Are christenings smart occasions?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Do I need a fascinator?

I have never been to one and the only person I’ll know is dh...🤦🏻‍♀️

Who tells everyone I’m stunningly gorgeous and perfect. I’m currently taking roaccutane so this is not true.

I have the fear

To the poster who said hats essential as they’re worn at royal christenings, I don’t think you need to get inspiration from royal christening, they’re not exactly the same thing as regular christenings!

Hats at christenings look so naff and over the top.

I went to a christening at a 'high church' CofE church recently.
Everyone wore smart clothes but no one wore hats or fascinators.

I wore a knee length floral Wallis dress with a pink fitted cardi from Dorothy Perkins & rose gold pointed flats from M&S- more conservative than my usual look but just right for this occasion it turned out!
I was to be godmother so was really nervous but the vicar was lovely & all went well.

Raptorwhiskers our vicar usually wears jeans for church and has been known to wear them for baptism services too.
In our church we rarely baptize babies, if we do have a "christening" service, the family do tend to dress fairly smart, but for our annual baptism service it's just normal everyday clothes.

Attended a catholic christening (baptism?) last weekend. Lots of pretty midi dresses and a few jumpsuits. No knees or shoulders out of any of the women come to think of it and there were about 80 people attending - catholic family mainly and a lot of regular churchgoers. The men wore suits. No hats or fascinators appeared

Only the mother and godmothers wore hats at the poshest christening I have ever been to (yes, there were more than two godparents!!) so totally agree with other posters about the dress code and there being no need for a hat. Your DH deserves for giving the right answer. Am sure he is right & you will look perfect

The Karen millen dress is nice (though very speedy for a christening unless you have a big budget plus you couldn't easily re wear to a wedding because it's white if you were thinking about getting the most wear). A regular smartish dress would be fine. I've been to christenings and baptisms where people wore jeans. I've never seen anyone in a hat or fascination and to be honest I think if you wore one people would think you were a pretentious wally ;)

• spendy

Oh dear god I’m hoping to avoid weddings too. I only went to mine because you have too. Wore a coffee colour dress.

Two other guests wore white and it never occurred to me to get pissy about it

I don’t wear dresses generally so anything I buy won’t get much wear. Might hire something.

I only have 3 dresses, two for funerals, one evening.

That dress is nice. No hat needed.

Do you have any friends (who aren’t going) who’d lend you a dress? Seems a shame to shell out £200 just for the day.

As everyone has pointed out, you don't need to be as smart as to a wedding so why not wear a dress you already have or even top and skirt?

No, I’m smaller than everyone I know, Size 6-8. I won’t spend that much for one day.

I’ll hire or sales or eBay.

I don't think a hat is needed, but I'd go in a dress. Agree you need money for the collection plate.

The smarter end of casual is standard at my church.

Men tend to wear jeans and a shirt or a more casual suit style outfit without the jacket. Ladies tend to wear nice top and trousers. Less formal than a wedding is a good call. For reference, our Christenings are always part of the usual Sunday service.

I find it odd when people get overdressed for Christenings (e.g. cocktail dresses, heels, fascinators etc), but that is more to do with what's the norm in my circle.

It’s better to cover your shoulders and your skirt not be too short. But even if you did, I doubt anyone would say anything.

Just don't dress as if for a nightclub (women) or court appearance (men)

@Fluffycloudland77 what about something like this? It's a lot cheaper than the Karen Millen dress if you aren't planning on wearing it again, it covers shoulders and is over the knee (which is considered respectable for church) and you could wear it with any colour shoes/bag/accessories you have

www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-ruched-skirt-midi-dress-in-cow-print/prd/11981038?clr=cow-animal-print&colourWayId=16381395&SearchQuery=&cid=8799

Dress! But you don't need a fascinator. I wouldn't be happy if someone wore jeans

I usually wear a hat for church things, but I love hats . Agree a Christening is smart, but less formal than a wedding.

That KM dress is lovely, but you really don't need to spend that much on a dress for a christening. In my experience christenings are "office smart" What smart clothes do you already have?