Deciding what to wear to a baby shower can be an incredibly difficult task. Given the huge variety of different types of baby showers held these days, it can seem that there are an endless number of factors to consider when planning your baby shower outfit - how formal or casual the baby shower, what the weather is going to be like and what activities there will be.
When planning your baby shower outfit it is important that you consider comfort as well as style. In order to enjoy the event, you must be wearing suitable attire for whatever activities you are going to take part in. It is also crucial that you choose your baby shower outfit based on what the weather is expected to be like. If it is a winter baby shower then you must prepare for the cold with thick, well-insulated clothing. Alternatively, if it is a summer baby shower, then you want to ensure that you choose lightweight and breathable clothing so you don’t get too hot. Finally, given that baby shower dress code can be fairly ambiguous, it is always a good idea to find out the level of formality of the event. There is nothing worse than turning up in an outfit much more formal or casual than all of the other guests.
This guide aims to give you some ideas and inspiration of what to wear to a baby shower of any kind. No matter what the weather or formality of the occasion, we have you covered with our suggestions of what to wear. These general guidelines will help you put together a stylish, sophisticated and appropriate baby shower outfit.
What to Wear to a Formal Winter Baby Shower
It can be incredibly difficult to put together a stylish formal outfit in the colder months. Choosing warm clothing that looks and feels great can seem like a chore, however, there are some excellent and easy formal outfit options that are perfect for attending a winter baby shower.
An easy go-to formal winter outfit for any important occasion is tweed. Tweed is an excellent texture to wear during the colder months because it is incredibly thick to keep you warm and cosy, while still looking great. Available in a huge range of colours and patterns running through the weave, you can easily find the right tweed for you and the baby shower you are attending. Match a tweed blazer with a ladies country check shirt and a pair of skinny denim jeans for the ultimate smart tweed baby shower outfit. Choose a grey blazer with a pink check running through it and pair with a country animal patterned shirt for flattering contemporary style. Alternatively, for a more traditional look, you could opt for a green herringbone check tweed blazer with a shirt and matching tweed waistcoat worn underneath. Whatever look you are trying to achieve for your winter baby shower, you are certain to look the part while feeling completely comfortable.
For a slightly different, more glamorous, tweed look, you could instead opt for a tweed poncho with faux fur collar, matched with a tweed skirt. Opt for a matching tweed baby shower outfit, with the same colour and pattern running through the poncho and skirt, or create a more eye-catching look by contrasting the two.
Finish off your smart tweed baby shower outfit with some matching accessories and a high-quality pair of shoes. Ideal for maintaining that classic country lady style, compliment your tweed clothing with a pair of leather boots. Opt for a pair of tall brown leather boots or some brogue-style ankle boots for a practical and stylish outfit option. If you don’t want to be restricted by a pair of leather boots, but would rather a more lightweight smart footwear choice, then a pair of ladies loafers would be perfect. You could choose a classic pair of suede loafers in a neutral colour for a traditional look, or a pair of patent croc effect loafers in burgundy or navy. Finally, to fully complete your tweed baby shower look, you could add a tweed saddle bag or, for a larger more functional option, a tweed tote bag, along with a wool felt fedora hat to top the outfit off.
What to Wear to a Casual Winter Baby Shower
If the invite to the baby shower states a more casual dress code, then tweed might be a little too formal. It can be a challenge to create a look that is both casual and yet makes you look and feel great. As well as taking into consideration the formality of the event, you also have to remember to check the weather forecast, given the unpredictability of winter weather in Britain. So, how do you create a baby shower outfit that is stylish, casual and practical?
The obvious go-to casual winter clothing option is the classic woolly jumper. You are sure to feel comfortable and fashionable wearing a cosy knitted sweater. With so many different colours and styles of woolly jumper to choose from, you can easily pick one that will match the rest of your baby shower attire. If your baby shower is being held on a really cold day in the depths of winter, then you might want to opt for a thick woolly jumper to make sure you stay warm. You could pick a classic round neck cable knit sweater, or choose a v-neck jumper and wear over a smart shirt. Alternatively, if your baby shower is happening during the warmer transition period from Summer to Autumn or Autumn to Winter, then you might be better opting for a more fine knit jumper. Available in a range of styles and designs, including striped, v-neck and round neck, there is a fine knit sweater to match any casual baby shower outfit. You can also choose from a huge range of colours - for a more subtle look, you could pick a neutral colour such as grey or navy, or for a more eye-catching look, you could opt for a brighter colour such as red or pink.
As an alternative to a knitted jumper, you could opt for a long-sleeved blouse. Perfect for staying comfortable, with complete freedom of movement, and stylish, featuring stunning country animal prints, a Rydale long-sleeve blouse makes the ideal ‘smart-casual’ top. For extra warmth and protection from the potential wind and rain, you will also need a stylish outerwear option. If staying warm is your priority, then a padded puffer jacket might be the best option for you. If it’s raining outside and you don’t want to get drenched, then you might be better off with a long waterproof raincoat. Match your jumper or blouse with a pair of skinny denim jeans and you have a stylish casual look for a winter baby shower.
To fully complete your winter baby shower outfit, you could add a pair of leather or suede chelsea boots or for ultimate practicality and protection from the weather, choose a classic pair of ladies wellington boots. To ensure you stay extra warm, why not accessorise your outfit with a woolly pom pom hat and matching scarf and gloves?
What to Wear to a Formal Summer Baby Shower
Summer weather is arguably much easier to dress for than winter. The warmer weather means that you don’t have to pile on layer after layer to keep the cold out or ensure you are protected from the rain with waterproof coats and wellies. However, you do have the contrasting problem of staying cool and comfortable. Therefore, when deciding what to wear for a summer baby shower, it is important to pick lightweight and loose-fitting clothing items.
When you think ‘summer formal’, the first outfit option that usually comes to mind is a summery dress. A lightweight and flowy dress is perfect for a summer baby shower as it is comfortable, easy and looks great. For a formal style of summer dress, opt for a patterned shift dress or wrap dress. These dress styles provide the perfect combination of both style and practicality, being loose-fitting and breathable, as well as incredibly fashionable for a summer baby shower. The daisy print pattern of these dresses provide a light and fun design that is ideal for attending a summer event. For those chillier summer days, you could add a thin cable knit cardigan.
If you’re not a dress person, then you could opt for a smart pair of cropped trousers. The cropped design of these ladies trousers means that they are ideal for summer, being cooler than full-length jeans, but more formal than shorts, they make a great compromise. Pair your cropped jeans with a summery plain or striped polo shirt for a smart but lightweight top option.
Choosing some formal footwear for a summer baby shower can be a difficult task as you don’t want them to be too heavy and make your feet too hot. The shoes you choose must be breathable and lightweight so that you can stay comfortable while on your feet. We would recommend a pair of ladies deck shoes to do just that. Our suede loafers are the perfect formal shoe choice as they have a smart design but are lightweight and comfortable for wear all day long. Alternatively, for a slightly less formal footwear choice, you could opt for some leather low-front deck shoes. Finally, add a summer hat and a floaty scarf to compliment your formal summer baby shower outfit.
What to Wear to a Casual Summer Baby Shower
Summer is all about being casual and carefree, so a casual summer baby shower is much easier to prepare for than any of the other kinds. It is much easier to stay comfortable, wearing loose-fitting and breathable clothing when the dress code is casual than when it is formal. However, you still want to make sure that you look like you have made an effort.
While a dress might be seen as a more formal look, you can opt for a more casual style of dress such as a t-shirt dress. T-shirt dresses are great for casual summer events because they are loose-fitting but remain flattering and stylish. They hang loosely which makes them extremely comfortable for wearing in the summer heat and are made from stretchy material so that you can easily move around. Available in a blue and white striped pattern, these t-shirt dresses provide a classic and subtle summer baby shower look.
As an alternative to a dress, you could match a pair of shorts with a casual top. Shorts are perfect for casual summer occasions as they are less formal than a skirt while being more practical than long trousers for the warm weather. You can choose from denim shorts or an even more comfortable pair of twill shorts. Pair your shorts with a stylish striped t-shirt or a patterned sleeveless polo shirt for a stylish yet casual summer baby shower look.
Finish off your casual baby shower outfit with a straw Alice hat and a comfortable pair of shoes. Our go-to shoes for the summer are a pair of ladies canvas trainers. Available in a huge range of fun and bright colours and featuring country-inspired patterns, our canvas trainers make a great footwear option for a casual baby shower. They are lightweight and breathable so your feet will stay comfortable all day long.