Invited to an Engagement Party? Dresses, Heels and Earrings for the Guest
An engagement party guest outfit in colour: satin and velvet dresses from Alessandra Rich, Reiss, Galvan and Stella McCartney, with evening heels, a small bag and earrings.
Weddings & Occasions /
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.
By Taiwo AdedayoEvery piece here has been chosen by our editors. We may earn a commission on some products.
When an invitation says black tie, the men wear dinner jackets and the women are expected to wear a floor-length gown, or at the very least a formal evening dress. These are the gowns, evening bags, heels and earrings we would choose, from £130 to £6,054, all in stock now.
Colour 
Galvan and Fforme
Galvan’s gown is lightweight satin-jersey in a shade called Toffee, with a one-shoulder neckline and gathers along the seams that give it a liquid drape. £1,290.
Fforme’s Emi is bright red satin with a cowl neck and spaghetti straps, cut to the floor. £905.
Black 
Elie Saab, Safiyaa, Pucci
Elie Saab’s black gown is embellished with sequins all over, with a crew neck. £6,054.
Safiyaa’s Lucrezia is black with crystal embellishment, a V-neck, cap sleeves and a side slit, £2,265. Pucci’s is black silk with cold shoulders, £725.
Green 
Victoria Beckham and Costarellos
Victoria Beckham’s gown is aloe green with a round neck, long sleeves and a twist at the waist: the one for a cold evening. £947.
Costarellos’s Lorinne is mint green jersey, draped, embellished and sleeveless, falling to the floor. £1,270.
The heels 
Saint Laurent and Gianvito Rossi
Saint Laurent’s Cassandra sandals are high-shine patent leather on 90mm stilettos, with the gold-tone monogram at the front and slim straps around the ankle, £1,075. Gianvito Rossi’s Mamba 85 pumps have coiled suede straps and crystal-encrusted buckles, £744.
Getting black tie right
Floor length is the safe reading of black tie; a formal midi works only when the invitation says black tie optional. Choose one point of shine, the dress, the bag or the earrings, rather than all three. Bring a wrap or coat for the drive home. Try the heels on with the gown before the day to get the hem right, and leave white, ivory and cream to the bride.
Watch: black tie, explained
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