Black Tie for Wedding Guests: The Gown, the Clutch and the Earrings
What to wear to a black-tie wedding as a guest: floor-length gowns from Galvan, Elie Saab and Victoria Beckham, with the evening bag, heels and earrings.
Weddings & Occasions /
The Autumn Wedding Guest: Velvet, Sleeves and a Coat Worth Arriving In
What to wear as a guest at an October or November wedding: velvet and long-sleeved dresses, a wool coat, suede shoes and a small bag.
By Taiwo AdedayoEvery piece here has been chosen by our editors. We may earn a commission on some products.
An October or November wedding usually means a cold church, an early dusk and a walk between the ceremony and the reception. The outfit has to cope with all three. These are the dresses, coats, shoes and bags we would choose for an autumn wedding, from £98 to £1,565, all in stock now.
Velvet 
Gabriela Hearst and Cortana
Gabriela Hearst’s Adolphine is made at a female-led factory in Italy from certified organic silk-velvet, with a silk-voile bodice trimmed in floral lace and barely-there straps. £930.
Cortana’s Iris is bordeaux crushed velvet with a V-neck, a self-tie scarf collar and short sleeves. £1,114.
The coat 
Victoria Beckham and Abadia
In autumn the coat is in the photographs outside the church. Victoria Beckham’s Catriona is marsh green wool, double-breasted, with a buttoned martingale at the back. £1,390.
Abadia’s Joud is a maxi coat in wool-blend twill with a crushed-velvet shawl lapel and a single fabric-covered button. £478.
Closed shoes 
Khaite, The Row, Aquazzura
Suede suits the season. Khaite’s Cecilia is brown suede, made in Italy, on a 5cm heel with a gold staple at the vamp, £850. The Row’s Carla 80 is dark brown calf suede with a square toe, £813. For a country wedding, Aquazzura’s chestnut suede ankle boots with a pointed toe, £1,000.
A small bag 
Reiss and Tod’s
Reiss’s June clutch is tan suede with a croc-embossed finish, a hinged frame and a removable chain, £98. Tod’s micro bag is brown suede with two top handles and a detachable strap, £918.
Dressing for an autumn wedding
Plan for the coldest part of the day, not the warmest: a sleeve or a coat for the church and the photographs, something lighter underneath for the dancing. Choose shoes you can walk across a lawn or cobbles in, which usually means a lower or block heel, or a boot. Deep colours such as burgundy, green and brown suit the season, and leave white, ivory and cream to the bride.
Watch: dressing for an autumn wedding
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