How to Wear the Art Deco Trend as a Wedding Guest

Art Deco is known for its rich decoration, geometric shapes, and bold glamour, and this fall it is making a major comeback. In interiors, it appears in luxurious decorative details; in fashion, designers such as Miu Miu, Conner Ives, Chanel, and Kallmeyer are using crystals, fringe, and embroidery to capture the style. This love of ornament is exactly what makes the look so well suited to wedding guest dressing—when the occasion calls for celebratory fashion, what could be more dazzling than Deco?Vogue’s Best Art Deco-Inspired Wedding Guest Dresses:The Flapper-InspiredBode Sea Flower dressJump to review$2,310 NORDSTROMThe Metallic FringeTaller Marmo Berlin dressJump to review$1,240 TALLER MARMOThe Beaded LBDStaud Effie dressJump to review$595 NET-A-PORTERThe Splashy PrintLa DoubleJ Twirling midi dressJump to review$850 NET-A-PORTERThe Dropped WaistMcQueen draped midi dressJump to review$3,600 NET-A-PORTERThe Silk EmbroideryUlla Johnson Nerine dressJump to review$2,200 ULLA JOHNSONFor guests, that means finding pieces with the era’s signature details—a dropped waist, a sharp geometric print, playful fringe, beading, or a velvet finish. The risk, of course, is looking like you’re in costume, since the line between homage and Halloween is thinner than it seems. So show restraint when trying the trend; a heavily embellished dress does not need an equally elaborate headpiece, and a velvet gown can stand on its own without a pile of jewelry. Let one Deco-inspired element take the lead, then keep everything else simple.Whether you’re shopping for a black-tie ceremony, a cocktail reception, or an intimate celebration, these are our favorite Art Deco wedding guest dresses to consider.Ornate EmbellishmentsIf there is one Art Deco detail worth embracing, it’s embellishment. Look for crystals, beading, and embroidery arranged with enough precision to feel thoughtful rather than excessive. Dôen’s and Bode’s hand-beaded gowns bring this element to life most clearly; but we also love these options from Self-Portrait and Staud. No statement necklace required.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistDôenArtemise dress$1,998 DÔENSave to wishlistSave to wishlistStaudEffie dress$595 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistSelf-Portraitcrystal-embellished mesh dress$950 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistBodeSea Flower dress$2,310 NORDSTROMGeometric PrintsWith its focus on symmetry and sharp lines, Art Deco naturally lends itself to bold prints. It’s also one of the easiest ways to nod to the era without committing to head-to-toe glamour. Kallmeyer fully embraces the motif with a perfectly symmetrical, beaded scallop design, while the subtle angular lace pattern on Tory Burch’s midi offers something more understated. Elsewhere, La DoubleJ leans fully into the trend with a geometric feather-print dress, while Zimmermann’s flowing, graphic pattern takes a more contemporary approach.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistKallmeyerIvette dress$2,900 KALLMEYERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTory Burchpleated lace-trimmed dress$1,295 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistLa DoubleJTwirling midi dress$850 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistZimmermannMomentum maxi dress$3,300 NET-A-PORTERDraped Dropped-WaistsThe dropped waist dress’s connection to Art Deco runs deeper than its placement on the body. The shape skims the figure rather than hugging it, creating the kind of movement that made flapper dresses perfect for dancing. Here, the silhouette gets a modern update with soft draping for a firmly 21st-century look—Cos’s fluid midi keeps the design sleek, while Zara’s version adds a sash at the hip for a more dramatic take. A fitted style from McQueen leans evening, while Proenza Schouler shows how well the trend can work in a bold print.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistCosdraped twist-detail dress$139 COSSave to wishlistSave to wishlistZaradraped sash dress$119 ZARASave to wishlistSave to wishlistMcQueendraped midi dress$3,600 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistProenza SchoulerPaUlina dress $1,490 NORDSTROM

Luxe Velvets

Velvet is a classic fall fabric, but its rich look makes it especially well-suited to the Art Deco revival. Pair it with other signature details of the era—a dropped waist, like Loretta Caponi, or a geometric hemline from Khaite—or let a single velvet piece stand on its own, as in these looks from Zadig & Voltaire and Self-Portrait. Just keep the styling simple: minimal to no jewelry and neutral-toned shoes (black, cream, or silver strappy heels work best) so the final look doesn’t feel dated.