Much like weddings, christenings have a dress code. While it’s a fair assumption most know the drill when it comes to nuptials (don’t wear white, try not to upstage the parents, and cover up if it’s religious), I’ll be the first to admit I don’t understand the rules of dressing for a christening. As someone who has attended a mere two in their lifetime, I decided to speak to etiquette expert and stylist Isobel Kershaw, who gave me some brilliant and simple rules to follow on the best kinds of dresses for the event in question. “There are guidelines for a christening, but not as many rules as there are for a wedding. Of course, with a wedding, you’re trying not to upstage the bride with your outfit, but upstaging a baby isn’t a problem,” says Kershaw.
“For a christening, you really want your look to be less structured and softer. Although, avoid something like a loose cardigan, as that’s too informal. Midi and maxi dresses or even an up-down hem are ideal. While short dresses might work for an evening do for a wedding, they’re inappropriate and not a good fit for a christening. If you really want to look to someone who always gets it right, see what the Duchess of Cambridge has worn.”
Kershaw also has advice on the type of color palette you should go for, and I was surprised to hear that it’s not a safe bet to go for more muted tones. “Don’t always think to go for neutrals,” says Isobel. “Try pastels and bright colors—it’s a happy event, after all. You don’t want to go for stark colors or stripes, as that can seem too corporate. If you do go for block colors, think about your yellow-based reds, as these flatter everyone, but break it up with accessories and jewelry.” That said, it is traditional for christening attendees to wear lighter colors, even white, for the celebration, so no shade is truly off-limits.
As for prints, Kershaw recommends dresses such as those from Rixo, as the brand has “modernized [the printed dress] and made them look a bit more vibrant.”
Besides short hemlines, are there any other dress styles to avoid? “Steer clear of oversized dresses, as they can look too informal—it’s best to keep those for a beach. If you have a big bust, a wrap dress might be one to avoid, especially as you have a baby pulling at it.” Really, as it goes with anything you wear, the most important aspect should be feeling confident and comfortable in your attire.
Before you scroll down for the shopping picks, here’s a quick reminder about Kershaw’s suggestions:
Style of dress: Soft silhouettes with a focus on structured necklines
Hemlines: Midi, long or asymmetric hem
Colors: Pastel tones, white, yellow-based reds
Prints: Florals are ideal, although others are fine, so feel free to experiment
Avoid: Anything too dark, such as navy or black and white and stripes, as these are too corporate. Wrap and oversized dresses are too unstructured.
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This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.