The Altivra Style Guide
Does this ever happen to you — you have a special occasion coming up and can’t decide what to wear, even with a closet full of clothes?It’s not a lack of options. It’s a lack of criteria for what each occasion truly calls for.This guide exists to give you exactly that. You’ll learn to read dress codes and understand what each one truly expects, to choose the right color and piece for every occasion, to discover your colorimetry and the tones that genuinely favor you, and to dress your silhouette in a way that makes you feel good about yourself.Let’s begin with the essentials:
Dress Code
A dress code isn’t meant to limit you. It simply tells you, through the invitation, how dressed up the moment calls for — and once you understand that level, everything else (color, fabric, silhouette) is yours to decide.
Casual
The most relaxed level, though relaxed doesn’t mean careless. A well-cut pair of jeans, a light dress, or a flowing top, paired with one well-chosen accessory, makes all the difference between “comfortable” and “unfinished.”
Smart Casual
This is where most women hesitate, because it’s neither fully relaxed nor party-ready. Think tailored trousers with a flowing blouse, or a midi dress with low sandals — comfortable pieces, but with a more polished finish than casual.
Cocktail
Raises the sophistication without reaching the formality of a gala. A midi dress remains the safest choice, and here you can bring in satin, lace, or crepe, a more defined neckline, and jewelry with a bit more presence.
Formal
Calls for a look noticeably more elevated than everyday dressing. Midi or maxi dresses in richer fabrics, refined jumpsuits, or a well-considered tailored set — the point is that the entire look feels elevated, not just the main piece.
Black Tie
One of the highest levels of formality, almost always reserved for evening. A floor-length gown is the classic choice, in fabrics like satin, velvet, or tulle, paired with jewelry and a bag that match the occasion.
White Tie
Even more formal than black tie, and in practice you’ll rarely need it — reserved for the most formal ceremonies. Worth knowing simply to place it on the full scale:
Casual → Smart Casual → Cocktail → Formal → Black Tie → White Tie
How to Dress for the Occasion
Choosing the right piece starts with understanding what the occasion calls for. Here you’ll find the color palettes and fabrics that work best for the moment, the silhouettes that make sense for each event, and the details that set an intentional look apart from an improvised one.
Wedding Guest
Being a wedding guest comes down to one real criterion: looking radiant, without stealing the spotlight from the bride.
Before choosing your dress, check the invitation for three things: is it day or evening, where is it taking place, and does it mention a dress code? That alone answers 80% of the decision.
If it’s during the day, go for lighter fabrics — chiffon, crepe, linen — in soft colors: blush, powder blue, lavender, sage. If it’s in the evening, switch to fabrics with more weight, like satin or velvet, in deeper colors: emerald, burgundy, navy, plum.
There’s one color you always avoid, no exceptions: white, ivory, or any shade so pale it reads as white in photos.
That color belongs to the bride, even if your dress looks nothing like hers.
The setting matters too. If the wedding is outdoors — garden, beach, countryside — go for a wedge or block heel over a stiletto; you’ll thank yourself three hours in. And if the ceremony is religious, keep in mind that covered shoulders and a modest neckline are often expected — a shawl or wrap you can add just for the ceremony solves that easily.
Bridesmaid
Being a bridesmaid has one key difference from being a guest: the color is almost always already decided — by the bride, not you. So the real question isn’t “what color should I wear” but “how do I make this color work for me.
”If the shade is dark or deep (wine, bottle green, navy), look for fabrics with dimension — whether that comes from sheen, texture, or beautiful drape: satin, velvet, jacquard. That dimension helps the color reveal depth instead of falling flat, especially in photos. If the color is light or pastel, fabrics with texture, movement, or subtle detail — lace, pleating, embroidery — keep the look from feeling too plain.
Once the color is set, silhouette, neckline, and waist proportion are the elements that shape how the dress works in your favor. If the bride allows different silhouettes within the same color palette, choose the shape that makes you feel most comfortable and confident — the same color doesn’t mean the same visual result, since fabric, finish, and silhouette can change the appearance entirely.
Bridesmaid accessories follow the same principle as any other look: balance with the dress. A simple dress gives you room to wear jewelry with more presence — long earrings, a statement necklace. A dress with a lot of detail or shine calls for the opposite: understated jewelry, so the look doesn’t feel overloaded.
Bridal
A wedding dress isn’t chosen just for how it photographs. There are several factors to consider — the venue, the time of day, and above all, what makes you feel like yourself. Here’s what to look for.
If your wedding is in a garden or on a beach, go for lighter, naturally flowing fabrics — chiffon, crepe, light lace — in fluid silhouettes like A-line or fit-and-flare. They’re comfortable for hours on your feet and move beautifully outdoors.
If your wedding is indoors, in the evening, you can go for richer, more structured fabrics — duchess satin, mikado, full-bodied tulle — in more dramatic silhouettes, like a defined mermaid cut or a full princess skirt.
If the weather is warm, prioritize breathability and lining too, not just how the fabric looks — you’ll be wearing this dress for many hours.
As for neckline and back: a sweetheart neckline beautifully frames the bust, and if you have a fuller bust, it’s worth paying attention to the bodice’s internal support. An off-shoulder cut draws attention toward the shoulders and collarbone. And since you’ll be photographed from every angle, check yourself from the side and back too before deciding — an open back completely changes how the dress reads.
The key is trying dresses on without a fixed idea of “the dress of my dreams” — often the cut that flatters you most isn’t the one you’d imagined.
Formal Events
Here we talk about elegance that adapts to your day, without reaching gala-level glamour. It’s the middle ground used most often in real life: important gatherings, social occasions, celebrations where you’re expected to look polished, without needing an evening gown.
During the day, neutrals and earth tones — beige, camel, off-white, navy — are a safe and sophisticated option, but not the only one: burgundy, emerald, cobalt blue, or dusty rose work just as well depending on the event. Look for fabrics with structure but no weight, like crepe or well-structured, polished cotton. A pantsuit or jumpsuit works just as well as a dress, as long as the fabric drapes cleanly and the cut is well defined.
At night, the same approach shifts up in intensity: deeper colors — wine, bottle green, emerald, plum, black — and fabrics with richer texture, a subtle sheen, or a deeper tone. Embellishment and shimmer have room here too, as long as they stay proportional to the occasion and don’t take over the entire look — the key is for the shine to be an accent, not the whole focus of the dress.
The accessory that tends to elevate a simple outfit most in this category is the shoe and the bag: a well-chosen heel and a structured bag do a lot for a simple look. But the full picture counts — jewelry, hair, makeup — so think about overall balance, not just the main piece.
Black Tie & Evening Gown
Black tie represents one of the highest levels of formality and glamour: galas, the most formal ceremonies — the moment elegance is taken to its limit. In its most traditional form, a floor-length gown is the classic choice, though a very elegant midi or a sophisticated formal set can also work depending on the event.
The first real criterion is getting the length right for your height: the gown should be professionally hemmed for the shoes you plan to wear, without dragging excessively.
When it comes to fabric, this is where richer materials and more pronounced embellishment feel especially appropriate: shimmering satin, velvet, beaded tulle, well-placed sequins. When a gown features significant detail, it’s worth considering where you want the eye to go first: concentrating the shine in one area creates a clearer visual hierarchy, while all-over embellishment can also look spectacular when the design is well balanced.
Neckline and back are where the gown’s balance is really decided. A good principle is to establish a clear focal point: if the silhouette is already dramatic, a more contained neckline creates balance; if the neckline or back is the main feature, keeping the rest simpler lets that detail shine.
For color, black remains one of the most timeless choices for black tie, while deep jewel tones — emerald, burgundy, sapphire — offer equally sophisticated alternatives. Metallic fabrics and finishes create a more dramatic effect, and are especially striking for gala settings or when a more glamorous aesthetic is the goal.
Color Theory
The same color can light up one face and completely wash out another. Here you’ll learn to identify yours, combine it with other tones, and distribute it within an outfit using the proportion that creates balance.
Your Skin Tone
Identifying your season depends on two things, not just one: your undertone (warm or cool) and your natural contrast level (how different your skin, hair, and eyes are from one another). Together, they define your season — undertone alone only tells half the story.
Step 1: Identify your undertoneYour veins (inside of your wrist, natural light): blue or purple → cool. Greenish → warm.Jewelry: if gold brightens your skin more, you’re warm. If silver flatters you more, you’re cool.The sun: if your skin tans easily, you lean warm. If it burns before tanning, you lean cool.
Note: these clues give you a first impression, but none on its own is a definitive test — vein color changes depending on skin and lighting, and tanning or burning has more to do with how your skin reacts to the sun than with your undertone. Use them together, not in isolation, and if you’re still unsure, the fabric test (pure white vs. ivory under your chin) tends to be clearer.
Step 2: Identify your contrastCompare your skin tone to your hair color: if they’re similar to each other (light skin + blonde hair, or deep skin + brown hair), your contrast is low. If they’re very different from each other (light skin + black hair, for example), your contrast is high.
Applied example:Light warm-brown skin, dark eyes, black hair.
Step 1 — undertone: greenish veins, gold flatters her more than silver → warm.
Step 2 — contrast: her skin is warm but medium-deep, and her hair is very dark — there’s noticeable distance between the two → high contrast.
Result: warm + high contrast = Autumn. Mustard, terracotta, and chocolate brown flatter her — while pastel pink or pure white would leave her looking pale.
Using this same logic — undertone first, then contrast — you can place yourself within the four seasons below:
Your season, based on both steps:
Warm + low contrast → Spring
Warm + high contrast → Autumn
Cool + low contrast → Summer
Cool + high contrast → Winter
SPRING (warm + low contrast) Example: golden-light skin, hazel eyes, blonde or light brown hair — little difference between skin and hair tone. (example photo here) Flatters you: coral, peach, apple green, gold, soft turquoise. (color palette here) Avoid ash gray, pure black, and very dark navy — on your skin they read harsh and take away the natural glow you have. Your neutrals: ivory, camel, warm gray.
SUMMER (cool + low contrast) Example: light, rosy skin, blue or gray eyes, ash blonde or light brown hair — soft tones close to each other. (example photo here) Flatters you: powder blue, mauve pink, lavender, pearl gray, sage green. (color palette here) Avoid orange, mustard, and deep gold — they clash with your undertone and look harsher than flattering on your skin. Your neutrals: stone gray, soft navy, off-white.
AUTUMN (warm + high contrast) Example: light warm-brown skin, dark eyes, black or very dark brown hair — more distance between skin and hair tone. (example photo here)Flatters you: mustard, terracotta, olive green, chocolate brown, burnt orange. (color palette here) Avoid pastel pink, ice blue, and pure white — on your skin they read faded and take away the warmth of your face. Your neutrals: ivory, chocolate, camel.WINTER (cool + high contrast) Example: light or very light skin, dark eyes, black or very dark brown hair — high natural contrast. (example photo here) Flatters you: black, pure white, true red, royal blue, silver. (color palette here) Avoid mustard, peach, and beige — they look washed out next to your natural contrast, instead of highlighting it. Your neutrals: pure black, pure white.
Combining Colors
Knowing your season tells you which colors flatter you. But combining them well within one look is a separate skill, straight from color theory:
Analogous colors: colors sitting next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue and green, or red and orange). Combining them creates a harmonious, easy-to-wear look — ideal for everyday dressing, since they never compete with each other.
Complementary colors: colors opposite each other on the wheel (e.g., blue and orange, purple and yellow). Combining them creates contrast and presence — this works best as one strong color accent (a bag or a lip color) against an otherwise neutral look, rather than two complementary pieces in equal parts.
Triadic colors: three colors evenly spaced on the wheel (e.g., red, yellow, and blue). It’s the boldest combination and the hardest to balance — the key is letting one of the three dominate the look, with the other two appearing only in accessories or details, never all three in equal proportion.
The 60-30-10 Rule
How to make color work in an outfit
Color harmony isn’t only about choosing the right colors — it’s also about proportion. A simple way to apply it is the 60-30-10 rule:
60% dominant color — the one that occupies most of the look (e.g., a navy dress).
30% secondary color — a shade that supports the dominant one without competing (e.g., nude shoes).
10% accent — the smallest presence, reserved for jewelry, a bag, or a single accessory (e.g., a burgundy bag).
With just three steps, you can build any outfit using this logic:
Choose your dominant color — the one that takes up the most visual space.
Add a supporting color — a shade that complements the dominant one without competing.
Finish with an accent — use accessories, shoes, or a bag to introduce a small point of contrast.
Understanding Your Silhouette
Every body has its own natural proportions between shoulders, waist, and hips. Knowing yours isn’t about putting yourself in a category — it’s a tool for knowing which cut, neckline, or line works in your favor in any piece you choose.
Hourglass
Shoulders and hips of similar width, with a defined waist between them. (reference silhouette here) What highlights your natural proportion: pieces that follow your waist without over-cinching it — a wrap dress, a belt at the right height, A-line cuts that don’t hide the shape you already have.
Pear
Hips wider than shoulders, defined waist. (reference silhouette here) What balances your proportion: necklines that visually widen the shoulders (boat neck, halter, off-shoulder), and skirts or pants with clean drape rather than extra volume at the hip.
Inverted Triangle
Shoulders wider than hips.
What favors your proportion: a well-proportioned V-neckline introduces a vertical line that stylizes the torso. Skirts or pants with some movement or texture at the bottom give visual presence to the hip and create balance with the upper body.
Rectangle
Shoulders, waist, and hips of similar width, without a strongly defined curve. (reference silhouette here) What creates proportion where you choose: a belt or a fitted waist cut creates that curve; pieces with detail at a single point (waist, neckline, or hip) add dimension to the outfit.
Oval
A softer, fuller midsection, with shoulders, legs, or other areas comparatively more defined.
What favors your proportion: pieces with vertical drape flowing from the bust — empire waist, column silhouette, or a straight dress without a defined waist — create an elongated, stylized line. V-necklines help lengthen the torso line, and fabrics with good drape let the piece move naturally with the body.
Knowing your proportions isn’t a label or a mold you need to fit — it’s information that helps you choose with intention. Once you understand how different cuts, necklines, and lines interact with your silhouette, getting dressed becomes simpler.It’s not about dressing according to a set of rules or trying to fit your body into a certain shape. It’s about understanding what different pieces can do for your proportions, and choosing the one that makes you feel best.