Garden Party Attire: What to Wear to a Garden Party

For a garden party, wear a light daytime dress (a floral midi, a tea-length dress or a pastel satin midi) with block heels, wedges or flats that won't sink into the lawn. Add a hat or a fascinator if the invitation hints at it, and a light layer for later.

Garden party attire is daytime dressy: prettier than a picnic, lighter than a cocktail party. The trick is dressing for the setting as much as the event, because grass, sun and an afternoon breeze all have a say.

Garden party dress ideas

The easiest garden party dress is a midi in a light fabric and a soft color or print. A garden party outfit should look fresh in daylight and let you walk across a lawn and sit on a bench without fuss. These four looks cover almost any garden event.

A floral midi

A floral midi is the classic garden party dress, and for good reason: it matches the setting. Choose a lined chiffon, crepe or cotton-blend midi with a print that has some sophistication, like watercolor florals, small ditsy prints or a large print on a dark background. Flutter sleeves, a wrap front or a tie waist all work. It's equally right at a garden birthday, a christening lunch or a garden engagement party; engagement party dresses has more ideas for that occasion.

A tea-length dress

A tea-length dress ends between mid-calf and the ankle, usually with a fuller skirt, which gives it a vintage, ladylike feel that suits a garden setting. In a solid pastel, a gingham or a polka dot, it's charming at a summer party; in a satin or a jacquard, it's dressy enough for an afternoon wedding. Pair it with a low block heel or a ballet flat to keep the vintage feel.

A pastel satin midi

For a smarter garden party or an afternoon wedding, a pastel satin midi looks dressier than a floral without losing the daytime feel. Soft blue, sage, butter yellow, blush and lilac all suit an outdoor afternoon. Satin creases, so choose a style with some drape and steam it just before you leave. Keep jewelry small, like pearl studs or a fine gold chain.

Separates: a midi skirt and a silky blouse

A pleated or printed midi skirt with a silky blouse or a fine knit top is a pretty alternative to a dress, and it's easy to rewear. Tuck the top in and add a belt to define the waist. Wide-leg linen or silky trousers with a blouse work too, especially at a relaxed garden party. For more warm-weather combinations, see our best summer outfit ideas.

Shoes for grass

Shoes matter more at a garden party than almost anywhere else. Thin stiletto heels sink into soft lawns, get stuck in gaps between paving stones and leave you tiptoeing all afternoon. Choose a shoe with a wider base:

• Block heels: the dressiest option that still handles grass. A low or mid block heel suits any dress here.
• Wedges: stable on lawns and gravel, and a natural match for summer dresses.
• Dressy flats: ballet flats, pointed flats or embellished sandals. Comfortable for long afternoons.
• Heel protectors: small caps that slip over a stiletto to stop it sinking, if you're set on a thin heel.

Skip pale suede if the lawn might be damp. For more options by venue, see wedding guest shoes.

Hats, fascinators and sun

A hat is optional at most garden parties, and rarely out of place at any of them. A wide-brim hat in straw or a light fabric looks right with a floral midi and keeps the sun off your face and shoulders. At a smarter or British-style event, or one where the host hints at hats, a fascinator is the dressier choice; fascinators covers when and how to wear one.

Pack sunglasses and sunscreen, and choose a hat you can carry or take off easily if the party moves indoors.

Colors, bags and jewelry

Daylight is kind to color, so a garden party is the time to wear it. Pastels (blush, powder blue, sage, lilac, butter yellow) look fresh against green lawns, and bright florals look cheerful rather than loud outdoors. Deep jewel tones work too, especially in late summer and fall.

Keep the accessories light to match:

• Bag: a small structured bag, a straw or raffia clutch, or a mini bag with a shoulder strap so your hands are free for a glass and a plate.
• Jewelry: pearls, small gold hoops or a fine chain. Big crystal pieces look like evening wear in the sun.
• Layer: a cropped cardigan, a light denim or linen jacket at a casual party, or a pastel blazer at a smarter one.

In summer, leave anything heavy at home. Sequins and dark, heavy satin look out of place in afternoon sun, however dressy the party.

Garden party wedding guest dress

A garden party wedding guest dress follows the wedding's dress code first and the garden second. Couples who hold a garden wedding often ask for semi-formal, cocktail or dressy casual attire, so check the invitation or the wedding website. For a semi-formal or cocktail garden wedding, a lined floral or pastel midi with block heels is right; for dressy casual, a pretty sundress or a skirt and blouse works.

The usual wedding guest rules still apply: skip white, ivory and anything that looks bridal, and choose a dress you can sit in on a garden chair. For a full list of seasonal styles, see spring wedding guest dresses.

Winter garden party dress

Garden parties aren't only for summer. A winter garden party might be in a conservatory, a glasshouse or a heated marquee, where it's warm inside but cold on the way in. A winter garden party dress keeps the garden feel and adds warmth:

• A long-sleeve floral midi in crepe or a fine knit.
• A velvet or jacquard midi in a deep green, burgundy or navy.
• Sheer tights, and ankle boots or closed-toe block heels for paths and wet grass.
• A wool coat to wear in and check at the door, plus a wrap for drafts inside.

Keep the colors a little deeper than in summer. Forest green, dusty rose and deep blue all suit a winter garden.

The weather plan

Garden parties depend on the weather, so pack for it:

• A light wrap or cardigan for when the sun goes down. Shawls and wraps for dresses has options that look right over a midi.
• A compact umbrella in a neutral color, so it doesn't clash with your dress in photos.
• A spare pair of flat shoes in your bag, in case the lawn is softer than expected.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses.

Check the forecast the morning of the party, and adjust the shoes and layer before you leave.