These Christening Outfits Are Chic And Occasion-Appropriate

Christening outfits are one of the more niche on the occasionwear spectrum. And even though you can probably rewear a lot of your wedding guest dresses, it requires a little more mindfulness when it comes to outfit ideas that may or may not be appropriate. A minidress = appropriate. Something see-through = perhaps not (although that entirely depends on the crowd). For a safe bet for what to wear for a christening, think Charlotte York-Goldenblatt, whose refined wardrobe of pearls, cinch-waisted floral frocks and perfectly pointed pumps mean that she could pretty much rock up at a christening on any given Tuesday, or, for that matter, Lisa Todd-Wexley, whose statement necklaces and power tailoring are chic as hell while still being christening-appropriate.

How exactly do christening outfits differ from wedding guest outfits?

Good question! To be honest, a christening outfit could be very similar to a wedding guest outfit. Both occasions might warrant your host sending you a dress code along with your invitation, which makes it a little easier to decide what to wear. If not, you can ask for guidelines about what might or might not be appropriate. Most friends, however, won't be too precious about what you turn up wearing to their little one's christening (or the non-religious alternative, a naming ceremony). The only caveat is that if the ceremony is being held in a church, you might want to consider something along the lines of a floral dress and, if it's still cold enough to warrant a coat, some pastel-coloured outerwear. If not, you'll still want to choose something that ticks the smart-casual box, whether that's a puff-sleeved dress, a linen suit or a statement coat that's an outfit in itself.

Is it appropriate to wear white to a christening?

Unlike weddings, when you don't want to risk upstaging the bride, it's completely acceptable to wear white or cream to a christening. Even if the baby is wearing an old-fashioned christening robe, I don't think they will be offended if you're also styling out a frilly lace number.

Since it's such a staple of both the christening and wedding circuit, let's start with dresses...

Grazia's Pick Of The Best Christening Dresses At A Glance

Best high street dress for a christening: Reiss, Etta Linen Corset Midi Dress

Best floral dress for a christening: Me+Em, Lantana Flower-Print Midi Dress

Best dress under £50 for a christening: Zara, Floral-Print Camisole Dress

Best knitted dress for a christening: Pleated Racer-Neck Maxi Dress

The Floral Dress

Actor Zawe Ashton was the dress queen at LFW - and this one, with its blue-on-white blossom print, is perfect for a naming ceremony or christening. You simply can't go wrong with a floral dress, especially as you probably already have one (or six) in your wardrobe for wedding season. How to make it less 'wedding' and more 'christening'? Lose the fascinator and add big earrings.

The White Dress

As previously discussed, white is a perfectly acceptable shade to wear to a christening - and if you look as good as Nicola Coughlan, even better. The actor wore this pussy-bow blouse and pinafore dress to a photocall in Milan, finishing the look with an elegant top-handle bag from Versace, a combination which can easily replicated on this summer's event circuit.

The Knitted Dress

A knitted tank dress is slightly less formal than a puff-sleeved frock covered in the flowers, making it ideal for a summer christening or naming ceremony. Choose a bold shade, like Yara Shahidi's, and you can rewear it with lof-fi leather sandals on your summer holiday.

What can you wear to a christening if you don't want to wear a dress?

There are so many options if you don't fancy wearing a dress so, firstly, don't panic. Secondly, your outfit will depend on the time of year. If it's autumn or winter, why not slip into a statement coat, something fabulous that means you don't have to worry about what's underneath? For the height of summer, try a shorts suit, which has all of the chic-factor of a trouser suit but is guaranteed to keep you cool.

The Statement Coat

If you're struggling to coordinate a coat, a dress and a handbag, stop what you're doing and focus, simply, on a statement coat that's so chic, so head-turning, that you don't have to worry about what's underneath à la Tessa Thompson.

The Shorts Suit

A shorts suit has got to be one of the easiest and smartest options for the christening circuit if such a thing exists (and can double for wedding season as long as the colour isn't too bridal). It's easy-to-wear on the day, especially if you opt for an oversized fit, and both elements can be worn separately so that they won't hang in your wardrobe, unworn, and make you feel guilty. For a particularly 'fashion' take, look to Emma Corrin, who traded their trousers for a crisp pair of shorts at Wimbledon.

The Cardigan And Skirt

For a slightly more casual, but no less head-turning, outfit, what about this cardigan and skirt combo, straight from the wardrobe of Pixie Geldof? It's conservative enough for a church, but still cool thanks to her accessories: a shoulder bag avec studded strap and crystal-embellished slingbacks.

The Skirt Suit

There aren't many occasions that cry out for a skirt suit, but a christening is one of them. At London Fashion Week, Kelly Rutherford arrived at one show wearing a directional take on the two-piece, with an oversized blazer and slender pencil skirt from Mithridate, both in a seriously chic shade of taupe sequins. Chic and weather-appropriate, especially for christenings outside of summer, it's a nice step-change from a pastel-hued dress.

The Silky Pyjamas

Joanna Lumley might have been attending a fashion show instead of a christening, but her dandelion-printed pyjamas - Burberry, naturally - would certainly bring something a bit out of the ordinary to proceedings. Add a pastel-hued coat over the top, preferably not a wrap style as it could look a little too similar to a dressing gown, and you're guaranteed to be the most interestingly dressed guest.

The Pastel Polo Neck

When the weather's being indecisive - blowing hot then cold within the same hour - a polo neck is your best friend. Sydney Sweeney shows you how it's done, with this knitted lilac number by Tom Ford. The pastel shade definitely says 'spring', while the long sleeves and high neck say 'warm'. It's the best of both worlds.

What should you wear to a christening as a godparent?

As a godparent, all eyes will be on you at some point during the christening or naming ceremony. No pressure, but this probably means you should consider your outfit even more carefully because, without wanting to steal the spotlight from the blessed child, there will be photos.

Influencer Ellie Delphine gave something of a masterclass in what to wear for a christening as a godparent during Paris Fashion Week. Wearing a floral-embellished dress with puffed sleeves that was this year's colour of choice, Peach Fuzz, it was the definition of chic.

What should you wear to a christening in winter?

For a christening in the depths of winter, you'll need to incorporate a coat into your outfit. This might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how often people leave outerwear until last when, really, it shouldn't be an after-thought.

Take your cue from Kerry Washington, who threw a peacock blue coat over her plum tailoring earlier this year when, as you can see from the flurries, it was actually snowing. Elegant yet oh-so-easy, don't forget to dial up the drama with a punchy combo of colours.

What colour should I wear to a christening?

As we've already discussed, you don't have to worry about avoiding certain shades for a christening (unless the parents have issued a dress code for guests). It really depends what colours you feel comfortable wearing, as well as the time of year. Ice cream pastels will always go down a treat in the warmer months, while autumn shades or jewel tones will hit the mark in autumn and winter.

Is it ok to wear jeans to a christening?

If there's a smart-casual dress code, I do think it's acceptable to wear jeans - as long as you balance out their slightly more lo-fi appearance with a sharp blazer, for example, and maybe even a pair of heels for extra chic points. The bottom line is that you'll most likely have a feeling about what your friends would expect - and whether they would have a problem with jeans. And if you don't, it's always best to double check with them.

Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).