A Winter Wedding Guest Dress Guide

24 dresses and a handful of accessories for your consideration

Nov 03, 2024

Le Supper Club, eBay, Obriasco Studio, Vestiaire Collective, Vogue, eBay, & unknown (via Pinterest)

Later this month, my husband and I will be returning to Denmark to attend the wedding of two of our good friends. As usual, the clock is ticking and I’m still figuring out what to wear. The exciting thing about winter wedding guest dresses is that despite the need to dress appropriately and stay respectful of the event, you can sort of lean into the darker color palette of the season without anyone batting an eye. I find that darker-colored dresses tend to be more versatile. Besides, I’m a strong believer in wedding guest dresses that can be worn again post-nuptial celebrations. So, below you’ll find a few dresses and accessories that I currently have in my cart that can be re-worn for a variety of different events.

Vintage dresses

**From left to right:** 1930s Satin Bias-Cut Dress (XS, $395 or best offer), 1930s 2 Piece Gown (XS-S, $150 or best offer), 1960s Lace Trim Bust Dress (S, $81.25), 1930s Lace Dress (*check measurements, $120), Sleeveless Embellished Dress (US 8, $74.99), & 1960s Long Sleeve Velvet Gown (M, $97.50).

Whenever I’m looking for a dress for an upcoming event, my first course of action is always to look through my bookmarked vintage dresses on eBay and Etsy. True vintage dresses are not cheap, but showing up for literally anything in a preloved gown from a previous decade is, in my opinion, a power move.

Velvet dresses

**From left to right:** Anna October Jules Dress, Dôen Cecarina Dress, RIXO Ilene Dress, Maria de la Orden Doris Dress, RIXO Emery Dress, & RIXO Alesha Dress.

I think that black and dark blue velvet gowns look so elegant and can’t think of a more appropriate time to wear them than for a winter wedding. You’ll stay both warm and comfy while looking très chic all at the same time.

Dark florals

**From left to right:** Ganni Appliquéd Mesh Dress, Ganni Open-Back Brocade Dress, H&M x Erdem Dress (EU 36, £180 or best offer), H&M x Erdem Dress (UK 8, £295 or best offer), Sister Jane Dream Fanciful Midi Dress, & H&M x Erdem Dress (EU 36, $360).

Above is a collage of dresses that tap into my idea of the perfect floral dress: A simple black dress with a subtle floral pattern in a cool winter palette. I’m normally not big on florals, but I find that H&M’s 2017 collaboration with British fashion designer Erdem Moralıoğlu has some of the chicest Botanic-themed garments on the (second-hand market.) As Vogue wrote, the clothes are “[t]asteful, but with just enough edge and eccentricity to fend off claustrophobia.”

Sleeveless dresses

**From left to right:** Rouje Reda Dress, Dôen Obelia Dress, Ciao Lucia Severine Dress, Ciao Lucia Neroni Dress Black Rosette, Nicholas Juliette Dress, The Reformation Darwin Dress.

A sleeveless dress might seem like an unconventional choice for a winter wedding, but this is where I would add a long sleek coat à la 13 Going on 30. This dress style is also one of the easiest to reuse for any occasion throughout the year.

Statement accessories

**From top left clockwise:** H&M Polka Dot Tights, Yves Saint Laurent Vintage Earrings, Yves Saint Laurent Vintage Heart Earrings, Marni Crystal Earrings, Simone Rocha Bow Earrings, Vintage Embellished Clutch, Vintage Embellished Evening Purse, Vintage Seashell Clutch, & Yves Saint Laurent Vintage Flower Earrings.

If your dress is on the sleeker side, say like one of the aforementioned sleeveless dresses, I think wearing a pair of polka dot tights would look very classy. I also love the idea of mixing in a statement earring or a vintage clutch to add some extra pizzazz to the look.