The dress code line on an invitation is the single most useful piece of information you'll get — and also the one people misread most often. Here's what each one actually means in practice, and what from our collection fits.
Black Tie
This means floor-length, formal, and a little more coverage than you'd wear to a cocktail party. The Silk Halter Gown and Zoey Crepe Cady Gown both sit at the right level of formality — enough structure and fabric weight to hold up next to a room full of tuxedos.
Cocktail
Knee-length to midi, polished but not floor-sweeping. This is the broadest and most-asked-about category, and where most of our Dresses collection lives — the Sheer Overlay Dress in Lime Green Chiffon and Asymmetric Ruffle Gown in Satin Crepe both read as cocktail-appropriate despite their more dramatic silhouettes, because the hem and overall proportion stay in that zone.
Semi-Formal
The most forgiving dress code and also the vaguest — it generally means "dressier than everyday, not as formal as cocktail." A tailored piece reads correctly here without over- or under-dressing: the Blazer Cropped White Wool worn with a slip dress, or the Ivy Asymmetric White Shirt Dress on its own, both land in the right place.
Beach or Garden Formal
Expect the dress code to ask for formal attire while also expecting you to survive grass, sand, or heat in it. Lighter, more fluid fabrics do the job: the Liss Halterneck Linen Maxi Dress and Lucy Linen Midi Dress both hold their shape without the structure that makes a dress miserable outdoors.
When the Invitation Doesn't Say
No dress code listed usually means semi-formal to cocktail is a safe default. When genuinely unsure, it's always fair to ask someone in the wedding party directly — better than guessing and being over- or under-dressed on the day.
Shop the full range by occasion in Wedding Guest Edit.
