If you’re heading to a Christening or naming ceremony, you might be wondering what you should wear. If you’ve never been to one, or are just unsure on the best way to dress, here are some tips which will help you what to pick out.
Whether you’re going as a guest or godparent, here’s some ideas for what you should be wearing to a Christening.
If you have no idea what to wear, utilising the smart casual dress code for a christening is the way to go.
An easy to wear outfit for a man to wear to a christening is a light blue dress shirt, navy blazer with matching trousers or dark denim if you want to go that little bit more casual.
Is There A Dress Code?
Christenings are usually not a formal affair, and usually there is no dress code, other than using your own initiative.
If you have an invitation, then check to see if there’s a dress code. If there’s no invitation then it’s likely to not be formal.
Since a christening is usually a gathering for family and friends, you can ask others to see what they plan on wearing.
I’ve put together some ideas on the perfect mens christening outfit.
Wear A Suit
If you want to arrive smart, a suit is going to do that, and if you’re a godfather, this is a good idea. When picking out your suit, you should select a good colour, which is almost any, excluding black.
The best colour to choose will be shades of blue or grey, which are timeless colours and perfect for not only this occasion, but virtually any other occasion.
If you’re investing in a suit or already own one, you should have one to wear.
Do you need a tie?
When it comes to accessories, adding a tie will smarten it up, as will a pocket square, but may not be necessary.
This will depend on how smart you want to be. If you wear a tie you can always take it off, but you won’t be able to add one when you’re at the church. (Remember this is how long your tie should be.)
You probably shouldn’t wear a shirt and tie without a jacket. If you’re smartening up with a tie, pair your shirt with a blazer or go for a suit.
Christening Outfit: Navy Blue Suit
- 2 Piece Navy Blue Suit
- White Shirt
- Brown Shoes
- Tie (Optional)
For most guests, including a godparent, you’ll want to get dressed up. This means wearing a good colour suit, shoes a shirt and can optionally complete the outfit with a tie.
Go Smart Casual
Going for a smart casual outfit is going to be an option, but the emphasis here should be on the smarter side, rather than casual.
If you don’t own a suit then wearing solid colour smart chinos could work with a shirt could do the job, and throwing a smart jacket over it will ensure you’re looking sharp without wearing a suit (remember the difference with a blazer and suit)
A T-shirt and blazer look could even be considered if you think you can pull that off, which is probably best wore on this occasion in Summer.
Christening Outfit: Smart Casual Outfit
- Light Blue Shirt
- Navy Blue Blazer
- Chinos
- Brown Brogues
A Smart Shirt
A smart shirt is going to be the base of your outfit.
Depending on the weather, you may not need a jacket, although it’s advised. A good clean shirt is almost certainly a must have piece of clothing you’ll need to pull from your wardrobe.
When it comes to the style, you can never go wrong with a plain shirt, and when it comes to colour, it should compliment the rest of your outfit. A white shirt outfit is an absolute classic which will look stylish, and would be a good choice.
Other colours which will work are light or pastel colours, including green, pink and sky blue.
The Shoes
When it comes to footwear, it should be the same as the rest of your outfit, which means shoes and not trainers.
There’s plenty of shoe options you can choose for a Christening, and it doesn’t need to be as formal as something such as a ball or other formal event. (Check out the shoes every man should own)
Smart shoes for a Christening could be a pair of brogues, derby or Oxfords or even Chelsea boots.
When it comes to colour, black or brown would be preferable, but if you’re feeling adventurous, colours such as oxblood could work, providing they work with the rest of your colour choices.
What To Wear To A Christening In Winter
When it’s cold it doesn’t mean you can’t look smart. You can still wear a suit, and wear some outerwear, such as an overcoat or peacoat to ensure you still look the part in winter.
You can wear a V-neck sweater over your shirt, or even go for a roll-neck, meaning you won’t need a shirt at all.
Christening In Winter Outfit
- Navy Overcoat
- Grey Sweater
- White Shirt
- Black Jeans
- Black Shoes
A Summer Christening
In the Summer the same rules as above apply, but you can afford to be a little bit more edgy with your style choices, if you choose to be.
Separates is a really good option which will set you apart, keep you looking bright for the occasion, and above all, look amazing.
Separates simply means mixing a blazer or jacket and trousers in terms of colour. There’s plenty of colours which go together, and one of my personal favourites is wearing white chinos or jeans with a blue jacket.
This looks great in the Summer, and as a lot of people prefer a more relaxed and brighter occasion for celebrating life at a baptism.
Summer Outfits Above from Mango MAN.
Summer Christening Outfit
- Beige Linen Blazer
- White Button Up Shirt
- Light Coloured Chinos
- Brown Shoes
Don’t Forget The Grooming
It would be a shame to have a great looking outfit, and then still look bad, you’ve got to take care of yourself too, I’m talking about the grooming. This means your hair, skin and body.
If you need a haircut, now is the perfect time to get one.
When it comes to the day, make sure your hair is on point. Use your best hair product and make sure it’s styled correctly. (check out the guide to men’s hair products)
When it comes to your skin and body, personal hygiene is an obvious thing you should be doing in your daily routine anyway.
Picking out that perfect scent for the day is something you need to consider too. A nice fresh or citrus style of fragrance is going to be the best to go for when attending a christening.
Things To Avoid
When it comes to dressing, there’s a few things you’ll need to avoid. These are:
No Black Suit – Black is a dark colour which should be reserved for functions such as a funeral, or events where black is required. This is a celebration of a new born, so wearing black is not a good option.
No Sportswear – Sportswear is far too casual for a Christening, and should be avoided.
Can You Wear Jeans To A Christening?
Jeans are an interesting topic, whether you can wear them or not depends on the formalities of the Christening. For a more formal Christening, you should stick to trousers as part of a suit. For a smart casual dress code, black or dark blue jeans should be fine.
Conclusion
When it comes to dressing for a Christening, wearing something smarter is going to be the way you should be going.
You can dress up in a suit and look good with or without a tie, wearing a colour such as blue will look incredibly stylish. It’s a happy occasion, so suit up, look sharp and have fun celebrating life!
Check out more what to wear guides to make sure you dress the part and look stylish for every occasion.
About Michael
Michael Adams is the founder and editor of Michael 84, blogger from Newcastle, UK. Sharing men's fashion tips, style advice and lifestyle information for all guys.
