Ace Every Wedding Dress Code With These 15 Celebrity-Inspired Outfit Ideas

The Gist

• Nowadays, many weddings have evolved into productions that rival red-carpet events.

• Deciding what to wear that’s both event-appropriate and stylish can be a tricky task.

• To match the red-carpet glitz of modern-day weddings, we’ve listed 15 wedding attire ideas inspired by your favorite celebrities.

You’ve RSVPd, booked the room, and secured a gift—now what about the wedding attire for the big day? 

It feels like the amount of weddings on our collective social calendars is at an unprecedented high, and the volume of save the dates coming into group chats and mailboxes keeps prompting the age old question: what to wear? 

These days, many weddings have evolved into productions that rival red-carpet events, often hosted at landmark buildings or five-star hotels. Then there’s the destination affairs, set in European castles and villas, or overlooking the Caribbean ocean. Or perhaps your friends are taking over a chic city bar or rooftop for something that sounds low-key but most definitely still warrants a high-octane look. 

With this evolution in expectations, it’s likely that the couple will provide you with a digital moodboard to help generate outfit ideas. After all, no one loves Pinterest more than a bride-to-be.  
But navigating these dress codes as well as thinking of options for additional themed events around the wedding, can be as time-consuming—and expensive—as figuring out the logistics of connecting flights and hotel reviews. 

As such, it helps to have some tried-and-true wedding attire formulas in mind that you can rinse and repeat year after year, updating with various accessories or new styling approaches.  Ahead are 15 wedding attire ideas inspired by your favorite celebrities.

Backless and Slinky

A predominant dress code for weddings, particularly evening ceremonies, is black tie. Traditionally, this calls for floor-length silhouettes, solid colors, and timelessly elegant details (better to save the risqué cutouts and ‘naked dresses’ for another event). When in doubt, a simple black slip dress in a silk fabric is hard to beat—particularly with a sensual detail like a low back, as evidenced by Elsa Hosk’s Cannes 2024 moment. Plus, there are infinite ways to jazz it up with gold, silver, or colorful accessories, depending on the venue and vibe.

Strapless With Sequins

Yes, you can toe the line for a black tie dress code while still upping the ante by flashing some skin. A strapless dress like Jasmine Tookes’ 2019 Vanity Fair Oscars Party number in a rich color like bordeaux is both sexy and suitable, thanks to the leg flash.

It’s All in the Accessories

Take a page out of Gisele’s book by elevating an empire line silk maxi dress. Her pink carpet arrival after the 2008 Victoria’s Secret fashion show was made so much more memorable by the addition of delicate upper arm bangles, thin gold hoop earrings, strappy sandals, and a metallic clutch. Instant goddess appeal.

Shimmy in Style

This one wins for most fun on the dance floor. For something that feels unique, make like Charlize Theron at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in 2020 in tiers of metallic fringe. Similarly, an ankle-length fringed skirt makes for a good investment, as you could mix it up depending on the dress code with a fitted silk shirt or a simple black bodysuit.

A Timeless Tux

Is there anything more sophisticated than a well-tailored suit? Back in 2008 at the CFDA Awards, Ashley Olsen proved that there truly isn’t, in an outfit that still stands the test of time two decades later. Team black cigarette pants and a shrunken blazer with a cummerbund and white button-down for guaranteed glamour.

The Regal Route

Should the moodboard call for old school royal-adjacent elegance, remember that no one does it like Amal Clooney. The human rights lawyer nailed it at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s high-profile 2018 nuptials, and you can too, by sticking to one color from head to toe.

Siren-Worthy Scarlet

A sure-fire way to command attention at a wedding? A standout shade of red. Kerry Washington’s ruched halter neck dress from the American Black Film Festival Honors in 2023 is a prime example of how to do it right, as the figure-hugging fit contrasts nicely with the demure length.

A Bit of Boho

Weddings in ethereal settings—think: castle grounds, forests, or secret gardens—call for something fairytale-esque. There’s a reason why Sienna Miller is the bohemian blueprint that everyone continues to turn to for inspiration. Look for something floaty and frothy with a high neck and long, billowing sleeves to emulate this Chloé dream from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Channel the “New” Old Hollywood

If the assignment calls for something that pulls out all the stops, then feathers, embellishment, and details that scream old Hollywood glamour are a good port of call. But vintage references don’t have to equal dated, either. Take Kaia Gerber at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in 2024, for example. The beaded column skirt nods to Art Deco codes, but the unexpected and youthful green hue, along with the fitted bodice, brings it into the present.

Belle of the Beach

Ready to watch your loved ones say ‘I Do’ overlooking the ocean? The world is your oyster when it comes to bright and joy-inducing colors that fit the bill. Zendaya showed just how impactful yellow can be, with the sweetheart neckline number she wore to the Oscars in 2021. Add mermaid-worthy waves and you’ll be as mesmerizing as the sunset.

Short and Sweet

Not all weddings demand a dramatic length. For more casual affairs, like dance parties, a thigh-skimming mini might be the order of the day. Trend-setting Gwyneth Paltrow bucked convention when she attended the LA premiere for Avengers: Infinity War in a sequin robe by Retrofete. But with her golden glow, leg-lengthening satin sandals, and sleek locks, she proved that a more chill length can still have wow factor.

A Seductive Suit

Jennifer Aniston’s Critics’ Choice 2015 outfit is one of her most talked-about red carpet appearances ever. Her burgundy Gucci suit was an example of how to knock it out of the park with suiting after dark. If you’ve reached peak wedding guest dress fatigue, why not take a leaf out of her book with an immaculately-fitted jacket with nothing underneath, save for some artfully layered necklaces, and finish the ‘fit with a killer clutch.

Take the Plunge

Don’t dismiss black as boring. Priyanka Chopra’s Vanity Fair Oscars Party gown from 2019 showed how va-va-voom the shade can be when the proportions are just right for your body.

Tricks Up Your Sleeve

A simple silhouette with an epic sleeve can really propel a dress to new heights. As exhibited by the style icon that is Kate Middleton, in this drop-dead gorgeous cape sleeve gown by Safiyaah.

Go High-Low

The dictionary definition for ‘pretty in pink’ might just be Gemma Chan’s look for the 2019 SAG Awards. While waterfall hemlines can be tricky, the Crazy Rich Asians star showed how to nail it in an asymmetrical ruffle gown with a contrasting black ribbon waistband. This would also make for a divine bridesmaid or maid of honor moment too.

Read the original article on InStyle