Occasionwear
Occasionwear for weddings, formals and evenings out
Occasionwear is what you reach for when the invitation is a real one: dresses, satin and full skirts, cowl-neck and ruched tops, and tailored pants that dress up with a heel. The Forcast range covers weddings, graduations, formal dinners, bridesmaid duties and evening events, in sizes 4 to 18.
A dress or separates
A dress is the quickest answer. The Safira Fitted Dress and the Catalina V-Neck Satin Dress sit at the formal end of the range, while the Tory Linen Blend Panel Dress suits a daytime or garden occasion. Separates give you more than one outfit: a bias-cut satin skirt such as the Courtney Bias Satin Skirt with a cowl-neck top is as dressed as most evenings need, and both pieces will go to work with other things. Stretch bootleg pants with an apron or ruched top read as formal without being a dress at all.
Choosing for the occasion
- Wedding: a midi length in a colour that is not white, from wedding guest dresses
- Formal or black tie: satin and fitted shapes
- Graduation: a tailored mini or a full midi skirt with a plain top
- Long lunch or the races: a linen skirt or linen-blend dress
Fabric and fit
Satin has a sheen that reads as evening, while linen and cotton suit the daytime. Fitted panel dresses hold their line, and A-line or full skirts move and are more forgiving through the waist. Fitted styles depend on getting the measurement right, so check the size guide before you order.
How to shop it
Start with the length you want and narrow from there. Midi dresses cover most daytime invitations, maxi dresses suit the formal end, and party dresses are the shorter, livelier edit for an evening out. Once the dress is settled, finish the outfit with jewellery and a heel from shoes.