I Just Attended a Black Tie Wedding In Montecito, Here's Everything the Best-Dressed Guests Wore

I recently returned from a friend’s wedding in Montecito, California, where attendees arrived in their finest wedding guest attire for the occasion. The dress code was black tie—one of the dressiest and most elegant for wedding attire—and I was curious to see what guests would wear to the events throughout the weekend. I ordered several dresses, including some vintage options, colorful pieces, and more classic black styles. After trying them on, I eventually landed on a strapless gown from The New Arrivals—a brand I’ve been looking to recently for eveningwear and occasionwear. Though I opted for black, the style I chose also comes in a range of beautiful shades.
For the big event, guests opted for a range of styles that adhered to the black tie dress code. Some of the standouts included dresses designed with sleeveless turtleneck silhouettes, pastel colors such as robin egg blue and cotton candy pink, and unexpected pops of lace. Ahead, shop some of the most memorable styles, as well as more black tie dresses from my edit.
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear where she oversees luxury, runway content, and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co., and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on 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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