Garden Party and Luncheon Outfits for Women in Their 30s and 40s

For a garden party or a luncheon in your 30s and 40s, wear a dress at the knee or a midi with a waist, or tailored pants with a blazer, and choose a piece that also covers the client lunch on your calendar. The Olga Wrap Dress in Navy ($695) has short sleeves, a notched lapel collar and gold tone buttons under a buckled belt. Its listed length is 39 inches from the back of the neck to the hem on a size 2. Worn to 3 lunches, it comes to about $232 a wear.

What is the dress code for a garden party?

Garden party attire sits between smart casual and semi formal. The host expects a day dress or a pantsuit. The fabric should be light enough for an afternoon outdoors. A luncheon asks for the same clothes indoors, with a hem at the knee or longer.

In your 30s and 40s the word luncheon covers very different days. A bridal luncheon puts you at a long table beside the bride, so do not wear white or ivory. A client lunch at a club is a working meal, and you may go straight from your desk to the table. A company summer party on a lawn means office clothes in the sun and on grass. When the invitation says nothing, wear a dress at the knee indoors and a midi on a lawn.

What to wear in your 30s and 40s

Most women at this stage buy fewer pieces and want each one to work at the office as well as the party. We compare the pieces below on length and sleeves, using the numbers from each product page.

The knee length dresses for a working day

• The Olga is cut in solid navy with a wrap front and a V formed by the lapels. Navy reads as dressed at a bridal luncheon without coming near the bride’s white, and it goes back to the office the next morning with a blazer over it.
• The Natasha Bow Detail Dress in Taupe and Sand ($695) has a sheer textured taupe bodice with long sleeves, buttoned cuffs and a bow tied at the neck. The sand pencil skirt closes with 2 toggle fastenings at the high waist and ends at the knee, 39 inches from the back of the neck on a size 2. We would wear it to a client lunch or a christening.

The midi dresses for the lawn

• The Amanda Elegant Midi Dress in Floral ($695) is sleeveless, with a draped neckline and a belt with a square buckle. Watercolor flowers cover a cream ground. It is 100% botanical fiber, fully lined, and 46 inches long on a size 2. Wear it to the garden party and to a summer wedding.
• If you want sleeves at a day event, choose the Iris A-Line Midi Dress in Blush Floral ($625). It has a high neck, long sleeves, a slim belt and an asymmetrical hem. The fabric is 84% viscose, 10% metallic fibers and 6% elastane, so it has a soft sheen in daylight. It measures 48 inches at the longest point on a size 2.

The pantsuit you split up afterward

The Agatha Pearl Detail Blazer in Ivory ($680) closes with 3 pearl buttons and has pearl trim on the pocket flaps. It is 97% structured technical textile and 3% elastane, fully lined. The matching Agatha High Waisted Wide Leg Pants in Ivory ($595) have a high waist, a pressed front crease, side pockets and an ivory self belt with a rectangular metal buckle. Worn together, they make a pantsuit for the company party. The blazer also goes over the Olga or the Iris, and the pants go to work with a blouse. In spring and summer, the pearl blazer is enough in the shade. Do not wear the ivory suit to a bridal luncheon.

Everything above is in garden party, tea and luncheon outfits. Our 10 piece capsule for the 30s shows how pieces like these work together.

What to wear over it from October to March

The club lunch in November and the shower in February need a layer that is warm enough and looks polished.

The Iris Short Tailored Coat in Beige ($770) closes with a full front zipper and a clasp belt at the waist. It has a wide collar, turned cuffs and a tiered hem that ends above the knee, 36 inches from the back of the neck on a size 2. The fabric is 81% cotton, 14% polyamide and 5% elastane. Our own coat page says to wear it over wide leg pants and over dresses that end above the knee. Put it over the Agatha pants, not a midi.

For the midi dresses in deep winter, you need a coat longer than the hem. Our guide to winter coats for work, weddings and travel in your 40s gives the length of each coat against each dress.

What to avoid

At a bridal luncheon or a shower, leave white and ivory to the bride. On a lawn, leave the thin stiletto at home. Save sequins for evening events. At a seated lunch, skip anything you need to adjust each time you stand.

Shoes and bag

A block heel, a wedge or dressy flat shoes work on grass. Indoors, a slingback or a low pump suits a 3 hour lunch. Carry a small structured bag that sits on your lap or beside your plate. Our guide to pairing each hem length with a heel height covers the knee and the midi.

For the event itself, with hats, tea rooms and hot weather, read what to wear to a garden party or afternoon tea. For a club lunch that turns into a race day, see country club and Derby outfits. Every other event is on the Shop by Occasion page.

A short checklist

• Read the invitation for a dress code, and for a bridal luncheon leave white and ivory out.
• Choose a knee length for a working day and a midi for a lawn.
• Measure from the back of your neck to compare with the listed length.
• Pick a piece you will wear to at least 3 events this year.
• Wear a wide heel or flat shoes on grass.
• In the cold months, plan a coat that is longer than your hem.

Questions about garden parties and luncheons

What do I wear to a ladies luncheon?

Wear a dress at the knee or a midi, or tailored pants with a blazer, in a fabric that holds its shape while you sit. A ladies’ luncheon falls between smart casual and semi formal. Dress a little more for a club or a hotel dining room than for a restaurant on your street.

What should I wear to a bridal luncheon?

Wear a day dress or a skirt and blouse in a color, a print or navy, and leave white and ivory to the bride. A knee or midi length suits a seated lunch. If the luncheon is outdoors, choose a block heel or a wedge for the lawn.

Can I wear pants to a garden party?

You can. Tailored wide leg pants with a matching blazer look as dressed as a midi dress at most garden parties and luncheons. Choose a light color for daytime, and check the invitation for a written dress code.

Can I wear heels on grass at a garden party?

You can if the heel is wide. A thin stiletto sinks into a lawn. A block heel, a wedge or flat shoes stay on top of the grass.

Where can I buy a garden party dress with sleeves?

Luna Fashion House makes the Iris A-Line Midi Dress in Blush Floral with long sleeves and a high neck, and the Natasha Bow Detail Dress in Taupe and Sand with long sleeves and buttoned cuffs. Both are in the garden party, tea and luncheon collection on lunafashionhouse.com.

Does Luna ship free, and can I return a piece?

Shipping to any US address is free. Orders ship from California and arrive in 2 to 5 days, and you can return any order within 30 days with no questions asked.