Kay Unger is the kind of designer I would love to have dinner with. She graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1968 and went straight to work as a design assistant to Geoffrey Beene. Two years later she started her own dress firm, and in 1972 she co-founded The Gillian Group to make dinner dresses. In 1989 she set out to reinvent the little black dress as a clean dinner dress, with silk as her signature fabric. When Gillian and A.J. Bari closed in 1995, she launched Kay Unger New York, and her prints are nearly all created in house. That print sense runs through this group. The Ina Floral-Print Mikado Midi Dress, the Alana Floral Mikado Column Gown and the Amelie Printed Mikado Strapless Dress show it best. The Eva Dauphine Jacquard Asymmetic Gown and Brynlee Floral Jacqaurd One-Shoulder Gown are for the dressier invitations. Adria and Katherine Tea Length Dresses are the shorter route, and the Marilotte and Darby Walk Thru Jumpsuits are for those who want trousers. A black tie guide is useful when the dress code is formal.

The second group is a good tour of how the label dresses a woman for a long evening. Imogen Metallic Jacquard Tea-Length Cocktail Dress, Alina Floral Jacquard Tea-Length Cocktail Dress and Lysandra Tea Length Dress are the shorter ones. Katrina High-Low Cocktail Dress and Begonia Sleeveless Midi Cocktail Dress sit in the same family. For gowns, the Eden Boat Neck Sleeveless Floral Placement Print Ruffle Peplum Mikado Column Gown has the most detail, while Sheryl Mikado Floral A-Line Gown, Willow Floral Metallic Organza Gown and Morrigan Beaded Crepe A-Line Gown give more room to move. The Phoebe 3/4-Sleeve Collared Poplin A-Line Gown covers the arms. Noreen Walk Thru Jumpsuit and Ruth One-Shoulder Jumpsuit complete the trouser option. What I would skip is a gown with a big floral placement print when you are also wearing statement jewelry; the print is already the focus. If you are shopping for family, try this mother of the bride guide and these beaded gowns and minis.

In our fashion dreams she walks into a garden party in a floral mikado gown, the sort of look a garden formal guide would applaud. Unger designed Tipper Gore's gown for the 1997 inaugural ball, and she is now Chair Emerita of Parsons and a Trustee of The New School. For colder months, this fall wedding guest guide helps with velvet and long sleeves. I would start with one gown, one pair of plain shoes and let the print do the talking.

To round out the look, see Tadashi Shoji Gowns and Badgley Mischka Gowns and Clutches.