What to Wear to a Christening: Style Choices That Actually Work

By Ella Blake, Stylist| Tellar Fashion Hub

A christening calls for something smart, elegant and just the right side of occasion-wear — not a full-on wedding guest look, but absolutely not your everyday brunch outfit either. The sweet spot? Polished, pretty and appropriate without trying too hard.

I'll be honest — I've got this wrong before. I once turned up to a christening in a midi dress that was far too formal (think cocktail-adjacent, sequins and all). The baby's grandmother was in a cotton blouse. I spent the whole afternoon feeling like I'd wandered in from a wedding. Lesson learned: read the room, and when in doubt, go for "smart garden party" rather than "black tie adjacent."

Here's everything you need to know about nailing christening dressing, whatever your style or budget.

The General Vibe: What Level of Dress Is Right?

Most christenings are fairly relaxed affairs — a church service followed by a family gathering or tea at someone's home. That said, some families go all out with a proper venue and a more formal feel. If you're unsure, a simple "what's the dress code?" WhatsApp to the host is never rude. It's thoughtful.

As a general rule:

Avoid anything too casual — jeans, trainers and oversized knitwear don't belong here, even if the invite feels low-key
Keep it modest if it's a church service — nothing backless, too short, or overly revealing
Choose comfortable fabrics — you may be standing on cold stone floors for an hour before sitting on a garden chair
Colour is your friend — pastels, soft florals, warm neutrals and even a bold jewel tone all work beautifully

The Classic Midi Dress: Always a Safe Bet

The midi dress is genuinely my go-to for any smart daytime occasion, and a christening is no exception. It's elegant, church-appropriate, and you can dress it up or down with your accessories. A floral print or a block colour in blush, sage, powder blue or champagne is always flattering and very much "occasion" without feeling overdressed.

Phase Eight — consistently one of the best for occasion midi dresses. Their fabrics are beautiful and the cuts are incredibly wearable. Look at the Tia or Corin styles if you want something reliable and elegant.
Hobbs — brilliant for smart daywear with a slightly understated, grown-up polish. Their floral midi dresses are perennial bestsellers for exactly this type of event.
Monsoon — gorgeous for soft florals and flowing fabrics at a very reasonable price point. Perfect if you want something that feels luxurious without breaking the bank.
Coast — a brilliant option if you want something a little more statement. Their occasion dresses are well-made and photograph beautifully.

Trouser Suits & Tailoring: For the Guest Who Doesn't Do Dresses

Not a dress person? Absolutely no requirement to wear one. A well-tailored trouser suit or smart wide-leg trousers with a blouse can look incredibly chic at a christening — arguably more stylish than a safe frock.

Reiss — for investment tailoring that genuinely lasts. Their suits are impeccably cut and work for christenings, weddings, workwear and beyond.
Massimo Dutti — the most underrated high street brand for classic tailoring. Beautifully made, not over-logoed, very elegant.
Me&Em — quietly brilliant for elevated smart-casual pieces. Their wide-leg trousers and silk blouses are exactly right for this kind of occasion.

Pair your tailoring with a delicate heel or a pointed flat — something like a kitten heel loafer works wonderfully — and a structured mini bag to finish the look.

What About Colour?

Unlike funerals (black fine) or weddings (avoid white), christenings have no strict colour rules — which is actually rather freeing. That said, some colours really do lend themselves to the occasion:

Dusty rose, blush and powder pink — soft, romantic and completely appropriate
Sage green or soft mint — fresh and elegant without feeling bridal
Warm ivory or cream — beautiful, just avoid anything stark white which can veer too bridal
Cornflower or dusty blue — perennially pretty and photographs brilliantly
Warm red or terracotta — a bold choice done right looks genuinely stunning

Avoid very dark colours if it's a daytime summer event — black can look a touch too severe. Save it for an evening christening celebration if there is one.

Shoes, Bags & The Finishing Touches

This is where so many otherwise great christening outfits fall apart. You've got the dress right but then you're wearing your everyday black work bag, or worse — your trainers because it's "only casual." Accessories matter.

LK Bennett — the original special-occasion shoe brand. Their block heels and kitten heel courts are comfortable, classic and completely right for this kind of event
Ted Baker — for a pretty embellished clutch or a small structured bag that elevates the whole outfit
Oliver Bonas — brilliant for affordable, well-designed jewellery that feels deliberately chosen rather than an afterthought

Two independent brands worth knowing about:

Nobody's Child — a brilliant sustainable British brand with gorgeous floral midi dresses at very accessible prices. Regularly featured in Vogue and Grazia for exactly this type of occasion dressing.
Rixo — if you want to splash a little more, Rixo's vintage-inspired floral dresses are iconic for occasions. You'll wear it to ten more events and it'll look expensive every single time.

If You're a Parent at the Christening

A special note for mums and dads of the baby being christened — you'll be photographed constantly. This is the one occasion where a little more effort is genuinely worth it. For the mum, a wrap dress or a tailored jumpsuit is a brilliant choice — comfortable for feeding or carrying a baby but polished in every photo. For dads, a classic suit with an open-collar shirt keeps things elegant without feeling overdone.

Boden is brilliant for smart-casual family dressing — their prints are cheerful, the quality is excellent, and they always photograph beautifully. Worth a look if you're dressing the whole family for the day.

Never Get Sizing Wrong Again — Tellar Has You Covered

Before you buy a single thing for the christening, check your size properly. Nothing ruins an outfit more than realising the dress fits awkwardly because different brands size completely differently — and they absolutely do.

Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, instantly matching your body measurements to over 1,500 brands. Measure once, never guess again.

Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or just use your existing brand size as a starting point
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — Phase Eight, Hobbs, Reiss, Coast and hundreds more
Always free — no app download, no subscription, works instantly in your browser

And if you need more style guidance beyond today's post, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of honest, unsponsored articles written by stylists covering every fashion topic imaginable. No ads. No sponsored placements. Just genuinely useful advice.