What to Wear to a Gala in 2026, Including Chic Outfits for Black-Tie and White-Tie Dress Codes

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission. If you’re lucky, you’ll find your summer calendar stacked with black-tie or white-tie functions (more on the difference later). If you’re luckier, you’ll know exactly how to dress to impress for the galas, fundraisers, and fêtes in question… and we’re making it easier by giving you the 411 on what might be one of the trickiest dress codes to crack. If the mere mention of the word “gala” inspires “Bridgerton” flashbacks, you’re not wrong for this association. After all, women’s gala dress trends went hand in hand with European royal court fashion for a long time. In the 1600s and 1700s, corsets and wigs prevailed, while the 1800s and 1900s displayed a penchant for voluminous crinoline gowns and haute couture adornments like lace, ribbons, artificial flowers, and feathers. In the mid-1900s, gala culture hopped across the pond and landed squarely in America: kicking off a period of glamorous benefits (the Met Gala, originating in 1948, being chief among them in fashion circles) that continues to this day. Over the decades, the dominant sartorial directives for these occasions experienced significant shifts, and this year’s

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

from WWDRecent Stories https://ift.tt/T9hEb4S