With wedding season seeping into the air, the grand scale of nuptial celebrations are about to come full circle.  After the initial nerves of a proposal have subsided, the first in the long line of celebratory merriments is the engagement party.  While engagement parties range in theme and formality from backyard barbecue by the pool to a candlelit evening cocktail dinner, your outfit should always be aisle worthy.

For a casual, mid-afternoon engagement gathering, bright pastels and shorter hemlines are a must.  Comfortable, light-as-air fabrics are perfectly acceptable, such as a cozy cotton or leisurely linen, allowing your skin to breathe with the warming spring air.  Scour your go-to shopping hotspots for colours of the season, such as soft pink or melodious blue, like this delicate baby blue and snow white tank dress from Dillard’s.

Dillard’s Gianni Bini Tracyn Lace-Stripe Dress

Free flowing hair or loose wavy curls harmonize beautifully along with soft makeup colours such as dusty white or soft pink. Pair this above-the-knee babydoll knit with chunky sandals and funky, casual jewellery and you’ll be sure to wow the guests as you raise a toast to the future bride and groom.

If you are searching for a step up from a cotton tank dress yet not quite cocktail attire, opt for a slightly dressier material with more embellishments such as this two-piece strapless set from Zara.

Zara Pink Peplum Dress

Although the pink and cream swirled design keeps it relatively casual, the over-sized ruffle gives the outfit a posh and sassy twist.  Top it off with eye-catching strappy pink stilettos for an effortlessly stylish finish.  For a more loose fitting and playful ensemble, flowy halter dresses are a flawless choice.  This style is fitted in the top, bunches at the waist and subsequently falls freely at the hip to flatter any shape and height.  To splash the dress with a hint of additional glitzy style, embellish the waist with a flashy broach or sleek belt, and your look will be more captivating than the ensuing sunset as the party nears its end.

If you are attending a more formal affair, give your everyday look a dash of glamour.  A lustrous material such as silk paired with sky-high pumps will readily bedazzle any ensemble, especially if you top it off with Hollywood hair and a bold lip colour.  A strapless black cocktail dress adjourned with vertical ruffles is a perfect compliment to an evening extravaganza honouring the future wedded bliss of close friends.  A floor length gown would also be a dazzling choice for moonlit party, yet stray away from falling into an overly formal look.  Unless the invitation specifically declares it a black tie event, even evening engagement parties have a more laidback atmosphere.

The main decree of an engagement party is the time of day and location are crucial for the formality of your party dress.  Strive to incorporate colors of the season and remember to let your personal style shine.  Raise a toast to the upcoming wedding and to your fabulous look!