It’s time to get on top of your wedding guest outfits for cool-weather nuptials, happening throughout the holiday season until the spring equinox on March 20.
Whether you’re looking for a new party dress (especially for NYE nuptials) or are partial to formal pants, we’re here to help you search for what to wear to winter weddings. These festivities are a chance to play around with seasonal colors and dazzling fabrics across special-occasion jumpsuits, matching sets, and sequined numbers that can go from day to night.
We’ve rounded up 25 winter wedding guest outfit ideas for every dress code, budget, and personal style. Shop for a mix of black-tie, cocktail, and casual styles from reader-favorite retailers like Free People, Anthropologie, Abercrombie & Fitch, Zara, and Damson Madder that’ll get you on the best-dressed list for every winter party.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
Pantsuits for wedding guests are chicer than ever, so we want to put these matching separates on your radar. (Plus, we’ve included a mix of casual and formal skirt sets for a similar vibe.) Pick from festive velvet, lace, floral, and plaid sets that can be worn on their own with a statement necklace or with a blouse underneath. When the party’s over, rewear the blazers, trousers, and skirts together or separately, for other winter festivities and office days alike.
Boden Woodbridge Cord Blazer, $, available at Boden
Free People Electra Heart Midi Skirt Set, $, available at Free People
Anthropologie The Somerset Strapless Blouse & Velvet Pull-On Pants
Anthropologie The Somerset Strapless Blouse, $, available at Anthropologie
Anthropologie The Somerset Velvet Pull-On Pants, $, available at Anthropologie
Hill House Home The Bec Jacket & The Lark Skirt
Hill House Home The Bec Jacket, $, available at Hill House Home
Hill House Home The Lark Skirt, $, available at Hill House Home
Ann Taylor Plaid Notched One Button Blazer & Straight Trouser
Ann Taylor The Notched One Button Blazer in Plaid, $, available at Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor The Straight Trouser in Plaid, $, available at Ann Taylor
Winter Wedding Guest Jumpsuits
We love the idea of a jumpsuit for a winter wedding, because, let’s be honest, we don’t really want our legs exposed to the frigid air. To stay warm and comfortable while looking stylish, seek out long-sleeved, high-neck silhouettes in thick fabrics. Keep it sleek in black, or test out holiday reds, rich burgundies or metallic golds.
Hutch Mabel Foil Pleated Jumpsuit, $, available at Anthropologie
Reiss Structured Strapless Wide-Leg Jumpsuit, $, available at Reiss
Alexa Chung x Madewell Tux Jumpsuit
Alexa Chung x Madewell Tux Jumpsuit, $, available at Madewell
JJ's House Chiffon Scoop Floor-Length Jumpsuit
JJ's House Chiffon Scoop Floor-Length Jumpsuit, $, available at JJ's House
Winter Black-tie Wedding Guest Dresses
Formal weddings likely require black-tie dresses, which should probably be floor-length but certainly don’t have to be black. Look out for rich jewel tones in satin or sequined fabrics. We’re eyeing luxe gowns with detached scarves and faux capes for extra pizazz (and warmth).
Lulus Floral Burnout Cowl Back Maxi Dress, $, available at Lulus
Show Me Your Mumu Dalia Maxi Dress
Show Me Your Mumu Dalia Maxi Dress, $, available at Show Me Your Mumu
Adrianna Papell Plus Size Linear Bead Cape Column Gown
Adrianna Papell Plus Size Linear Bead Cape Column Gown, $, available at Adrianna Papell
Abercrombie & Fitch Giselle Strapless Scarf Babydoll Maxi Dress, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch
Winter Cocktail Wedding Guest Dresses
Cocktail attire is one of the most popular special-occasion dress codes. Somewhere in between formal and casual, it allows you (and the party) to move from day to night, and it opens you up to more silhouettes, hemline lengths, and fabrics. For the winter, we recommend velvet midi dresses, versatile maxi dresses, and satin mini dresses that you can pair with thick tights.
Reformation Briony Velvet Dress, $, available at Reformation
Eloquii Lace Fitted Maxi Dress
Eloquii Lace Fitted Maxi Dress, $, available at Eloquii
J.Crew Satin Scoopback Mini Dress
J.Crew Satin Scoopback Mini Dress, $, available at J.Crew
Zara Sequin Cummerbund Midi Dress
Zara Sequin Cummerbund Midi Dress, $, available at Zara
Astr The Label One-Shoulder Velvet Midi Dress
ASTR The Label One-Shoulder Velvet Midi Dress, $, available at Nordstrom
Winter Casual Wedding Guest Dresses
For winter weddings with partially-outdoor ceremonies or restaurant receptions with casual, cozy vibes, keep your comfort (and warmth) top of mind. Slip into a long-sleeve mini dress, paired with sheer black tights and booties. (You also can’t go wrong with thick jerseys in formal designs or taffeta fabric with casual styling).
Never Fully Dressed Plisse Mini Tilly Dress, $, available at Never Fully Dressed
Damson Madder Elina Midi Dress
Damson Madder Elina Midi Dress, $, available at Damson Madder
City Chic Plus Size Jaylee Mini Dress
City Chic Plus Size Jaylee Mini Dress, $, available at City Chic
Old Navy Twist-Front Jersey Midi Dress
Old Navy Twist-Front Jersey Midi Dress, $, available at Old Navy
Quince 100% Washable Silk Long Sleeve Mini Dress
Quince 100% Washable Silk Long Sleeve Mini Dress, $, available at Quince
Wedding Guest Pant Suits & Sets
Pantsuits for wedding guests are chicer than ever, so we want to put these matching separates on your radar. There are velvet, metallic, floral, and striped sets that can be worn on their own with a statement necklace or with a blouse or vest underneath. When the party’s over, rewear the blazers, tops, and trousers together or separately, for other winter festivities and office days alike.
ASOS DESIGN Crinkle Velvet Blazer, $, available at ASOS
ASOS DESIGN Tailored Crinkle Velvet Pants, $, available at ASOS
We love the idea of a jumpsuit for a winter wedding, because, let’s be honest: We don’t really want our legs exposed to the frigid air. To stay warm and comfortable while looking stylish, seek out long-sleeved, high-neck silhouettes in rich velvets and luxe jersey knits. Keep it sleek in black, or test out emerald green, navy blue, or metallic silver.
Old Navy Fit & Flare Velvet Jumpsuit, $, available at Old Navy
City Chic Attract Jumpsuit
City Chic Attract Jumpsuit, $, available at City Chic
Farm Rio Long Sleeve Knot Jumpsuit
Farm Rio Long Sleeve Knot Jumpsuit, $, available at Farm Rio
Bar III Plus Size Metallic Jersey One-Shoulder Jumpsuit
Bar III Plus Size Metallic Jersey One-Shoulder Jumpsuit, $, available at Macy's
Abercrombie & Fitch Contrast Strapless Jumpsuit
Abercrombie & Fitch Contrast Strapless Jumpsuit, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch
Black-tie Wedding Guest Dresses
Formal weddings likely require black-tie dresses, which should probably be floor-length but certainly don’t have to be black. Look out for rich jewel tones in satin or iridescent fabrics. We’re eyeing winter ruffles for extra dimension and drama. Throw on a faux-fur coat, slip into comfortable heels, and swipe on burgundy lipstick to complete your ensemble.
Eloquii Dramatic Ruffle Gown, $, available at Eloquii
Staud Calluna Iridescent Dress
Staud Calluna Iridescent Dress, $, available at Staud
Michael Costello x Revolve Loren Gown
Michael Costello x revolve Loren Gown, $, available at Revolve
House of Harlow 1960 x Revolve Astra Gown, $, available at Revolve
Cocktail Wedding Guest Dresses
Cocktail attire is one of the most popular special-occasion dress codes. Somewhere in between formal and casual, it allows you (and the party) to move from day to night, and it opens you up to more silhouettes, hemline lengths, and fabrics. For the winter, we recommend midi dresses with delicate lace and mesh trims or elevated bows and pearl embellishments.
V. Chapman Vera Ruffle-Strap Corset Side-Slit Midi Dress, $, available at Anthropologie
Reformation Plus Stasia Silk Dress
Reformation Plus Stasia Silk Dress, $, available at Reformation
Elliatt Vida Off-The-Shoulder Long Sleeve Cocktail Minidress
ELLIATT Vida Off The Shoulder Long Sleeve Cocktail Minidress, $, available at Nordstrom
Lulus Mesh Pearl One-Shoulder Midi Dress, $, available at Lulus
Casual Wedding Guest Dresses
For winter weddings with outdoor ceremonies or restaurant receptions with casual, cozy vibes, keep your comfort (and warmth) top of mind. Slip into a long-sleeve mini or midi dress, paired with sheer black tights and a pair of booties or closed-toe pumps. (You also can’t go wrong with a velvet maxi.) And don’t be afraid of prints — play with plaids and dark florals.
Free People Midnight Magic Mini Dress, $, available at Free People
Good American Velvet Fit For Success Maxi Dress
Good American Velvet Fit For Success Maxi Dress, $, available at Good American
Madewell V-Neck Cuff-Sleeve Maxi Dress
Madewell V-Neck Cuff-Sleeve Maxi Dress, $, available at Madewell
While we all may have very clear visions of Carrie Bradshaw running around Manhattan in Manolo Blahnik heels and spending hours playing dress up in luxury stores, the real life style icon Sarah Jessica Parker, today, is opting for quick and efficient online shopping with the help of Google.
“I don’t consider myself a very good shopper because I’m seduced by imagery and what looks great on somebody else. But there’s a truth about my size and what colors look good on me,” Parker exclusively tells Refinery29. And thanks to Google’s “Try On” feature, Parker can actually envision herself in pieces before hastily carting them up. “I think this is one use of [AI] that feels not only benign, but potentially quite helpful. It creates clarity about how things may or may not look on you.”
While I’m personally quite weary of AI in general, as I was speaking to SJP, I knew I had to try this feature for myself. Because although I wax poetic about all the best fashion to shop online, I find myself gravitating more towards in-person shopping because I’m unsure how many pieces will fit my petite-yet-curvy body. With that, I used some of SJP’s best holiday season dressing advice to see how her favorite styles actually look on myself through Google Try On.
The technology came out earlier this year, but it’s just gotten a refresh with SJP’s new holiday campaign. According to Google’s blog, the virtual try-on technology allows “shoppers to try on billions of items of clothing from our Shopping Graph. It’s powered by a new custom image generation model for fashion, which understands the human body and nuances of clothing — like how different materials fold, stretch and drape on different bodies.”
Again, I was skeptical but excited at the same time.
Self-declared “lousy shopper” Parker explains: “I just think it’s really helpful and really user-friendly, and I’m hoping it kind of cuts out some of the chaos and hysteria around shopping,” adding: “I think this idea of Google Shopping with the ability to actually see it on your person takes some of that intimidation away, but also you feel more assured that you’re purchasing something that will likely really suit the occasion and your person.”
It works by searching for fashion items on Google and clicking into a product suggestion before seeing a “try it on” pop-up button. Then you can upload a full-body image of yourself and the AI technology realistically adds the clothing onto your body. It also has a follow-up feature where you can save and send the image to your group chat if you need a second opinion. (And if you’re wondering, SJP says she would definitely text looks to longtime collaborator and Sex and the City costume designer Molly Rogers for fashion help).
As SJP went on listing her favorite festive attire — from houndstooth and platinum to “chiffon big skirts from the eighties with a leotard” (Ã la Carrie Bradshaw) and jewel-tone tights paired with patent leather Mary Janes — I put some to the test with Google Try On.
After uploading a couple of full-body photos of myself wearing fitting clothing as suggested on my phone, one photo worked best and saved into Google so it could be reused for every new product I selected. (I think in the future I’d opt for a tank top and biker shorts for the most accurate depiction of my body, especially for skin-baring pieces, but I was pleased with how Google auto-generated my body, especially in mini dresses (see below).
“I went to a party the other evening and the host was wearing a pinstripe suit, but the pinstripes were all sparkly, and I loved it,” Parker says. And so I searched for just that and clicked on a suit from Sandro via Nordstrom, which I could see myself standing in within 10 seconds. (It’s important to note that the feature doesn’t work on the first sponsored products that pop up on the search page, and not every single retailer offers it.)
I also wanted to virtually try on a vintage-inspired party dress after Parker declared: “I personally love plaids and tartans this time of year. It’s really old fashioned, but I see more and more of it and it’s really exciting.” Eager to try a Free People dress with a drop waistandbubble skirt (both trendy yet polarizing silhouettes), I was pleasantly surprised by how it looked on my body. The feature even styled me in the same shoes that the model is wearing.
And when she isn’t attending lavish soirees, SJP is opting for humble winter wardrobe staples. “My day-to-day, I’m in waffle-cotton Hanes men’ s leggings in white. And I’m in 20-year-old cashmere cardigans from J. Crew.”
I’ll spare you the unflattering image of me wearing Hanes’ men’s leggings. But hey, thankfully I could try them virtually before assuming just because SJP loves them that they’d also look good on me, and wasting my time and money! But it was fun playing around with how more practical cardigans — as well as more elaborate styles, like gowns that I may never actually wear — looked like.
“I just think people can have things on their body that they might never have had a chance to try,” Parker explains, adding: “It feels like it’s a nice way for people to have some more assurance and also a touch of fantasy.”
So, if you’re needing some festive outfit inspo and fantasy (from the comfort of your couch), consider it sorted.
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