OMG big weekend, lots of outfits needed!

[kickassangel]

At the end of June i have the following weekend to dress for. I may well be travelling by train, so need to pack light, but need to loof fabulous for;
Fri night, reunion dinner. Formal but not blcak tie. there will be some wealthy people in designer gear (quite friendly), and some very unwealthy and VERY bitchy people. i want to look glam, but without looking like i care what they think! i will also need to arrive from work, looking smug & successful, but laid back & care free about my high powered job (yeah, right).
Sat morning - still at the same venue, hotel breakfast, not looking like the dogs dinner, but casually relaxed after a night of prtying.

Sun maorning, completely different crowd, friendly, nice, hippy types. for an ordination in York Minster, bishops & the like there!

Any idead on a couple of cheap outfits to see me through? dh looks at me weird when i start to think about this.

[crunchie]

Planning is vital, I totally agree with you.

So lets start with the shoes :) I usually dress from the shoes up as they make a HUGE difference in the way you stand/walk. The Friday night you want your best kick-ass shoes. High high heels if you can wear them, totally fabulous and 'different' enough for people to notice the 'witty' shoes when the outsit can be simple IYKWIM.

Sat am, cord jeans if it is cold (or nice well fitting above all CLEAN jeans. Since it is nearly July knee length jeans shorts could work well. Lovely cotton cardi or QUALITY t-shirt (Look in Monsoon they have fab cardis with 3/4 length sleeves for £36 and great long jeans shrots too!) Shoes would be co-ordinating birkinstock styles provided nails are nice, if not lovely ballet pumps.

Sun am whatever you fancy, same jeans shorts and ratty t-shirts :)

Outfit for journey?? Can you change at work and leave your Friday daytime outfit at work until you pick it up on the Monday. then you cold wear well fitting tr suit with HEELS :)

[Bozza]

Jeans shorts and a ratty t-shirt to attend an ordination crucnchie?

I think I would go for a nice linen skirt for that personally.

[kickassangel]

yep, can cope with heels for fri night. i'm 5'8", size 18, so nothing too sparkly. i'm normally a black jeans, boots & t-shirt kind of person. what does one wear for a reception with the bishop?

[crunchie]

Oops, I read sunday morning..... I was going to say Pjs :)

[crunchie]

The same as Friday night, nice trs suit.

If you chang before the journey it will be fresh on for first impression Friday night, then changed. So should be OK for Sun am with different people.

[Bozza]

Yes just realised my suggestion of a linen skirt is not likely to travel well.

[MrsBadgerTheCelloPedaller]

I've done a few of this type of weekend...

Fri night - little dress (or v glam top with elegant eveningy trews)
Sat morning - nice shirt / chic tee / little cardi; well-fitting jeans/cords/khakis; possibly little jacket if you're that kind of girl.
Sun morning - as Sat morning with skirt instead of jeans and a small handbag.
I'd wear closed-toe wedges (\link{http://www.shoesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Shoesdirect_Dorset_40.html\thus} or similar) or ballet pumps for everything except the dinner as they go with both trousers and skirts, and would travel in the Saturday trousers (different top) and change before dinner.
Packing list therefore runs:

• Dress
  
• Heels
  
• Clean top for Sat
  
• Clean top for Sun
  
• Skirt
  
• Undies/spongebag/makeup
  

and you're done!

[kickassangel]

wow, mrs badger, i have visions of you living a very elegant & glamorous life.

what kind of dres suits size 18? haven't had one since i got married (14 years ago) i DO have a 'swishy' skirt from boden - my attempt to get something summery (just before it started raining)

[kickassangel]

hmm, been having a think. i have very few clothes not for work, but trying to use what i have i can manage
Fri arrive in work clothes (skirt/cropped trousers & fitted top), eve, high heels (silver & black), white cropped trousers & black floaty top, silver & black knitted silky scarf (or diamond necklace?)
sat, cropped jeans, blue vest top & matching cardi
sun, blue top & Boden skirt. Sat & sun with pump/mules.

to do this i'll have to buy - white trousers, jeans, pumps/mules. should be able to do that for less than £100? ( i have £70 on unspent birthday money)

does this sound OK? or shoud i have a dress for Fir night?

[MrsBadgerTheCelloPedaller]

plan sounds good - I only suggested a dress because I wear them quite a bit and they're small to pack. Boden swishy skirt sounds ideal for the ordination, and mules v good idea if toenails in good nick.
You should be able to 2x trous and shoes for £100 if you shop cannily (try Zara, M&S, Dorothy P etc etc), but I'll reserve judgement on the evening trousers - personally I don't wear cropped or white trousers as neither do anything for my leg length or figure, but am prepared to believe there are people out there that suit them!

NB I don't have a glamourous lifestyle (far from it!), but do have friends scattered v widely round the country and several years of no car, so have spent my fair share of weeekends packing one small bag for (eg) a work meeting, a ball, a casual Christmas party and dinner with the MIL...

[AtHomeMum]

I would advise you buy things you really like & will wear again - if you like what you are wearing you will appear more confident & relaxed.

I would not go for white trousers - difficult to get right.

I would spend my money on an outfit for the Friday night. Emphasise your best feature. Think dress or skirt is better for June - may be hot (can but dream).

Sat morning - depends on weather - boden skirt & nice top?

Sun - boden skirt sounds fine.

Have fun.

[kickassangel]

mrs badger, do you take your cello with you?

[kickassangel]

the best part of my body is my lower legs (particuylarly with some fake tan on) & feet, so cropped trousers or a skirt/dress is ok. has to hide the stomach though. i like 'baby doll' dresses, but they would need to be knee length. anyone know any?
i have acces to next, m&s, new look, monsoon, and catalgue shopping.

[cod]

lol@ dressing to imperss NICE peopel and bitchy ones too

[cod]

love the shorts idea

[cod]

what abotu fab taoliredy shorts for the saturday and a long line shirt/kaftan liekt he one igot in monsoon- int he window here atm - bluea nd greena dnw hite

[Moomin]

ooo yes have seen that tunic in monsoon. its lurvely. i see things like that and think 'oh how lovely for weekend city break on sunday morning walking in sunshine looking very chic' then i remember i don't have that sort of life.

am envious of a weekend that needs clothes-planning from start to finish

[kickassangel]

does anyone know how monsson sizes fit?i've seen soemthing on ebay i want, i'm a size 18 for next & boden, would monsoon fit? i'm also fairly busty, would that be a problem?

[cod]

i am busty and got a 12 as htat sylte was quite loose
but another i was a 14 but it was too lose over hips

[crunchie]

Monsoon sized come up big, so you would be fine with an 18 Ebay is perfect for evening/cocktail dresses, they sell for about £50, where new they are £150 (I am selling a size 16 dress and it is £42 already, and I was more like an 18 when I wore it!)

[kickassangel]

just got a debenhams dress for £10 on ebay. this is now the only dress i own and it's pink. do you think people will notice? NEVER owned any pink clothes before, and the last full length dress i has i got married in. don't know what's happened to me lately, i bought boden for the first time last month, suddenly i like monsoon ... think i'm turning into a girl!