What to wear to a wedding: 2018's best dresses and outfits for guests (2024)

You're excited about theimpending nuptials of your nearest and dearest, of course, but with it comesthe anxiety attached to the question of what to wear.

''My biggest tip for wedding season it not to wait until wedding season to start thinking about your outfit, because the chance of you finding something that fits and looks good and that makes you stand out in a crowd is very slim when you're actually looking for something,'' says style influencerCamille Charriere.''The way I do my shopping is to keep an eye out all the time for a really nice dress or jumpsuit or blazer and pants - anything that is smart enough for a wedding - and if I find something I really love, even if it's expensive and I have no event for it, I will always get it.''

As well as avoiding a last minute panic, essential to successful wedding guest dressing is usingtrends as guidelinesrather than a rule book that should be followed slavishly. For example, this season's sway towards pastel tones is perfectly in tune with dressing for a springor summer wedding, while the proliferation of relaxed tailoring on the catwalk and the mood for modest dressing is well suited to autumn or winter ceremonies.

One unwritten rule thatshouldbe abided by however, is that which demands guestavoid wearing white, since this puts you at risk of stealing the bride's thunder. And if you're planning on wearing black, tread carefully. The colour associated with funeral dress isn't out of the question for a wedding - particularly if it's a city one - but it will require zingy accessories.

From the perfect length dress to tailoring that is anything but corporate, here's what to wear to a wedding in 2018.

Perfect for spring: the jumpsuit

Jumpsuits, which were previously considered the preserve of those in their twenties and younger, have had a grown up make over. Forget what you thought you knew about hard-to-wear all-in-ones, because both the runway (see Emilia Wickstead and Sies Marjan for gorgeousversions) and the high street have abundant supplies of jumpsuits that will flatter - whatever your age or shape.

Opt for a style that cinches you in at the waist (add a belt if need be) and that hits you above your ankle. A slightly cropped length will mean you can wear pretty much any shoe with it - platforms if you're small, block heelsif you're sensible and trainers when you rewear it in a more casual setting.

Wide leg trousershave a reputation for being impractical, since they often trail along the ground. And it's true that, unless you are Victoria Beckham who is regularly pictured looking immaculate in trousers that brush the pavement,the dry cleaning bill can get a little excessive.

But the solution is simple: either opt for a cropped style - of which there are plenty around - or get them tailored sothat they sit a couple of centimetres above the ground. It will be well worth the hassle when you have a pair of glamorous wide trousers that you can wear to thatimpending spring or summer wedding with a silk T-shirtand the myriad other events in your calendar.

Cotton-blend trousers, £255, Joseph; Equipment silk shirt, £200, Net-a-porter; Ochre heels, £36, Next; Antonia bag, £450, Shrimps

Perfect for early summer: the statement skirt

Sea corset top, £353, Matchesfashion.com; wrap skirt, £355, Ganni; woven shoe, £89, Finery; coin pendant, £8, Warehouse

Perfect for high summer: the midaxi dress

'Midaxi' refers to a hemline that hits your leg somewhere between where a midi dress and a maxi dress would, at a point that is both flattering and practical. Said frock might be a tea dress(online global fashion search platform Lyst has reported a 35% increase in searches for this style in 2018) or it might be a shirt dress (Kitri's Gabriella dress was a sell outhit, leading to searches for the brand increasing by 41%), but it should befloaty for summer.

The best thing about the midaxi, besides its ability to flatter, is that you will inevitably get heaps of wear out of it.''I don't believe in the idea that you can only wear something once,'' says Charriere. "I've bought extremely expensive dresses for a wedding and then worn them in town with sneakers on, or on the beach in the evening with no shoes and a big sweater. You will always get good wear our of something that's really beautiful.''

Peach tree dress, £258, Stine Goya; Sara heels, £196,50, aeyde; Staud velvet tote, £210, Net-a-porter; pearl clip, £5, Accessorize

Printed shirt, £119, Gestuz; printed trousers, £129, Gestuz; straw cross-body bag, £32, Monsoon; cat eye sunglasses, £14, Urban Outfitters

Perfect for late autumn: the trouser suit

Suiting provides an excellent option for an autumnwedding, particularlyif said wedding is taking place in the less-than-reliable weather conditions we experience in the UK. You'll be thankful for a jacket and trousers when you're standing in a blustery field or making your way to the church in temperatures that are barely in double figures.

Follow the leadof designers like Gabriela Hearst and Teatum Jones, who presentedblush pink and olive green suits for this season, respectively. The best options feature prints (think florals or geometric) or are in dusty tones. Not only will both these options mean you avoid all corporate connotations, but they're also just the right level of fun, while also being flattering. And look for a style that is roomy. There's nothing chic about too-tight-tailoring.

What to wear when it's truly freezing but you still want to reach for something that's both stylish and special? Use Christopher Kane and Erdem as your reference points and call upon a statement coat. Think jacquard, floral or embellished.The key is to opt for a coat that adds to your outfit rather than just keeping you warm. In short: make it your trophy piece. That way you won't mind keeping it on all day and night.

Another glamorous option is a kimono- searchfor a print or jewel tone and layer it overtrousers for a relaxed feel, or pair with a tulle skirt for a glitzytake on the trend.