Formal spring dress in satin, velvet and florals

Spring weather can’t make up its mind, so a formal spring dress has to work in a chilly March hall and on a sunny May lawn. Velvet covers the early weeks here. Satin and floral wraps take the warmer ones.

Early spring, when evenings still bite

An engagement party in March or an anniversary dinner in April usually means heating that’s off by ten o’clock. Velvet helps. Take the powder pink midi, model 1465. It’s velvet pressed into fine pleats that swing as you walk, with sleeves ending just below the elbow. Pink like this looks soft in the yellow light of a restaurant.

Prefer a little shine? The beige lurex midi, model 1511, has long sleeves and a warm glint that suits a family celebration. We’d wear it with nude pumps, because a pale shoe keeps the beige from looking heavy.

Late spring and the satin wrap

By May the velvet goes back in the closet. This is where matte satin takes over. We cut our wraps from polyester with some elastane, and you tie the waist yourself, a little tighter for photos, looser for the buffet.

Model 1555 in emerald is short with long sleeves and a V-neck. It’s a good pick for a cocktail evening. For a daytime ceremony, a floral wrap looks softer. Model 1526 is a white midi with violet flowers, and model 1525 is pink, knee-length, with light ruffles along the hem.

Going to a spring wedding as a guest? Skip anything mostly white and choose color. Soft pink or green shows up nicely in photos against fresh leaves and blossom. Model 1532 is a nice middle ground. It’s a green satin midi with short sleeves and frills gathered round the waist.

Most of the satin and floral pieces belong to our summer line, which comes back as the weather warms. Choose early and give yourself time for a fitting. You’ll find more ideas on the spring wedding guest page and among all our formal looks.