get it wrong,' she says.
'But then you also want to feel special, because it's an exciting, special occasion and occasion wear can be really expensive and so you worry you will only wear it once and that makes it hard to justify the price. It is also – often – brand new territory, so it can be scary.'
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When Parker Bowles works with clients who are gong to special events she asks them for information on everything, from the host to the invitation, the location to the environment, and the schedule of events to the ground they'll be walking on.
'Balancing practicality with feeling chic and complying with the literal rules is the golden formula,' she says.
'There are those moments where you walk into an event and you look at someone and think, 'she's got it just right'. That's the holy grail of style. We all want that, and we can achieve it with good advice. So have the courage of your convictions and always stay true to yourself and trust your style instincts.'
With Parker Bowles' advice in mind, we Telegraph fashion team members have put together the outfit we'd would wear for summer's formal events – be they in the country or the city, with a black-tie dress code, or (panic alert!) no dress code at all.
Dressing for 'no dress code' events
Sarah Bailey, Acting Fashion Director
Sarah wears: Pebble textured blouse, £495, Edeline Lee; Jacquard skirt, £240, Stine Goya; Veiled headband, £300, Stephen Jones
Just because a summer wedding invitation doesn't have a specific code, that doesn't mean that you should dress down. You still want to look your best and choose something memorable that makes you feel uplifted the moment you try it on. My advice would be to invest in a beautiful co-ord that you can break down into different special occasion looks, like this 'Circe' blouse and 'Hannah' skirt by Edeline Lee, crafted in her signature pebble-textured jacquard (which skims rather than clings to the body) and bounces out of suitcases after travelling for hours with nary a crease in sight. I had the pleasure of doing a massive try-on session at Lee's east London studio to find something that could be worn again and again.
'I always encourage women to invest in pieces that fit well, give you confidence and offer versatility,' says Lee. 'I don't believe in saving things to wear: good clothes shouldn't be reserved for just one moment, they should work hard for you across your calendar. A beautifully cut co-ord or dress in a strong colour can be styled up or down with accessories, hair and make-up. That's how I approach design: creating clothes that transition effortlessly between different parts of a woman's life.'
Sarah wears: Balloon sleeve blouse, £87, & Other Stories; Pebble textured Hannah skirt, £700, Edeline Lee; Gold plated earrings, £130, Soeur; Shoes, Sarah's own; Shimmering crinoline hat, £690, Stephen Jones
I wore my Edeline Lee co-ord for two big family celebrations – styled just as you see them above. The buttercup blouse from AndOtherStories (which looks like something Emma Stone might have worn in Poor Things) was a surprising high street find and the Stine Goya brocade skirt is (just like the Edeline Lee co-ord) another piece I will wear for life. I felt elevated, but I also felt very much myself, which meant that I could stop worrying about my outfit and just enjoy myself instead.
As for what Lee herself would wear to a 'no dress code' wedding? 'Our 'Camilla Dress' has detachable cape sleeves to be left on for a dramatic arrival, then removed later when it's time to let loose and dance. I'd finish the look with our Triangle Court Shoes, a strong lip and a bold piece of jewellery. For me, it's always about balancing elegance with ease'.
Try these
What about hats?
I wore a Stephen Jones creation (with a vintage suit) when I got married, so I know all about how a piece of magical millinery can transform your look. The hats I borrowed from Jones' enchanting Covent Garden shop for these pictures show how you can elevate separates to something really spectacular with a beautiful exaggerated boater, or a super-glam band with a tiny veil. The moment you put them on your posture changes.
If you are not typically a millinery person, it can be tempting to approach a dress code that requires a hat with a defensive mindset… beware the half-hearted fascinator! If budget is an issue, consider renting (Jess Collett Milliner has a great rental selection), but don't stint on your selection. After all, wearing a hat gives you the opportunity to stand taller, make more of an impact and feel more majestic if only for a day.
How do you find the hat for you? According to the master milliner himself, Stephen Jones: 'The main thing about hats is that they are an adventure in style. Somebody can experiment with a hat upon their head. Every hat has been re-worn either by you or someone else; they are the most sustainable items of clothing. It is the hat that makes you feel fabulous, whether it is a blue Alice band or a 1-meter-wide fuchsia fascinator.'
On a practical note, shopping for a hat with a friend is a good idea, or ask the sales assistant to take photos on your phone from different angles. Looking great in a hat is all about a 360 point of view.
Dressing for evening events
Hansveni Dave, Fashion contributor
Hansveni wears: Veiled ribbon bow headband, £485, Awon Golding; Silk dress, £348, Reformation; Sandals, £39.50, Marks & Spencer; Gold plated and sapphire earrings, £225, Loveness Lee; Double gold plated bangles, £410, YSSO
I tend to stay away from prints for the evening because I always find the low lighting doesn't give them the attention they deserve, so save that for the day. Opting for a solid but rich colour, like this Reformation dress, has an impact without being too fussy. Petulia Galvin, a senior designer at Omnes, says: 'Soft hues like butter yellow, pinks and powder blues can be impactful – and often more memorable than playing it safe with a little black dress.'
Fabric always plays a big part in my evening dress choice and I think silk and chiffon perfectly elevate a look. You can't go wrong with an elegant silk dress, it's classic. Chiffon or cotton crepe may be a less popular choice, but a great modern option. When worn layered with a slip underneath it gives the outfit a simple but interesting structure. Susamusa and Gimaguas are my favorite brands for those sheer pieces that still give me that elegant look I'm after.
Get the look
Where I think you can have the most fun with evening wear is in the jewellery. I've never been one for dainty jewellery – it should always make a statement, especially in the evening. Pairing hammered pieces with a straight hung fabric, like silk, makes the jewellery stand out even more. My go-to brand for textured jewellery is always Loveness Lee, their unique style provides you with compliments all evening.
As for the fascinator – it's a style that used to intimidate me. I never felt like I could find a fascinator that would suit me. This Awon Golding one gives the ideal amount of drama without overwhelming the look; their modern style intertwined with the classic veils and bows makes the idea of wearing this traditional style a lot less daunting.
Dressing for destination events
Tamara Abraham, Acting Deputy Fashion Director
Tamara wears: Stretch viscose blend dress, £325, Me+Em; Leather sandals, £200, Bobbies; Faux pearl bag, £98, Reiss; Enamel dipped earrings, £35, Whistles
Destination events at this time of year tend to be accompanied by blazing sun and unrelenting heat, which can pose challenges on the style front (creasing and sweat marks being the least desirable). Lightweight, billowy fabrics are your friend, as is anything textured, like seersucker. That said, I love the clean lines and structure of this Me+Em dress, it looks elegant, feels comfortable, can accommodate a bra and I find pockets always key to giving the wearer a certain nonchalance. The viscose fabric won't crease – important for an all-day affair which might include long periods sitting, but also needs to look great on the dance floor in the early hours.
Joyfully, there are more dresses of this calibre around than in seasons past. Fashion brands are finally waking up to the notion that, in fact, not all customers are leggy teenagers, and we need our occasion wear to work really hard for us. Finding something that ticks all the boxes comes as such a relief, it will be re-worn on special occasions for years to come. So, yes, it needs to be timeless too.
Try these
My more superficial advice? Don't be a wallflower. I love to wear a monochrome palette in my day-to-day life, but it's important to acknowledge that events this time of year are celebratory, so seize on that spirit and have fun with your look. Bright colour comes alive in the sun, so even if it's out of your comfort zone, give it a whirl. Trust me, it'll make sense in situ.
Dressing for events in the city
Sophie Tobin, Junior Fashion and Beauty Editor
Sophie wears: Cecilie Bahnsen Beth dress, rent from £131.49, Hurr; Leather shoes, £450, Dear Frances; Zirconia and rhodium plated necklace, £815 and earrings, £255, Completedworks; Silk bag, £88, Hai
City events have a certain cool factor to them which is also coupled with feeling very overdressed on public transport and tackling cobblestones in heels.
Rental has evolved in the past few years to become the first stop for many people looking for occasion wear, as it was for me when beginning the search for this feature. 'What we offer is a curated shortcut' says Meg O'Hara of Rites, who keeps the rental platform's offering to a carefully selected edit of timeless, elevated and easy-to-wear pieces that photograph beautifully. Most of their rentals are around 10 to 15 per cent of retail price, so you're saving 85 to 90 per cent upfront, she says, meaning that you can wear something that would usually be out of your budget that feels really special, like this Cecilie Bahnsen dress which I'd had my eye on for a while. At just above ankle length (no trailing on dirty pavements) and in a textured fabric that's guaranteed not to crease, I felt comfortable and not too overdressed.
Get inspired
I'm never one for a stiletto and always look for an ankle strap and chunky heel. With the ballet flat resurgence comes all manner of flat shoes that can be worn to events – I particularly like About Arianne's 'Mina' pumps with a block heel and plenty of colour choices.
Tailoring is a great option for the city and you can always add or remove a blazer depending on the weather – check out The Fold for waistcoats with high necklines. If in doubt, I would always choose a block colour and add fabulous accessories. Completedworks is my go-to for statement jewellery and Hai's dainty silk bags will fit everything you need.
Dressing for black tie events
Sonia Haria, Beauty Director
Viscose and velvet dress, £475, Rixo; Leather shoes, £178 and drop earrings, £58, Reiss
The first time I dressed in what I'd consider 'black tie' was at my school prom, aged 16. I wore a shiny, tomato-red satin ankle-length dress – with a bow around the waist in matching fabric, obviously – and some silver sparkly shoes. It may sound stylish but don't let that fool you: it was 2003. I had an updo, two hairsprayed-stiff ringlets of hair falling by either side of my face, a smattering of teenage acne and far too much silver eyeshadow (to match the shoes, naturally).
Thankfully, times have changed and black tie doesn't need to mean fussy fabrics, extreme hair and uncomfortable heels. Case in point: this elegant black dress I'm wearing in our Telegraph shoot is exactly the feminine style of dressing I love, just a little elevated. It's not too flashy but the mixed fabrics – soft velvet for the main part with silk around the bust – keep it looking interesting. The halter neckline makes a nice change from a usual strappy gown style, and means you can skip a necklace and wear sparkly earrings, instead.
Look smart
I called a friend, the uber-stylish and fancy event-goer fashion influencer Kavita Cola, to find out how she styles black tie. 'When it comes to styling for a fancy occasion I always think that you need to feel like you,' she explains. 'I don't buy into a look that I know doesn't suit me, and I'm very comfortable and secure in a low-key colour.'
Knowing what to accessorise your outfit with is just as important. 'If you're opting for a simple dress, focus on a fun bag or piece of jewellery, or a cool lip colour like a crimson red or a pink,' she adds. 'I'm never in a pair of shoes that I won't walk a mile in, so keep it comfortable, or even pick a flat shoe if you dare, but make it sparkly.'
Dressing for events in the country
Jess Burrell, Acting Fashion Editor
Solace London dress, rent from £15, By Rotation; Leather shoes, £89, Dune; Straw hat, £195,
V V Rouleaux
When it comes to big events, and particularly weddings, I think renting is the way forward, particularly if it's a country affair that you don't need to travel too far for (most rentals are by the day). As well as saving money and feeling more sustainable, the value is that it allows you to be a little more experimental, pushing the boundaries of your style comfort zone. For me, By Rotation is by far the best rental platform out there, not least because it has a pop-up space in Mayfair where you can try on a beautiful selection of occasion wear.
That's where I found the sunshine-yellow dress by Solace London I wore for our shoot. With its form-fitting asymmetric top and pleated waterfall-hem skirt, it strikes the right balance between fun and formal, showing that you've made an effort without going overboard. It's not a colour I have elsewhere in my wardrobe, but that's the great thing about rentals.
'When dressing for a country wedding, or any special occasion, I always lean into joy,' says Eshita Kabra-Davies, the founder of By Rotation. 'Floaty dresses in bold prints or unexpected textures work beautifully in rural settings and look great in photos.' With this in mind, it's also worth considering contemporary takes on florals courtesy of De La Vali and Rixo (which look great surrounded by grass).
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What makes this look even more wedding worthy is the straw hat – I have a very large head, so the thought of finding any other hat than a cap fills me with dread. Whether or not you share this issue, it's a real treat to head to V V Rouleaux's Marylebone store to try on hats (including those that accommodate for larger heads). This oversized style felt not only comfortable but fun to wear, with criss-cross detailing on the brim to make it feel more fitted to a wedding than a beach.
Brown or tan accessories were a good match for the mustard hue of the Solace London dress, but whatever you choose, remember to go for a block or wedge heel for the country wedding – it's no fun sinking into grass all day.
