Spring is a beautiful time of year, and attending a special event during this season is always something to look forward to. For a start, it’s warming up, so you don’t need to deal with all those extra layers you had on during winter. You can show a little more skin if you like, and generally feel lighter on your feet. There’s also a really fresh vibe to spring, that marries in with brighter skies and blossoming flowers. The spring fashion colour palette is light and fresh, with an embracing of florals that make for a pretty picture at events.
Spring happens to be when a lot of people choose to hold engagement parties and weddings. That, combined with the spring racing calendar, means that there are plenty of occasions that call for some special outfits. Whether it’s a spring cocktail dress for an engagement celebration, a spring wedding guest dress for outdoor nuptials, or a spring party dress for a garden party, there are plenty of great options to be found in Femme Connection’s collection.
Spring Occasion Dressing
Ah, spring! There’s that scent of fresh flowers in the air, the warmth of sun on the skin, and if you’re lucky, an invite to a garden party, long lunch or cocktail event. You’ll need dresses! But what to wear? Let’s break down some of the reliable options for the most common spring occasions you might be attending.
The Cocktail Party
Whether it’s a cocktail party to celebrate an engagement, it’s a spring racing event at a marquee, or your work is having their Christmas party early, you’ll need just the right cocktail attire for the occasion. And it’s always wise to prepare in advance, so that you have a couple of options up your sleeve, even if one of these options is a classic black dress, which can work for any occasion pretty much.
A cocktail party is a little formal, without being overly so. There’s no need to wear a ballgown, but you want to look a little more sophisticated than you would at an everyday celebration. This mean’s it’s not an overly laid back affair, yet, you still want to look and feel comfortable.
A cocktail dress is an obvious choice for a cocktail party. Cocktail dresses tend to be shorter than formal gowns, and sit between just above the knee to mid-calf (although there are always exceptions). They are made from sumptuous fabrics that look a little flashy, including satin, lace, crepe, silk, chiffon, and even polyester fabrics that resemble these fabrics. You’ll often find fabrics with a little glitter in the fibre, or with a sequin outerlayer, adding a little extra glamour to the dress. Add to that, stylish details like pleats, beading, sheer layers and plunging necklines elevate these dresses from everyday party dresses to something a little more special.
Don’t forget that the right polished jumpsuit, top and evening skirt combination, or evening top and tailored pants pairing can also work for a cocktail party. You might just need to enhance the look with some glitzy statement accessories and some gorgeous heels.
The Garden Party
The spring garden party calls for fresh and lively outfits. Leave the heavy stuff to winter, and embrace spring floral dresses, flowy maxi dresses, and free-spirited boho dresses.
Floral dresses in wrap styles, no matter their length, will always be a flattering and comfortable option for a garden party, especially if you can loosen your dress when needed. Opt for a knee length floral dress if you like the feeling of air on your legs, a midi dress if you want a dress that’s a flattering-yet-modest length, and a maxi dress for easy elegance.
Small flourishes on a spring party dress make a big difference when it comes to elevating your look. Look for dresses with frills, pleats, lace or broderie anglais elements, embroidery, balloon or flute sleeves, and any other embellishment that adds a little extra something!
When styling a spring occasion dress for a garden party, remember those practical factors. You’ll be outdoors in potentially uneven weather. You want a dress fabric that’s beautiful and breathable, but you might want to wear a slip beneath it if the temperature is potentially crisp. You also want to keep an outer layer on hand, such as a cropped cardigan, fitted blazer jacket, or even a shawl. When choosing footwear, wedges, block heels or pretty flats are a sensible choice, especially when walking on grass (avoid the stilettos). Also consider wearing a wide-brim hat, especially if you are likely to be in the sun.
Note on dress colour choice: pretty prints work well in spring. Botanical, floral and abstract prints can all be good choices, and look great in a garden setting. Pastels are obviously popular in spring, but bold colours can also look vibrant.
Spring wedding guest dress: If the garden party is to celebrate an engagement or wedding, the tradition is to avoid frocks that resemble bridal dresses. Steer clear of white or cream for those parties, and stick to engagement party dresses in other colours and tones.
The Spring Races
For ladies who love to dress up, the Spring Racing Carnival provides a great opportunity to put together an outfit that’s truly different from anything you would wear during the rest of the year. For starters, in racing season, we embrace millinery! Secondly, the carnival gives us the opportunity to wear a whole lot of lovely floral dresses, and isn’t spring just the best time to do that?
When considering what to wear to a spring racing event, it’s helpful to research the event itself, and find out if any particular dress codes apply, particularly at the venue you’re attending.
Let’s cover some of the general rules or expectations that apply to most spring racing events.
Make an effort! Jeans and a nice top won’t cut it at a spring racing carnival event. Whilst you will no doubt be let through to the race track in the wrong gear, you’ll have a lot more fun if you go all out and dress up!
Embrace the hat! Headwear is traditionally worn to race day events. Take your pick from hats, crowns, fascinators, scarves, or some other unique type of headpiece. Whilst it’s not compulsory to wear something on your head, it might be one of the few occasions in the year when you get the opportunity, so why not?
Wear a day dress. The races are held during the day, so it’s not the time for a sequined evening gown. In saying that, you wouldn’t wear any old casual day dress. You need a dress that’s a little elevated for racing events.
Tailored pants and/or jumpsuits are OK! If they work for you, go for it, just make sure they look polished.
Overall, just try to look as classy and polished as you can, (at least before you hit the mimosas!)
Attending Member’s areas: Avoid wearing distressed clothing, denim in any format, and anything that looks too casual, in particular, casual shoes or pants. Skirts and dresses are expected to be knee-length or longer, and strapless dresses should be avoided. It’s expected that you don’t show a lot of flesh, (bare midriffs are likely not permitted).
Dress Codes for the Day
Certain race days have dress codes, which you’re welcome to follow.
Everest Day, (Randwick, NSW) – Wear white with a touch of light blue (other colours are acceptable).
Caulfield Cup Day, (Caulfield, VIC) – Opt for bold colours, colour blocking, and statement pieces.
Derby Day, (Flemington, VIC) – Wear only black or white (or a combination of both).
Melbourne Cup, (Flemington, VIC) – Express your creativity with vibrant coloured dresses, sparkles, and unique headpieces.
Oaks Day (Ladies Day), (Flemington, VIC) – Opt for pastels and pinks, and feminine flourishes on your dress like frills, lace and so on. Small and dainty headpieces work well.
Stakes Day, (Flemington, VIC) – Relax with the family in a floaty summer dress and low-key headpiece. You want to look stylish but feel comfortable.
George Main Stakes, (Randwick, NSW) – Add a touch of red to your outfit.
Golden Eagle, (Rosehill, Randwick, NSW) – Include gold somewhere in your outfit.
Spring party dresses at Femme Connection
Been invited to a special spring event? Or are you planning on attending the races? You’ll need outfits, and Femme Connection is here for you. We have a wide array of gorgeous spring party dresses, including floral dresses, boho dresses, cocktail dresses, occasion dresses and more. We also have party tops and skirts, if dresses aren’t your thing.
Explore our collections today and get unique pieces in time for the spring fashion season!