LaPointe Bridal Shower Dresses: What the Bride and Guests Wear

The best LaPointe bridal shower dresses are the short satin shift with feathers in Cream, the cream jersey ruched halter gown, and a white satin cape tee with a cream bias skirt. A bride at her own shower should wear white, ivory and cream, in a shape that is relaxed enough for an afternoon party and special enough to be photographed all day. LaPointe, the New York label Sally LaPointe founded in 2010, makes almost every key style in a cream colourway, which is why it works so well for the run of events before a wedding.

This guide covers what to wear to your own bridal shower, what to wear as a guest, the dress codes you are likely to meet, and how LaPointe sizing runs. For the wedding day itself, read our LaPointe bridal guide.

Quick answer: what should a bride wear to her bridal shower?

• A short white dress. The Satin Shift Dress With Feathers in Cream is the easiest answer: a loose satin shift with feathered cuffs, so it feels bridal without being formal.
• A cream column. The Jersey Sleeveless Halter Ruched Gown in Cream is soft stretch jersey, comfortable for a long lunch, and long enough for a garden shower.
• White separates. A Satin Cape Tee in Cream with the Satin Bias Slit Midi Skirt in Cloud reads polished and modern, and both pieces wear again after the wedding.

What is the dress code for a bridal shower?

Most bridal showers are daytime parties: a brunch, a lunch, a tea, sometimes an evening dinner at a restaurant. The invitation rarely names a dress code, so the default is smart daytime. For the bride, that means a light colour and a hem at the knee, at the calf, at the floor if the venue is grand. For guests, it means a dress you would wear to a summer wedding, minus the formality.

The one firm rule: guests do not wear white. White, ivory and pale cream belong to the bride for every event of the wedding week. If the bride has asked everyone to wear white, which is now common at bachelorette weekends, follow her lead.

The bride: short dresses for a daytime shower

A short dress is the most popular choice for a bridal shower because it contrasts with the long wedding gown. LaPointe’s satin shift is cut loose through the body with a high neck, so it is modest, easy to sit in and flattering on almost every figure. The feathered cuffs give it the occasion. In cream it is the house’s most requested bridal shower dress.

For a slightly sleeker line, the Lightweight Satin One Shoulder Dress in Cream has a single shoulder and a fluid satin body. It suits a younger bride and a warm day. The Viscose Waist Tie Dress in Cream is the practical option: matte viscose, a tie waist, sleeves, and a fabric that does not crease in the car.

The bride: long and midi options

If the shower is a formal lunch at a hotel, a long dress looks right. The Jersey Sleeveless Halter Ruched Gown in Cream is ruched through the body and halter at the neck, in a weighty jersey that holds its shape. The Satin Drape Neck Sleeveless Gown in Cream is the dressier choice, a bias satin gown with a draped neckline that could almost serve as a civil ceremony dress.

A midi sits between the two. The Matte Viscose Halterneck Dress in Off White falls below the knee, with a halter neck, and is the most comfortable dress in this guide for a long afternoon.

The bride: white separates

Separates are the modern alternative to a dress, and they make sense financially because each piece is worn again. A cape tee is LaPointe’s signature top: a loose satin T shirt with a cape back that falls from the shoulders. The Satin Cape Tee in Cream pairs with the Satin Asymmetric Maxi Skirt in Cream for a long look, and with the Satin Belted Pant in Cream for a trouser look. Our guide to LaPointe cape tops covers every version.

For a statement, the Satin Button Down With Feathers in Cream is a satin shirt with feathered cuffs. Wear it with a cream wide leg trouser such as the Georgette Wide Leg Pant in Cream.

Guests: what to wear to a bridal shower

As a guest, choose colour. LaPointe’s palette is rich, and almost any shade works at a daytime shower. The Satin Shift Dress With Feathers in Cloud is a pale blue that photographs beautifully next to a bride in white. The Satin Shift Dress With Feathers in Sand is a warm neutral that will not compete. For a bolder look, the Satin Draped Neck Bias Dress With Feathers in Emerald is a deep green bias satin dress with a feathered hem.

A cape tee with a satin trouser is the safe guest outfit. The Satin Cape Tee in Sand with the Satin Relaxed Pleated Pant in Oat is neutral and elegant, and the Satin Cape Tee in Berry with the Satin Relaxed Pleated Pant in Berry is a tonal set in a rich pink.

Accessories for a bridal shower

Feather cuffs are the LaPointe accessory that suits a shower best: they add a bridal note to a plain dress. The Feather Cuffs in Off White work with a white dress and the Feather Cuffs in Oat with a neutral. A bride who wants a veil for the photographs can wear the Tulle Veil in Cream for an hour and take it off for lunch. See our LaPointe accessories guide for the full range.

How does LaPointe sizing run?

LaPointe runs true to size in letter sizes, and most dresses in this guide are cut with ease through the body. The shift dress and cape tee are deliberately loose, so take your usual size. The jersey ruched gowns stretch, so take your usual size if you are between sizes. The bias satin gowns follow the body most closely; if you are between sizes there, size up. Our LaPointe sizing guide has the full conversion table.

Frequently asked questions

What should the bride wear to her bridal shower?

Most brides wear a short white dress to their bridal shower, to contrast with the long wedding gown. In LaPointe, the Satin Shift Dress With Feathers in Cream is the most popular choice: loose satin, a high neck and feathered cuffs.

Can a guest wear white to a bridal shower?

No. White, ivory and pale cream are reserved for the bride at every event of the wedding week, unless the bride has asked guests to wear white. Choose a colour such as Cloud blue, Sand, Emerald and Berry instead.

Is a long dress too formal for a bridal shower?

Not for a formal lunch at a hotel and an evening dinner. For a garden brunch, a short dress and a midi look more relaxed. The cream jersey halter ruched gown is long but soft enough for a daytime event.

Can I wear trousers to my bridal shower?

Yes. A white satin cape tee with a white satin trouser is a modern bridal shower outfit, and both pieces can be worn again after the wedding.

What colours does LaPointe make in white?

LaPointe makes most of its key styles in Cream, and several in Off White, Ecru and White. Cream is a soft warm white that flatters most skin tones and photographs well.

Does LaPointe run true to size?

Yes. LaPointe runs true to size in letter sizes. Loose styles such as the shift dress and cape tee need no adjustment, and the bias satin gowns follow the body, so size up there if you are between sizes.

Where can I buy LaPointe bridal shower dresses?

Coveti carries the LaPointe collection, including the cream dresses and separates in this guide. Shop the full range on the LaPointe brand page.

Read next

• LaPointe rehearsal dinner dresses
• LaPointe reception dresses
• LaPointe engagement party dresses
• LaPointe bridal

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti.