A dressy Christmas dinner gives you a reason to spend time choosing a gown. Gold sequins can bring a festive note, and a dark green long dress is worth considering. If purple or Apricot Silver is more your style, there's room for that too.
We've selected ten WL Bridal & Gown dresses by their specific design details. This edit is for dressy dinners and formal celebrations in Australia. A casual barbecue, beach gathering or ordinary family lunch calls for a more relaxed outfit. When the invitation asks for a gown, take a look at what makes each of these different.
Gold, dark green and black-silver combinations
1. Maia 32038: gold with a shaped waist
Shaped Waist Sequin Formal Dress
AUD $357.00
Maia's description lists waist boning and placed embroidery, giving the gold sequin dress a design detail to consider beyond colour. We'd try small studs and a satin clutch before adding a sequin bag. Dark green and Midnight Blue offer alternatives if you prefer deeper colours. Keep the waist design and compare the palettes; festive dressing can still follow your own taste.
2. Thalia 16363: a dark green sequin long dress
AUD $283.50
Dark green is a colour we'd happily consider for a Christmas dinner. Thalia combines a long silhouette with sequin embroidery. Try black shoes and a bag with gold earrings. If you'd like to add a belt, allow for its separate cost: it isn't included in the dress price. Compare the outfit without it first to decide whether you want that extra accessory.
3. Ione 18123: mid-length sleeves in black and silver
Midi Sleeve Sequin Formal Dress
AUD $315.00
Ione has mid-length sleeves, sequin embroidery and hot-fix rhinestones. We'd pair Black Silver with silver jewellery and a plain black clutch. 'Midi Sleeve' refers to the sleeves, not a midi skirt, so make the sleeve detail and decoration part of the comparison rather than treating the name as a hem length. Gold is another option if you'd prefer warmer accessories.
Stripes, A-lines and fishtails
4. Chloris 16002: sequin stripes and colour blocking
Sequin Stripe Colour Block Formal Dress
AUD $262.50
Chloris combines stripes and colour blocking with sequin embroidery. We'd start with purple, black shoes and a bag, and small studs. If you already have a prominent clutch, compare it with the dress pattern before deciding whether to choose something plainer. We'd rather leave room for the stripes than add another pattern by default.
5. Inanna 31580: a silver sequin halter
AUD $315.00
If you like halter necklines, take a look at Inanna in silver. Sequins are its decoration; we'd try silver earrings and a black clutch rather than making every accessory metallic. Put your hair up or sweep it to one side and see which leaves the neckline clearer. Gold or black lets you keep the halter shape if silver doesn't suit the jewellery you want to wear.
6. Selene 31621: a long A-line in Apricot Silver
Selene-Sequin Long A-Line Formal Dress
AUD $346.50
Selene combines a long A-line silhouette with sequins and beadwork. Apricot Silver deserves a place in a Christmas dress edit. We'd try pale shoes and a bag with one simple piece of metal jewellery. Compare a black bag if you'd like more contrast. Keep the A-line shape while finding your preferred colours, then look at Gaia's fishtail to consider a different skirt.
7. Gaia 16563: a red sequin fishtail
AUD $304.50
Gaia is a sequin fishtail option for someone who enjoys that silhouette. Red with a black clutch is a festive combination we like. If you usually prefer black gowns, try black with one piece of metal jewellery instead; Christmas doesn't require you to abandon your favourite colour. Start with a small, simply shaped bag so the silhouette and dress colour stay in focus.
Long sleeves, satin and a purple halter neck
8. Cybele 31207: long sleeves, a split and feathers
Split Long Sleeve Sequin Formal Dress
AUD $357.00
Cybele combines long sleeves, a split, sequins and ostrich feathers. Green and navy are the two colours we'd begin with, alongside an undecorated clutch and small studs. Consider the sleeves and split as part of the full outfit. Fewer similar decorative accessories can leave those dress details more visible.
9. Hespera 18586: satin with rhinestones
AUD $364.50
Hespera pairs gown satin with rhinestones, making a different material choice from the sequin combinations here. Beige is worth a look. We'd try a velvet clutch to bring another texture into the outfit, then compare studs or fine earrings. If you prefer green, consider a black bag and begin with a piece of jewellery you wear often.
10. Cyrene 31579: a purple sequin halter
High-end Halter Formal Dresses
AUD $336.00
Like Inanna, Cyrene combines a halter neckline with sequins. We've included it to give purple a proper place in the choice. If you love purple, try it with silver jewellery and black shoes and a bag. See whether that outfit makes you look forward to the dinner. You don't need to change to red or green just because it's Christmas.
A festive detail or two can be enough
Dark green Thalia with gold jewellery and silver Inanna with a black clutch suggest different outfits for the same dinner. Start with the dress colour you like, then decide whether the accessories should add a festive note.
Favourite statement earrings don't demand an equally decorated new bag. Put the shoes, clutch and dress together, keep the accessory you most enjoy, then decide whether anything is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this edit for a work Christmas party?
Read the invitation and consider the event. A formal dinner can be a reason to use this edit; a relaxed team lunch or outdoor activity may call for less dressy clothes. 'Work Christmas party' doesn't describe one fixed level of formality.
Does my Christmas dress have to be red or green?
No. Gold, silver, purple and Apricot Silver can follow your own taste. A festive note can come from jewellery or a clutch; the dress doesn't have to carry the entire colour theme.
How should I choose a jacket for the journey?
Try a plain jacket or wrap you already own with the neckline, sleeves and feathers. Compare lengths as part of the whole outfit. There's no need to make a rule about taking a particular layer off as soon as you're indoors.
How can I style the sequin dress differently later?
Change the shoes, bag or jewellery first. Swap a metallic clutch for black, or prominent earrings for small studs. The same dress gives you another combination; consider the next invitation separately before deciding what to wear.
When a particular style appeals to you, choose your colour and size on its product page and confirm the price when ordering.
Choose for the celebration you've been invited to
Continue comparing in the WL Bridal & Gown formal dress collection and find a dress that suits the invitation and gives you something to look forward to.
