Garden Party Dresses

Classic Garden Party Dresses

Because a garden party, by its nature, traditionally takes place in late spring or any time in summer, garden party dresses have tended to be white and made of the lightest weight fabric that suits the cut of the dress. A dress worn to a spring party might have had some floral design, depending on the period, but simplicity usually distinguished the dress.

Garden parties were popular in the Victorian era and were a regular feature of the summer social season through the 1930s. Because that sort of frivolity could really only be indulged by the middle and upper classes, garden party dresses were made of elegant, expensive fabrics. Most vintage summer dresses will be beautifully cut and made of silk or chiffon with exquisite, but simple, details.

Starting especially in the 1920s, when fashion changed radically in favor of looser, more comfortable dresses, a garden party dress would be sleeveless and loose-fitting, but might feature strips of chiffon attached to the shoulders or a chiffon overlay on the skirt, often cut in a handkerchief style. When a breeze came up, these would flutter in a very attractive manner. The bias-cut dresses of the 1930s tended towards more floral patterns and loose details over the sleeves and hips. By the 1950s, florals were definitely the rage – a garden party simply wasn’t a garden party without full-skirted floral dresses dotting the lawn.

Modern Garden Party Dresses

Nowadays, fashion is less a factor than comfort and practicality, and any color or pattern is acceptable. Many women prefer a simple sheath dress made of 100% linen or cotton, which can be dressed up or down with jewelry or a short-sleeved jacket or cardigan. The dress is loose, pretty and practical and easily washed if it gets a grass or food stain. For garden parties where mothers are tending to their kids at the same time, this is exactly what’s needed.

For something more formal, you may have to search a high-end shop. In countries like Britain, where formal afternoon teas or events at racecourses are still held and demand a traditional garden party dress, the dresses can be found at good boutiques. You can never go wrong with florals, and the classic cut of a sheath or a halter dress with a fitted bodice and flowing skirt will be perfect. Many halter dresses come with matching boleros, perfect for when a cool breeze kicks up.

Shopping for Garden Party Dresses

Since many garden parties coincide with weddings or engagement parties, it should come as no surprise that a good source for buying a formal garden party dress is at a well-stocked bridal shop. All women’s wear shops will have appropriate dresses in stock around prom season as well.

Another great option is to go the more classic route and shop for vintage or vintage reproduction dresses. Many fabulous dresses from the 1950s and early 1960s are still in mint condition and can be found either in vintage shops or on eBay. As for vintage reproduction, there are a number of excellent online sources, such as:

• Revamp Vintage
• Stop Staring
• The Red Dress Shoppe

If you have some money to spend and want to be eco-friendly as well as retro-fashionable, try Enamore, a UK site that specializes in vintage reproduction wear that is made entirely of sustainably grown fabrics. The dresses are so well made, you will find it an excellent investment.