What to wear
What to Wear to Brunch
Not the clothes you slept in. Not a wedding guest gown. Daylight, eggs, and a chair for two hours.
Updated 27 Aug 2026 · 6 min read · what to wear to brunch
Daylight is unkind to last night
Sequins, heavy contour, and a club heel look like you did not go home. Wear washed cotton, linen, a fine knit. Color is welcome. Sunglasses come off at the table. A leather sneaker or a loafer, $90–$220, already broken in.
| Brunch type | Wear | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood cafe | Jeans or chinos, knit or oxford, clean sneaker | Pajama silk as the only layer, gym shorts |
| Hotel / bottomless | Midi or trousers plus a shirt, loafer or block heel | Ballgown, white column, new stilettos |
| Garden / patio | Linen, cotton, a hat that stays | Unlined viscose, a heel that sinks |
Not pajamas, even when the brand says lounge
Matching satin sets photograph well and stain with hollandaise. If you wear a pull-on trouser, give it a real top and a real shoe so it reads as clothes. True pajama pants, Ugg-only, and a sleep tee are for the apartment.
Not a wedding
A bridal shower brunch can fool people into overdressing. Unless the card said otherwise, sit in something you can eat eggs in. Hats only if the table is outdoors and the brim does not take out the mimosa. See bridal shower if that is actually the event.
Questions, answered
- Are ripped jeans okay?
- At a diner, if the rest is finished. At a hotel restaurant, wear dark unripped denim or skip denim.
- Can I wear a blazer?
- Yes at a hotel or a date brunch. It comes off over eggs. An unstructured one, not interview armor.
- What about a hat?
- Outdoors, if it stays on. Indoors, off. A wide brim at a small table is a weapon.
