While basically everyone knows not to wear white, can you wear black to a wedding?
The shade used to be off-limits, reserved solely for those in mourning. In the Victorian era, widows were expected to wear black for one year after the death of a spouse (or even longer). Queen Victoria wore it for the rest of her life after the death of Prince Albert. Meanwhile, families who had experienced the loss of a parent, grandparent, or sibling did so for at least six months. Attending parties and other celebratory occasions was strongly discouraged during that period – so no one wore black to weddings because, well, if you were in black, you weren’t attending them in the first place.
Jump to: Black dresses to wear to a wedding
By the 1920s, this sartorial tradition had fallen by the wayside, aided by the progressive movement as well as by the First World War. “Mourning was abandoned by many people at the time, out of consideration of others, since a universal wearing of black would have been unthinkably depressing to the public,” read an article in a 1927 issue of Vogue titled “The New Aspect of Mourning”. “Women in America and England acquired a new viewpoint on this subject. They came to feel that they should not withdraw entirely from active life, except for a brief period, nor should they give themselves up to inanimate and sombre seclusion, wrapped in deep habiliments of woe.” Over the next few decades, black became integrated into everyday wardrobes, especially as Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel popularised the “Little Black Dress”. Yet, somehow, people continued to assume that black was a no-go for weddings.
However, that’s all it is: an assumption. “Can you wear black to a wedding? You definitely can!” says bridal stylist Anny Choi. “The rule feels antiquated. Black is a great staple that you can rewear to different weddings. I actually just invested in a classic black suiting option that will be my go-to for fall weddings.” Indeed, in Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette, authors Anna and Lizzie Post write that the colour is fine for bridesmaids: “Totally, virtually all colours are acceptable – including black and shades of white.” And, as more couples opt for black-tie weddings held in the evening, the shade is seeing a surge in popularity. The only reason you shouldn’t wear black? If the couple’s dress code asks otherwise: “If you’re going to a wedding where the suggested dress code is ‘bold tropics’, I would probably avoid wearing black,” says Choi.
So go forth, and don your favourite dark dress to your next nuptials – it’s no faux pas.
Vogue’s best black wedding guest dresses at a glance
