Pearls and Gold for the Bride: Earrings, Necklaces and Bracelets
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Weddings & Occasions /
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.
By Taiwo AdedayoEvery piece here has been chosen by our editors. We may earn a commission on some products.
Many engagement parties are drinks in the early evening, and the dress code is usually cocktail: a dress at or below the knee, a heel you can stand in for three hours and a bag small enough to hold with a glass. White, ivory and cream belong to the bride-to-be, so every dress here is in colour, from £138 to £1,095.
In colour 
Lemon and chocolate satin
Alessandra Rich cuts this midi dress from silk-satin in a pale sherbet lemon, with a ruffled collar, ties at the neck, puffed sleeves and pearly buttons. £488.
Reiss’s Sasha dress is chocolate brown satin with gathered draping, a cowl neckline, flutter sleeves and a high front slit. £138.
For an evening party 
Bias-cut satin and black velvet
Galvan’s Pandora is a pink satin halterneck midi, cut on the bias with twisted detailing across the bodice. £1,095.
Stella McCartney’s black velvet midi fits slim through the bodice before falling to a floaty skirt, and the plunging V-neck leaves room for a necklace. £299.
The heels 
Strappy, block or kitten
Reiss’s Margot sandals are leather with a metallic finish, narrow straps and a slender stiletto, £158. Stuart Weitzman’s Babette 85, made in Spain, sits on a sculpted slim block heel in soft rose, £225, which is easier on a lawn or a terrace.
Giambattista Valli’s black slingbacks have a pointed toe, a bow and a 40mm kitten heel. £538.
The earrings 
Pearl, crystal or colour
Mateo’s drops are 14kt yellow gold with a freshwater pearl and round-cut diamonds, £938. Self-Portrait’s silver bow earrings end in a faceted crystal droplet, £115.
Completedworks’ bow earrings are strung with fuchsia pink chalcedony beads. £235.
What guests should know
Read the invitation first: “drinks” at a restaurant suggests a cocktail dress, while a garden party at home suggests a lighter one and a lower heel. Leave white, ivory and cream to the couple, and avoid anything that could look bridal in photographs, such as a pale lace dress. A gift is not always expected at an engagement party, but a card is always welcome.
Watch: engagement party etiquette
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