A dress code on a wedding invitation should, in theory, settle the question of what to wear. Except there's a surprising amount of room left for interpretation. The difference between cocktail and semi-formal alone is enough to leave you standing in front of your closet scratching your head. Luckily, Rat & Boa co-founders Valentina Muntoni and Stephanie Cara Bennett know a thing or two about occasion dressing. Their London-based label has become a go-to for wedding guest wardrobes, with collections that bring plenty of personality to getting dressed up. From the brand's signature playful prints to simple, strappy dresses that make a statement without needing much else, there's no shortage of options.
Naturally, we wanted to know how the women behind the designs would approach the dress codes themselves. So, we asked the duo to talk us through five of the most common, sharing their advice on what works for each and the Rat & Boa dresses they'd recommend wearing.
Black Tie
Black tie is the one dress code that truly calls for dressing to the nines, and for Rat & Boa’s founders, the art lies in striking just the right balance. "It's always a treat to have a black tie occasion to dress up for, embrace the glamour," says co-founder Stephanie Cara Bennett. "For us, that means understated opulence, but always with a bit of tension. Think a feminine dress paired with a masculine jacket, or a silhouette with an open back or dramatic neckline."
But as fellow co-founder Valentina Muntoni points out, there's a difference between dressing up and overdoing it. "Don't underestimate the dress code! Black tie is all about a sense of occasion, anything that feels too casual or everyday won't work," she says, though she's quick to add that you shouldn't "confuse black tie glamour with excess." Her advice for getting it right? "An intentional silhouette, really beautiful fabric and accessories chosen with care will always make more of an impact than trying to do everything at once."
Formal & Black Tie Optional
Ah, black tie optional. The kind of dress code where “optional” somehow makes deciding what to wear even harder. Just how optional is the black-tie part, exactly? Valentina, for one, welcomes the room for interpretation. “You've got more freedom to interpret the dress code. You can enjoy the drama of a maxi dress, but also lean into expressive prints, fluid shapes and less traditional styling. You want to look, and feel, dressed up, but not too formal or formulaic.” Take the brand's Adriana Dress, with its romantic, '90s-inspired slip silhouette, or the Valeria Dress, a bias-cut style with a cowl neckline and dramatic open back.
Still, if you're torn between dressing up or down, Stephanie recommends erring on the more formal side, and we're inclined to agree. After all, it's always better to be a little overdressed than underdressed, especially at a wedding.
“If in doubt, we’d always lean towards formality. You’ve then got scope to tweak what you’re doing with accessories. A clean, elevated silhouette with minimal jewellery and a strong shoe is a great place to start.” - Stephanie Cara Bennett
Cocktail
If there's one wedding dress code that gives you a little more freedom to have fun with fashion, it's cocktail. "Cocktail dressing is such a great opportunity to let your hair down," says Valentina. "The sweet spot is a look that feels expressive, doesn't take itself too seriously, but is still polished. Think a statement mini or midi, or an unexpected print." The Sozzani Dress, a leopard-print wrap mini, certainly fits the bill.
Of course, there's still the matter of making a playful dress feel appropriate for a wedding. "Fabric and fit make all the difference when it comes to keeping playful pieces cocktail-appropriate," Valentina explains. "Something with beautiful movement or drape and an intentional shape will instantly feel more special than an everyday dress." Stephanie also has a few thoughts on how to finish the look. "Accessories and hair are two easy ways to transform a look," she says, recommending an updo or slicked-back hairstyle and "one or two statement accessories" rather than making everything compete for attention.
Semi-Formal
If you're still trying to work out the difference between cocktail and semi-formal, even the founders of Rat & Boa admit there's not much in it. "Thinking of them as separate styling 'events' is too restrictive and takes the fun out of dressing up," says Stephanie. "If in doubt, it's better to dial up the glamour for cocktail hour and to keep silhouettes simple for a semi-formal wedding." Take the brand’s Aris Dress, a V-neck midi that proves simple doesn’t have to mean understated.
For Valentina, semi-formal dressing is as much about how you feel as how you look. “It comes down to wearing pieces you can move in, party in and feel completely yourself in,” she explains. After all, nobody wants to spend the entire night adjusting their dress when they could be on the dance floor.
"The best looks are the ones that don’t distract from being present in the moment and enjoying it. Feeling comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing will always feel more polished than following a set of rules.” - Valentina Muntoni
Destination & Beach Formal
When the wedding is somewhere tropical or at a beach destination, what you wear has as much to do with the location as the dress code itself. "A beach wedding invite calls for a lighter, more fluid approach to dressing," says Stephanie. "Things to think about are: the climate, the time of day and the terrain, for example, do you need to build an outfit around footwear that works on sand, or that you can walk on cobbles in? For a beach ceremony, lightweight natural fabrics are your friends."
Of course, there's still the matter of making sure your outfit feels appropriate for the occasion. Valentina, for one, is all for embracing a little color. "Color and print are great ways to bring energy and polish to a wedding guest look, while not straying too far into ultra formal territory." The brand's Sirena Dress, with its floral corsage, is an obvious contender, while the Maela dress brings a little drama with its jungle-inspired print. Either way, a wedding somewhere tropical seems like a very good excuse to finally wear that dress you've been saving for the right occasion.
