Costarellos Wedding Guest Dresses: Black Tie, Formal and Winter Weddings

For a black tie wedding, a floor-length Costarellos gown in velvet, lace and lurex georgette is the right call, and for a cocktail dress code a sequin midi works. Winter weddings suit the house best, because the Fall Winter 2026 collection is built on silk velvet, silk mikado and sleeved lace. Leave the off white, ecru and cream pieces for another occasion, since those belong to the bride.

Quick answer

• Black tie: a floor-length gown, such as the Aliska silk velvet gown at $3,730 and the Lissie silk velvet gown at $3,650.
• Formal: a gown and a dressy lace dress, from the Brennie lurex georgette dress at $2,000.
• Cocktail: a sequin midi such as the Capria at $3,260, with a mini for a later party.
• Avoid: off white, ecru and cream, which rules out the Silla in Off White, the Maristelle and the off white Leona.
• Fit: most styles fit true to size in UK 6 to UK 18 (FR 34 to FR 46). The Minari gown runs small, so take one size up.

What to wear by dress code

Black tie wedding guest dresses

Black tie means a long dress, and the fabric matters as much as the length. Costarellos gives you the full range here. The Aliska gown is silk-blend velvet in Electric Blue, with a high neckline, bishop sleeves and hand-beaded metallic lace appliqué. The Lissie silk velvet gown has guipure lace trims and comes in Pine Green and Deep Blue. For a strapless line, the Avielle in Dark Green silk mikado has a high-low hem with feathers and crystals at the bust, and the Gisella in Mauve sets a tulle skirt under a petal-embellished bodice. Every one of these is a gown that holds its own next to a dinner jacket.

Winter wedding guest dresses

A winter wedding asks for warmth and cover, and the Fall Winter 2026 collection is cut for it. Velvet is the obvious fabric. Sleeves are the second consideration: the Brennie dress has softly gathered sleeves, the Brona beaded lace gown has 3/4 sleeves, and the Arla sequin midi has long sleeves. Deep colours read well in low winter light, so look at Pine Green, Deep Blue, Electric Blue, grape purple and Mauve. A strapless gown still works in December, as long as the venue is warm and you bring a layer; the Crissy sequin floral jacket ($3,260) and the Tesha floral-cut satin jacket ($1,810) both sit well over a strapless bodice.

Formal and cocktail weddings

A formal dress code gives you more room. The Kalissa guipure lace dress ($2,430) is a repeat style for the house, fitted through the body with an asymmetrical skirt, and it comes in Pearl Blue and Vintage Rose. The Branka gown in Mint ($3,180) has a crystal bodice and a pleated skirt. For cocktail weddings, the Shayna midi in Light Blue ($3,220) combines hand-beaded French lace with crepe and a mock neck, and the Capria sequin midi in Pink ($3,260) has 3D floral blooms. Browse more in our midi dresses.

Colours to avoid as a wedding guest

White, ivory, off white, ecru and cream belong to the bride. In this collection that takes out the Silla gown in Off White, the Maristelle crepe column dress, the Leona lace midi in Off White, the Brissa midi in Cream and the off white Tazia and Anora minis. The Jennan gown and the Biona cami dress are listed as grey and green lace, but both read pale in photographs, so check with the couple first. Black is usual for an evening black tie wedding in many cities, and less so at a daytime ceremony; when in doubt, choose a colour. Very pale pinks are fine in most settings, though a full blush gown next to an ivory wedding dress can look close in pictures.

Who wears Costarellos to weddings

Costarellos was founded in Athens in 1998 by Christos Costarellos, who still sketches every design. Carrie Johnson (then Symonds) wore a Costarellos dress for her May 2021 wedding to Boris Johnson, which she rented through MyWardrobe HQ. The house has also dressed Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein of Jordan, which says something about how the gowns hold up at formal events.

Our wedding guest picks

1. Aliska Silk Velvet Lace Applique Gown in Electric Blue

$3,730. A sleeved velvet gown for a black tie winter wedding.

2. Lissie Silk Velvet Gown in Pine Green

$3,650. Silk velvet with guipure lace trims, also made in Deep Blue.

3. Avielle Silk Mikado Strapless Dress in Dark Green

$3,270. A form-fitting strapless gown with a high-low hem.

4. Gisella Petal Lurex Satin Tulle Strapless Dress in Mauve

$3,670. Fitted bodice, relaxed tulle skirt.

5. Brennie Lurex Georgette Dress in Purple

$2,000. The lowest-priced gown here, with sleeves and a buckle belt.

6. Kalissa Guipure Lace Dress in Pearl Blue

$2,430. Corded guipure lace with an asymmetrical skirt, for formal and daytime weddings.

7. Shayna Beaded French Lace Crepe Midi Dress in Light Blue

$3,220. A mock-neck midi for a cocktail dress code.

8. Capria Sequin Midi Dress in Pink

$3,260. Sleeveless sequins with 3D floral blooms.

See every style on the Costarellos brand page and across our evening gowns.

Read next: Costarellos mother of the bride dresses, Costarellos dresses by colour and the Costarellos velvet edit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Costarellos good for a black tie wedding?

Yes. Costarellos makes floor-length gowns in silk velvet, silk mikado, French lace and lurex georgette, which suit a black tie dress code. The Aliska and Lissie velvet gowns cost $3,730 and $3,650 at Luxury Shoes .

What should I wear to a winter wedding as a guest?

A winter wedding guest dress works best in a heavier fabric with some cover, such as velvet with sleeves. The Costarellos Aliska gown has bishop sleeves and a high neckline, and the Brennie dress has gathered sleeves from $2,000.

Which Costarellos colours should a wedding guest avoid?

Wedding guests should avoid white, ivory, off white, ecru and cream. In the current Costarellos collection that means skipping the Silla in Off White, the Maristelle, the off white Leona and the Brissa in Cream.

How much is a Costarellos wedding guest dress?

At Luxury Shoes , Costarellos wedding guest dresses start at $2,000 for the Brennie lurex georgette dress. Most gowns cost between $3,000 and $3,800, and the crystal-embroidered Mellorie and Belina gowns cost $5,370 and $5,470.

Do Costarellos dresses run true to size?

Most Costarellos dresses fit true to size and are made in UK 6 to UK 18, which is FR 34 to FR 46. The Minari gown fits slightly small, so Costarellos suggests taking one size up.