When Kendall Jenner stepped out for Lauren Perez’s wedding in late 2021, she didn't just wear a dress. She launched a thousand think pieces. You’ve likely seen the photos—that black Mônot gown with more cutouts than actual fabric. It basically broke the corner of the internet that cares about wedding etiquette. People were livid. They called it "disrespectful," "cringe," and a blatant attempt to upstage the bride.
But here is the thing: the bride didn't care.
In fact, Lauren Perez later went on record saying she absolutely loved the look. Kendall even clarified that she asked for permission before she ever put it on. This one moment has defined the Kendall Jenner wedding guest dress discourse for years, but it’s just one chapter in a much longer style evolution that tells us a lot about how celebrity fashion actually works behind the scenes.
The Mônot Controversy: More Than Just Cutouts
We have to talk about that Mônot dress because it remains the gold standard for "controversial" wedding guest attire. Designed by Eli Mizrahi for the Spring/Summer 2022 collection, the dress featured massive diamond-shaped cutouts that bared most of Jenner's torso.
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Honestly, it was a vibe, but maybe not a "church wedding" vibe.
Kendall was actually a bridesmaid for the ceremony. She wore a perfectly "appropriate" silk teal dress by Bec & Bridge while she performed her duties. The black cutout number was strictly for the reception. This is a nuance people often miss. In the celebrity world, a wedding isn't just a ceremony; it’s a multi-event production. Changing into something scandalous for the party is basically a sport in the Kar-Jenner circle.
The backlash was swift. TikTok went into a frenzy. Commenters argued that even if the bride said "yes," a guest has a social responsibility to not distract from the union. It raised a fascinating question: who owns the "vibe" of a wedding? If the bride is cool with it, does the public have a right to be offended?
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The Shift to Quiet Luxury and Archival Finds
If you look at her more recent appearances, like the June 2025 Venice wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, the Kendall Jenner wedding guest dress strategy has shifted. Gone are the aggressive cutouts. In their place? Sheer, architectural, and archival pieces that scream "I am very wealthy" rather than "look at my abs."
In Venice, she wore a sheer black bodycon dress paired with a skinny scarf and a tousled updo. It was very Sophia Loren—Italian bombshell but refined. She accessorized with massive 250-carat emeralds because, well, she’s Kendall Jenner.
It's interesting to watch her move toward brands like The Row and archival Thierry Mugler. At the Oscars after-party in early 2025, she wore a 1992 Mugler lace dress. It was "naked" in the sense that it was sheer, but the silhouette was high-neck and floor-length. It felt like a deliberate pivot from the "Instagram baddie" aesthetic to something more akin to a high-fashion collector.
Noteworthy Wedding Guest Moments
- Lauren Rothberg’s Napa Wedding: She went for a Dries Van Noten floor-length floral dress. Very cottagecore, very "I’m in a vineyard."
- Kourtney Kardashian’s Italian Nuptials: She leaned into the Dolce & Gabbana "Gothic Italian" theme with a floral dress that was surprisingly modest compared to her sister Kylie’s outfits.
- Hailey Bieber’s Wedding: Back in 2019, she wore a velvet vintage Badgley Mischka dress. It was gold, body-skimming, and perfectly balanced.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With Her Choices
We obsess over her outfits because she occupies a weird space between a professional model and a reality star. When she wears a dress, it’s not just a personal choice; it’s a marketing moment. Whether it's 818 Tequila or a new brand she’s "creative directing," every stitch is calculated by her stylist, Dani Michelle.
There is also the "Main Character Energy" factor. Weddings are supposedly about the couple, but for a supermodel, every hallway is a runway. When she wore that green Dries Van Noten dress to a wedding in Hawaii, it was a masterclass in being the best-dressed person in the room without causing a PR crisis. She learned her lesson from the Mônot drama: you can be the center of attention without being the villain of the wedding.
How to Channel the Aesthetic Without the Backlash
If you’re looking to pull off a Kendall Jenner wedding guest dress vibe at your next event, the trick is in the "after-party" pivot.
Don't show up to the vows in something that makes the grandmother of the bride faint. Instead, find a dress that is modest enough for the "I dos" but has a bit of edge for the dance floor. Or, do what Kendall does now: go archival. Vintage designer pieces always look more intentional and less like a "cry for help" than a trendy fast-fashion cutout dress.
Focus on the fabric. Kendall loves silk, velvet, and sheer lace. If you’re going sheer, make sure the silhouette is classic. Think high necks and long sleeves. It balances the "nakedness" and makes it feel like fashion rather than just exposure.
Final Actionable Insights for Your Next Wedding
- Ask the Bride: If you think your dress is "risky," send a photo. Seriously. It saved Kendall from a permanent rift with Lauren Perez.
- The Second Look Strategy: Wear a classic slip dress for the ceremony and keep the "party dress" in the car or the hotel room for the reception.
- Invest in Tailoring: Part of why Kendall looks so good in these "simple" dresses is that they are tailored to within an inch of her life. A $50 Zara dress looks like $500 if it actually fits your waist.
- Mind the Theme: If it’s a beach wedding in Miami, you can get away with more skin. If it’s a black-tie event in a cathedral, keep the cutouts for another night.
- Accessorize Heavily: If the dress is simple (like the teal Bec & Bridge), go big on the hair and jewelry. It elevates a basic dress into a "look."
If you’re planning your wardrobe for a 2026 wedding, look toward the "Italian Girl" aesthetic Kendall championed in Venice. Deep tones, sheer fabrics with strategically placed linings, and a pair of kitten heels. It’s the perfect middle ground between the controversy of the past and the sophisticated model-off-duty vibe of the present.