Wedding Season Is Approaching: 30 Black-Tie Dresses on My Short List
With some upcoming weddings on my calendar this summer, I’ve already been thinking about the looks I’ll be wearing. One of the weddings I’ll be attending has a black-tie dress code, which is a welcome excuse to bring out all of the stops and wear a dressed-up look that goes outside of my regular outfits. Less formal than white tie, black-tie attire for women is the most common formal dress code for events, which typically translates to floor-length evening gowns, but can also include formal cocktail dresses and elegant suiting.
I’ve been scouring the latest drops from designers to figure out the piece I’ll be wearing and have some front-runners ranging from a sculptural maxi from Christopher Esber to a strapless dupioni dress from Toteme to an open-back design from Proenza Schouler. There are many more contenders, though. Ahead, see the black-tie wedding guest dresses that are currently on my short list.
Christopher Esber is the ultimate "cool girl" choice.
Can't get enough of sleek sequins right now.
Bernadette has perfected rosette dresses.
Finished with Bottega Veneta's signature metal knot detail.
Fashion insiders turn to designs from Christopher John Rogers.
So elegant.
Next: All of the "Cool Bride" Things to Know in 2023
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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