Start here if you want brown to feel a little glamorous. Heirlome's Mercedes dress is dark brown silk-satin cut on the bias, with long sleeves and a skirt that drapes and moves. Self-portrait's version has a black lace-insert bodice, thin straps and a front slit, so it reads sharper. LIONESS's About A Girl maxi is chocolate satin with a cut-out tie front, and Steve Madden's Lucille is dark espresso with an asymmetric handkerchief hem. A tip: satin shows every crease, so hang the dress in the bathroom while you shower and let the steam do the work. Add gold jewelry and keep the shoes simple.

A midi is the safest length for a garden or vineyard wedding, because the hem stays off the grass. Theory's knotted crepe dress is brown, sleeveless, with a draped knot at the shoulder and an asymmetric hem. Simkhai's Genna is ribbed, with a split neckline, bell sleeves and a flared skirt. Matteau and Faithfull both go softer: Matteau's is organic cotton in chocolate with a shirred bodice and full skirt, while Faithfull's Lucia is cotton-poplin, shirred and gathered. What I would skip: heavy tights with the cotton ones. Bare legs and a low block heel keep them light.

For a black tie invitation, brown holds its own next to a tuxedo. The Aje. Cleo gown is chocolate organza with tiers of ruffles from the bodice to the floor, and it is the most romantic thing here. Rebecca Vallance's Hazine is a brown jersey column with a ruched waist, a jeweled brooch and an open back. Simkhai's Montgomery is a sheer organza shirt-style gown with a belted waist, and Lovers and Friends' Cleo is chocolate satin with spaghetti straps and a ruffled mermaid hem. A tip: try a gown on with the shoes you plan to wear, so the hem can be set to skim the floor in them and not catch on the stairs.

These are the ones for a cold evening reception. Amanda Uprichard's Evianna is cocoa velvet with a draped, ruched high neck, cap sleeves and a trumpet hem. Gabriela Hearst's Lady Hall is a chocolate maxi in plush cashmere and silk, sleeveless with a deep V neckline, so bring a wrap. Alix of Bohemia's Romy is a dark brown knit mini with rib trim and long sleeves, and Sara Cristina's midi is strapless chocolate jacquard with swirling metallic thread. A tip: with velvet or a rich knit, keep jewelry small and let the texture show. What I would skip: a fuzzy coat over the velvet, which gets too busy.

Brown is also a very good background for pattern. Proenza Schouler's Nayara is chocolate-brown crepe with black polka dots, strapless, with a gathered skirt. Rodarte's midi is rust-brown silk-crepe with cream polka dots, a V neck and a tiered flared hem. ASTR the Label's Clea is a brown and cream floral satin slip with a plunging V, and Carolina Herrera's strapless draped midi is leopard-print silk-chiffon in dark brown. A tip: when the dress has this much going on, keep your bag and shoes in one plain color, and match them to the darkest shade in the print.

When I wear a brown wedding guest dress, I let the dress be the only brown. Pick shoes and a bag in black, cream, gold or a deep green, and let the brown do the talking. If you cannot decide between chocolate and espresso, choose by the light of the venue: chocolate for a sunny afternoon, espresso for candles. And try the dress on at least a week before the wedding, so the hem has time to be fixed. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Brown Wedding Guest Dress and Jennifer Lawrence Wedding Dress.