6 Outfit Ideas for a Backyard Engagement Party
Have a backyard engagement party coming up? While backyard parties are often more personal and less stressful than a sit-down affair at an event space, the backyard party dress code is often more challenging to decipher. First, the party is outdoors, so you have to be sure to dress for the weather — there will likely be no heat or air conditioning to help regulate your body’s temperature. Second, backyard parties are often more casual, but not always — and you don’t want to be the one showing up underdressed.
It’s important to strike the perfect balance of formality and casual vibes for an outdoor celebration, which is hard to achieve. With a few items in your closet, though, it’s easy to know what to wear to a backyard engagement party no matter the time of year.
Try a Classic Black Dress
You can never go wrong with a classic and timeless black dress. Black dresses come in a variety of styles for all body types. You can select the dress ideal for your event, whether it’s taking place on a hot day or a chillier evening. Choose from sleeveless maxi dresses, long-sleeved button-front dresses, cap sleeve fit and flare dresses, and more.
Pair your black dress with a statement belt and a pair of sparkly earrings to add some extra flair. For a more understated look, keep it simple with a delicate necklace, a cardigan, and a pair of flats.
Put On an Effortless Maxi Dress
Maxi dresses are a full-on look that’s simple yet stylish. There’s something for everyone, and everybody shapes for maxi dresses for women. Shop floral maxi wrap dresses, color-block tiered maxi dresses, plus-size sleeveless maxi dresses in prints or a solid black, sleeveless striped maxi dresses, and more. Many of our maxi dresses offer the perfect “what to wear?” solution for a backyard engagement party. A pair of wedges and simple jewelry will complete the outfit.
Go for a More Casual Vibe in a Bright Tunic
Tunics in certain styles are a great option for a more casual backyard engagement party. While you won’t want to wear too casual one, many tunics come in bright floral prints or dressier button-front styles that are a favorite for backyard gatherings.
You can wear your tunic with dark, stretchy jeans or even tuck into a well-fitted skirt. Booties or heels can both work as footwear and wedge heels in a bright color that complements the tunic.
Add a Pop of Color With a Fashion Scarf
If you’re looking for a quick, last-minute statement accessory to pair with an outfit for an engagement party, consider women’s fashion scarves, which come in all different colors and styles and add a punch of style to any outfit.
Fashion scarves have great styling potential. They come in many prints like leopard and plaid, in addition to solid-colored options for those choosing to wear a printed outfit underneath.
Opt for Comfy Black Jeans
If the backyard engagement party is a jeans-friendly affair, get a pair of always-flattering black jeans to wear to the shindig to celebrate the couple. There are a variety of styles of women's black jeans available — straight-legged jeans, skinny leggings, bootcut jeans, elastic-waist options, and more — that can be paired with a printed tunic, women’s cardigans, flowy blouses, or button-front tops.
If you’re wearing black jeans to a dressy backyard party, a skinny legging might be your best bet. This look can easily be dressed up with a pair of high heels, a floral blouse, and a statement necklace for a chic ensemble. Beyond high heels, you can wear black jeans with boots, booties, flats, or wedges, depending on the time of year.
Wear a Skort
If you expect to do a lot of walking and moving around at the upcoming backyard engagement party, you may want to select a skort over a classic skirt. Skorts are shorts that appear as a skirt because of a flap of fabric that drapes across the front. They look just as dressy as a classic skirt but give you added mobility at an outdoor event.
Our skorts come in khaki-colored chino fabrics, which would look great with a fitted top in a solid color, and knit navy fabrics that would pair excellently with a cowl neck white tank top and a pair of dangly earrings. Skorts can be worn with whatever footwear fits the party vibe, whether that’s booties, heels, flats, or sparkly sandals.
Again, one of the best things about a backyard engagement party is the fact that it's generally informal and allows more creativity when it comes to the outfit you select. Use your imagination (and your closet) to create the look you feel best in to celebrate the married couple-to-be in your life.