Occasion Season’s Most Common Fashion Dilemmas – and How to Solve Them

Words by Sophia Miller

Weddings, galas, parties and perhaps a trip to the races: summer brings with it a whole host of different events, and with each, a new outfit. When every invitation comes with an unspoken list of style dos and don’ts, it can be hard to know where to start. To help answer some of the most common occasionwear dilemmas (and help you decide what to wear), we consulted some of Harrods’ most clued-up editors for their top tips and tricks. From what to wear to a wedding to how to style millinery, consider this your guide to doing the social season the stylish way.

Country weddings, garden parties and Royal Ascot’s grassy enclosures: however idyllic they are, the settings for summer’s social events can leave heel-wearers feeling less than steady underfoot. Nobody wants to ruin the group photo (or their outfit) thanks to a stiletto stuck in a muddy lawn – so the wisest bet is to go with something a little less spindly. Any heel chunkier than the aforementioned stiletto should do the trick, but block heels, wedges or even flats are the safest options if you’re really concerned about your footing. Luckily, there are plenty of chic options on offer from the likes of Loewe, Alaïa, Jimmy Choo and more. Consider this your excuse to swing by Harrods Shoe Heaven on the Fifth Floor for a mammoth try-on session.

We all know that British weather is less than predictable. You never know whether you’ll be contending with 25-degree sunshine or cool cloud cover – or both in the same day. Of course, this can make choosing an outfit somewhat of a minefield. The key? Clever layers. “A chic co-ord is a great way to approach occasion dressing when the weather isn’t on your side,” says Harrods content editor Abigail Gurney-Read. “I love Camilla and Marc’s textured polka-dot coat and skirt – wear a blouse underneath, and it’ll look just as good without the coat on when you get inside.”

Need a more covered-up approach to occasionwear? “There are so many brands that do this well,” Abigail says. “Max Mara’s silk co-ords are always a go-to, and Alessandra Rich has a good selection of high-neck, long-sleeve dresses. Or, think about layering – a cropped Dôen cardigan covers the shoulders and will go with plenty of the wedding-guest dresses you already own.”

While hats and fascinators can have a dowdy reputation, today’s designers take an approach that’s far from old-fashioned – music to the ears of those who are attending an event like Royal Ascot, where headpieces are a must-wear. “Lots of our millinery designers are doing beautiful hats in really modern, unexpected shapes,” agrees Abigail. As for how to style them? “Don’t feel like you have to go too matchy-matchy,” she says. “A blue hat looks gorgeous with metallics, for example, or you can use the colour of your hat to pull out one of the colours in a floral dress. A monochrome piece is another way to do millinery without looking too traditional.”

If you’re at a time of life where weddings punctuate almost every weekend during the summer months, this is likely a question you’ve been pondering. When it seems wasteful to buy a dress you’ll only wear once, how do you style it so that you’re not copying and pasting the same exact outfit? “It’s absolutely okay to repeat outfits – we don’t all have the time or inclination to buy an entirely new look for every event, especially when summer brings so many of them!” says Abigail. “Instead, it’s all about having a good selection of accessories that can be mixed and matched, giving each look a slightly different vibe. It can also be helpful to opt for dresses that aren’t too statement-making – a simpler piece is easier to style in different ways, and less memorable if you’re worried people will notice you’re outfit-repeating.”

Bright colours encouraged. No prints please. Black-tie only. Please wear all white. Dress to impress!

All of the above are real-life dress codes encountered by the Harrods team – and they only seem to get more specific by the year. The rule of thumb is always to be mindful of the party’s hosts – they will have requested a dress code for a reason, and it can be helpful to ask for more clarification if you’re unsure. If the invitation stipulates one of the more standard dress codes – say black tie or cocktail attire – the rules are simpler (and we’ve written the guides already).

Etiquette has historically dictated that certain colours are off-limits for wedding guests – but in modern-day terms, those rules can usually be considered moot. “Rules are meant to be broken,” Abigail decrees. “I would absolutely wear black to a wedding – but it is location dependent. It works for a chic city wedding, but maybe not for a traditional country wedding. And the right accessories are important to make sure it doesn’t look too funereal.” As for red? A similar philosophy applies: if the couple are very traditional, you might feel safer avoiding scarlet hues – but for the most part, people don’t abide by colour superstitions any more. Bar the one cardinal rule: if there’s a bride wearing white, steer clear of anything close to it.