I’ve covered enough red carpets and runways to know what works in a ballroom, but three black-tie events into the season, I’ve still managed to learn a few things from my fellow guests. My closet is stocked with gowns I love, yet I came home from each night with a mental list of what I’d wear next. There were certainly some incredibly dressed attendees at these soirées.
The best dressed people in the room weren’t chasing the flashiest dress. They wore colors that matched the season, gowns they’ll clearly wear again, and pale shades that stayed far away from bridal territory. With holiday parties and winter weddings still ahead, here are the lessons I’m taking with me and the gowns I’d buy right now.
Rule #1: The Coat Is Part of the Look
I attended a wedding in Colombia, a place that gets colder in the fall and winter months than most would think, and took the task of choosing a coat to wear as seriously as finding the right dress.
I ended up wearing it the whole night both evenings, even inside because of how the temperatures drop at night, and choosing this luxe fur was the ultimate move. Your coat is the first thing people see at check-in and in every photo outside, so treat it like part of the outfit.
A gold halter dress like this works for this winter wedding and every one after it.
The waist tie gives this maxi such a defined shape.
A fur coat over your gown makes the walk from the car feel just as chic.
Rule #2: Dress for the Lighting, Not the Invite
Especially when it comes to fall and winter events, color scheme matters more than anything. Choosing colors that reflect the season and vibe of the event is key. In the fall, that often means jewel and darker tones. One benefit of choosing these colorways is that ballrooms are dim and candlelit. Copper, bronze, and burgundy glow in that light in a way black never does. The rule: Pick the color that looks best at 9 p.m., not the one that feels safest on the hanger.
Burgundy is the shade I keep seeing at every black-tie event this season, this dress comes in both that shade and this lovely copper.
Rule #3: If You Have to Ask, Don’t Wear It
The fear when attending any wedding is wearing something that leads guests to mistake you for the bride or upstages her. That’s why I started saving my lighter-colored dresses for events like galas instead of weddings. So many events in the summer are wedding-focused, so a gala or charity ball is the time to pull out your pretty light pink and champagne styles.
Pale pink gives you all the romance and none of the bridal confusion.
Shop more black-tie essentials:
Gold lamé and a fishtail hem make this the showstopper of the bunch.
Staud’s gilded finish catches the light in the best way at night.
A midnight cape gown feels so much more interesting than basic black.
Reformation’s gowns are the ones I trust for both fit and rewear value.
Mahogany is my favorite rich shade for a winter event.
The embroidery does all the talking here, so keep your accessories minimal.
Deep-red sequins were made for holiday-party season.
A silk slip with a chiffon cape is such a romantic way to do black tie.
A black gown you can count on for any invite that lands in your inbox.
Simkhai always gets formalwear right.
Gold metallic is an easy way to look festive without a single sequin.
A black silk dress this simple will make it to every event on your calendar.
Oxblood is the darker cousin of burgundy, and I love it for winter.
A corset bodice gives this jersey maxi so much shape.
Another copper pick because I can’t get enough of this color right now.
The kind of dress that will take you from weddings to galas all season.
The layers on this gown give it so much movement on the dance floor.
Aubergine is the unexpected jewel tone I’d wear to a winter wedding.
The kind of Staud dress you’ll find an excuse to wear again and again.
Dusty blue feels so fresh in a season full of black and burgundy.
Retrofête knows how to make a party dress feel special.
With gold detailing like this, you barely need jewelry.
Lace and chiffon at Mango prices are a win for anyone with a packed invite list.
Silver and black metallic is made for a black-tie New Year’s Eve.
Cut for petite frames, so this one’s ready to wear without a trip to the tailor.
Delfi makes black dresses that never look basic.
Long sleeves and satin are my go-to combination for a cold-weather gala.
