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Wedding outfits for women

It's a centuries-old custom: when you get married, you dress smartly, and the couple's nearest and dearest are also invited to dress in their finest. While men usually do just fine in a suit, there's no shortage of options for women. Here are a few tips to help you avoid a fashion faux pas on the big day.

What you need to know about the wedding dress

It's impossible to talk about wedding outfits without mentioning the undisputed star of this event, the dress that still inspires little girls and fashion designers alike. Historically, this special piece of women's wardrobe is a good marker of the aesthetic trends of each era:

  • In the Middle Ages, it was customary to wear one's best regional costume to mark one's geographical belonging.
  • In the Renaissance, the Church prescribed "solemnity and brilliance" for the dress, but its color and shape remained open to interpretation.
  • Up until the 18th century, the bride therefore favored the most elegant piece in her wardrobe, with a gown in a beautiful color (blue, pearl gray, etc.) generally preferred.
  • At the end of the 19th century, with the separation of Church and State, a distinction was made between civil and religious marriages, and white wedding dresses (symbolizing virginity and purity) became the preferred choice for the latter.

Stylistically, dresses also vary greatly over time: from the basket dresses of the 18th century ("royal court" style) to the more streamlined style of the First Empire and, under the Restoration, to structured shapes embellished with crinolines. In the 20th century, changing mores led women to marry in low-waisted dresses, before 1950s couturiers brought length back into fashion.

Other wedding outfits for women

All these components (elegant color, variable length, more or less sophisticated shape) can be found in the clothes recommended for guests on this memorable day. These can be found, for example, on the website of Cario, a fashion house founded in 1989 which, in its Fontainebleau boutique, guides women in their quest for the perfect ceremonial outfit.

Certain sartorial blunders should be avoided:

  • Wearing white: on this day, this color is reserved exclusively for the bride! It is nevertheless tolerated for accessories (shoes, jewelry, handbags, hats, etc.), but be careful not to draw too much attention to yourself.
  • With this "low profile" in mind, it's also advisable not to wear too sexy an outfit: plunging necklines and miniskirts will have to wait for another occasion.
  • To respect the joyful spirit of the event, we avoid black, which remains associated with mourning, and prefer pastel colors (mint green, sky blue, powder pink, peach...) or bright colors - after all, it's a party! - like red, purple, yellow or fuchsia.
  • Please note: the wedding theme may set the tone in terms of color and style, so be sure to follow the instructions given by the bride and groom to ensure you match the tone.
  • This may be more or less casual, depending on the family, but it generally implies a little "dressing up": so avoid jeans, T-shirts or shorts, although it's acceptable for a woman to wear a nice pantsuit or jumpsuit if she's not too fond of dresses.


Whatever your taste, the most important thing is to feel comfortable in the clothes you've chosen for your special day: cut, material, with or without jewels, high or low heels... Comfort is not to be neglected.

To be sure not to make a mistake, visit the Maison Cario website.
 

Valérie from Comme des Français
 

 

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