Garden Party, Tea and Luncheon Outfits

For a garden party, an afternoon tea or a ladies luncheon, wear a midi dress or wide leg pants with a jacket, in a light color or a floral print. Each Luna dress page gives the length from the back of the neck to the hem, so you know where the skirt lands before you order.

For the full dress code, read what to wear to a garden party or afternoon tea.

What the garden party dress code means

A garden party, an afternoon tea and a ladies luncheon sit between smart casual and daytime semi formal. The host expects a day dress at the knee or longer, or tailored pants with a jacket, in a fabric that breathes. Pastels and floral prints suit a lawn. Navy reads well in a club dining room or a hotel tea room. Save sequins and floor length fabrics for after dark. A formal garden party or a society luncheon at a club calls for more. Wear a lined midi dress and a jacket, and add a hat or a fascinator when the invitation mentions one. Sleeves are optional at all 3, though a 3/4 or long sleeve keeps the sun off your arms through a long afternoon. When the luncheon honors a bride, leave ivory and white to her.

Dresses with sleeves for tea and luncheon

• The Julia Navy and White Floral Midi Dress ($695) has a white draped bodice that shades into a navy skirt with a dense floral border. It has short sleeves and a wide belt with a round buckle, and it measures 46 inches from the back of the neck to the hem on a size 2.
• The Iris A-Line Midi Dress in Blush Floral ($625) has a high neck, long sleeves, a slim belt and an asymmetrical hem. Its blend carries 10% metallic fibers for a soft sheen in daylight. The longest point of the hem measures 48 inches from the back of the neck on a size 2.
• The Lucy Jacquard Midi Dress in Midnight Blue ($695) is cotton blend jacquard with a sweetheart V neckline, sheer 3/4 sleeves and a sheer band set in near the hem. Its deep navy suits a club dining room as well as a lawn.
• If the luncheon is indoors, the Olga Wrap Dress in Navy ($695) is a knee length wrap with short sleeves, a notched lapel collar, a row of gold tone buttons and a buckled belt.

Sleeveless dresses for a warm afternoon

• The Amanda Midi Dress in Floral ($695) is a sleeveless midi with a draped neckline and a belt at the waist. It is cut from 100% botanical fiber in an artistic floral print on a light ground, and it is fully lined.
• The Betty Ruffle Dress in Black Polka Dot ($695) is a sleeveless A-line with a square neckline and a 2-tier ruffled hem that finishes just above the knee. It suits the garden party where a midi feels too formal.

Pants and a jumpsuit for the lawn

• The Agatha Pearl Detail Blazer in Ivory ($680) closes with 3 pearl buttons and has pearl trim on the pocket flaps. It matches the Agatha High Waisted Wide Leg Pants in Ivory ($595), which have a pressed crease and a removable self belt with a metal buckle. Together they make an ivory suit for any party that is not honoring a bride, and the pants also work alone with a blouse.
• The Tina Jumpsuit in Green ($695) is a floor length wide leg jumpsuit with a belted waist and an ombre green upper layer that detaches. Check the hem against your shoes so it clears the grass.

The layer for a cool afternoon

The Iris Short Tailored Coat in Beige ($770) is a cotton blend with a light satin finish. It closes with a full front zipper and a belt with a metal clasp. Its tiered hem ends above the knee, and a midi dress shows below it. The Jody Tailored Lace Blazer in Ivory ($550) has lace worked through the collar, the cuffs and the buttoned placket, and it sits over a navy dress or the Agatha pants.

Our guide to hem and shoe matches a shoe to each length. A club luncheon is covered in the country club outfit guide, and Easter has its own guide to what to wear for Easter brunch. When the lunch leads into a Derby party or a club dinner, see country club and Derby outfits. A bridal shower has its own page in engagement and shower outfits. Every occasion is on the Shop by Occasion page.

Questions before you choose

What is the dress code for a garden party?

A garden party asks for polished daytime clothes, somewhere between smart casual and daytime semi formal. Wear a midi or knee length dress, or tailored pants with a jacket, in a light color or a floral print. Choose shoes with a wide heel for the grass.

What should I wear to an afternoon tea?

Wear a midi dress, or a blouse with a skirt or tailored pants, and bring a light jacket for a cool tea room. Many grand hotels post a dress code for tea on their websites, and some ask guests to leave jeans and sportswear at home.

Can I wear pants to a garden party?

Yes, you can. Wide leg pants with a tailored jacket, a pantsuit or a dressy jumpsuit are accepted at garden parties, formal ones included. Choose a light color, and check that the hem clears the grass in the shoes you plan to wear.

Can I wear heels on grass at a garden party?

You can, as long as the heel is wide. Block heels, wedges and dressy flats stay on top of the lawn, while a stiletto sinks into it. A heel with an ankle strap also holds steadier on uneven ground.

Should I wear a hat to a garden party or luncheon?

Wear one when the invitation or the host mentions hats, and at a formal garden party a hat or a fascinator is customary. If you keep your hat on through a seated luncheon, choose a brim that leaves the person beside you a clear view.

Does Luna ship garden party outfits free, and can I return them?

Shipping to any US address is free, orders arrive in 2 to 5 days, and every order has 30 days for a return with no questions asked.