Elliatt is one of those labels that makes sense once you know where its founder started. Katie Pratt began the brand in Sydney in 2010 with a background in millinery, and a focus on occasion dresses from the start. The first customers were women dressing for events in Sydney and Melbourne, and the house is still known for fine detailing: embroidery, lace and specialty fabrics. That shows up quickly in this first group. The Zayla 3D floral mesh minidress and the Irisa floral jacquard tiered gown carry their flowers right on the surface, and the Natasia pearl maxi dress is all about texture. For something cleaner, the Biarritz gown, the Varella halter gown and the Simone one shoulder maxi dress let the shape do the talking. The Laurel ruffled strapless maxi and the Marlene asymmetric strapless maxi are the party-ready pair. If you want a mini, the Trompe, the Saylor, the Bloomia tulip and the Flora are all short and playful. For the softer, romantic way to wear any of them, I keep coming back to fall romance, and for the shorter hems my cocktail dress edit is the companion read.

The second group leans more floral and more fun. The Solara 3D floral mesh minidress is a close cousin to the Zayla, and the Zahara plunge V-neck cap sleeve gown carries the same 3D flowers into a gown length. The Gabby chrysanthemum appliqué dress and the Walter floral applique satin minidress are the ones I would wear to a daytime party, because the appliqué is the whole accessory. Tiered shapes come in the Florayne maxi, the Cleo A-line minidress and the Rosaria georgette printed ruffle dress, which move beautifully when you walk. The Sage Green Leonara long sleeved minidress and the red Giovanna shift mini are the sleeker, simpler options. Katie met her business partner Amy Li on a flight, and the brand has since grown to be stocked by over 1000 retailers across five continents, which is why you see these dresses at weddings in very different cities. For a garden ceremony, a garden formal wedding guest dress is the right frame of mind. What I would skip is wearing the 3D floral mesh styles with a heavy necklace, since the flowers already fill the neckline.

Elliatt designs for the event itself, and that includes the cover-up. The Veldra fur panel coat and the Veldra scarf coat are the longer, dressier pieces, and the Vivian faux fur long coat and the Rosa faux fur coat finish the line-up for colder evenings. The Liza faux fur bolero and the Quinn short sleeve bolero are the ones I would reach for over a strapless gown, because they cover the shoulders without covering the dress. The Rumi coat and Xanthe crop jacket are the quieter outer layers. Picture her stepping out of a car in a bolero over a column gown, the beading catching the light underneath. If you want to see more ways to wear fake fur, I wrote a note on faux fur coats and a longer guide to the coat shapes. The brand launched a bridal line in 2023 with jacquards and duchess satin, and a faux fur layer is a natural partner to it.

Elliatt has shown at fashion weeks in Sydney, Shanghai and New York, and its first flagship store opened in China, but the pull for me is still the romance of the dresses. I would pick one embroidered or lace dress, keep the shoes and bag simple, and let the details lead. A bolero or a coat can come out only when the temperature drops.

For more in the same spirit, take a look at Kay Unger Gowns and Halston Gowns and Coats.