Huishan Zhang Wedding Guest Dresses: What to Wear, by Dress Code

Huishan Zhang is a wedding guest brand almost by accident. The house builds occasion dressing in blush, pink quartz, navy and woven jacquard, cuts long sleeves into nearly a third of its dresses rather than treating them as an afterthought, and sizes UK 6 to UK 18. That is close to a specification for the job.

This page is organised by what the invitation actually says, because that is the only question that matters once you are looking at dresses.

First, the two rules

Do not wear white. White, ivory, cream and champagne all read as bridal in photographs, even when they look obviously different in the room. Pale blush is usually fine if the bride is in true white, and it is still worth a moment’s thought.

Match the dress code, do not beat it. A floor-length gown at a garden lunch is as wrong as a cocktail dress at a black tie dinner, and the first mistake is the more uncomfortable one to sit through.

Black tie

Floor length. Dark and deep-toned, in a fabric with enough body to hold its shape under evening light.

• Augusta Gown in Black Tulle, $6,260
• Delphi Gown in Black Sable, $4,760
• Bligny Gown in Blush Tulle, $7,000
• Daphne Gown in Pale Pink Crepe, $5,700
• Raven Gown in Pink Duchesse, $4,390
• Chloe Gown in Navy Cloque, $4,580

Formal, and the invitations that just say the venue is grand

Midi length in a substantial cloth. Jacquard and cloque both do the work here: the pattern is woven in, so the dress looks considered without looking costumed.

• Aimee Midi Dress in Light Blue Jacquard, $3,830
• Kyle Midi Dress in Navy Cloque, $5,320
• Gershin Dress in Teal Multi Jacquard, $4,950
• Manon Dress in Teal Multi Jacquard, $3,270
• Aimee Midi Dress in Pale Pink Crepe, $3,460
• Danna Dress in Pink Embellished Crepe, $3,460

Cocktail

Knee to midi, decorated, worn with a heel. This is the widest dress code and the easiest one to get slightly wrong by underdressing.

• Maia Mini Dress in Black Crepe, $3,560
• Violette Dress in Black Organza, $2,490
• Halle Dress in Sugar Coral Organza, $2,190
• Pia Dress in Pink Quartz Tulle, $1,370
• Blakely Dress in Champagne Satin Embellished Tulle, $1,590
• Lyra Dress in Smoke Embroidered Sequins, $1,740

Daytime and destination

Cotton, linen and chiffon. Breathable, crisp, and still clearly an occasion piece rather than a summer dress.

• Francesca Midi Dress in Pink Embroidered Cotton, $2,520
• Rosetta Dress in Coral Chiffon, $3,640
• Eileen Midi Dress in White Linen, $2,340
• Ming Dress in Red Embroidered Cotton, $1,930
• Kasia Midi Dress in White Embroidered Denim, $2,150
• Majorca Dress in Ochre Cotton, $1,150

Covered: sleeves, higher necklines, full length

These are cut as main-line pieces, not as a modest alternative, so you are not choosing from a smaller, cheaper range. Sleeve lengths below are verified from each piece’s own photograph: the first six have full-length sleeves and the last two have cape sleeves.

• Reign Gown in Black Crepe, $5,320
• Clover Gown in Grey Crepe, $5,140
• Delphi Gown in Black Sable, $4,760
• Brianna Full Length Dress in Blue Crepe, $5,320
• Skye Midi Dress in Grey Crepe, $4,760
• Theodora Gown in Emerald Green Voile, $2,530
• July Dress in Black Crepe, $5,510
• Lea Gown in Ivory Satin, $2,040

Separates, if the wedding is more than one day

A skirt and a top give you two outfits from one purchase and travel in a fraction of the space. For a multi-day wedding this is the most efficient way to buy.

• Vania Midi Skirt in Ivory Sequin, $2,900
• Callie Top in Ivory Sequin, $2,900
• Lana Midi Skirt in Green Gold Embellished Organza, $2,520
• Danny Top in Ivory Multi Jacquard, $2,520

Dress code, decoded

One practical note on timing

Several pieces in this collection are produced to order rather than held in a warehouse, so the gap between ordering and wearing is longer than it is on a high street site. Give yourself six to eight weeks before the date, and more if you expect alterations.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wear Huishan Zhang to a wedding?

Yes, and the house is cut for it. Its core register is occasion dressing in blush, pink quartz, navy and jacquard, which is exactly the range a wedding guest needs. The two rules that matter are the same as anywhere: do not wear white unless the invitation asks for it, and match the formality of the dress code rather than beating it.

What colour should a wedding guest avoid?

White, ivory, cream and champagne, because they read as bridal in photographs even when they do not in the room. Very pale blush is a judgement call and usually fine if the bride is in true white. Black is now widely accepted at evening weddings and still worth checking if the couple is traditional.

What do I wear to a black tie wedding as a guest?

A floor-length gown. Dark and deep-toned is the safest register, and a structured fabric such as tulle, sable, duchesse will read correctly under evening light. The Augusta Gown in Black Tulle at $6,260 is a direct answer to that invitation.

What is cocktail dress code at a wedding?

Knee length to midi, not floor length. Something with decoration, failing that a very good fabric, worn with heels. A mini is acceptable at an evening reception and rarely right for a church ceremony.

What can I wear to a wedding if I need to cover my arms and shoulders?

Huishan Zhang cuts sleeved pieces as part of its main line rather than as a modest option. Of the 109 dresses and gowns in this collection, 32 have full-length sleeves and 8 more have cape and kimono sleeves, counted from the featured images because the house does not state sleeve length in its copy. Crepe gowns are the strongest group, and separates with a jacket give you the most control of all.

How far in advance should I order?

Order early. A number of pieces in the collection are made to order, and alterations take time on top of that. Six to eight weeks before the wedding is comfortable. Two weeks is not.

Keep reading

• Huishan Zhang for the mother of the bride
• Every Huishan Zhang evening gown, by occasion
• Long-sleeve occasion dresses that are cut for it
• Huishan Zhang sizing and conversions
• Shop the full Huishan Zhang collection at Coveti