Dress for family do - garden party-ish

[mrsmayitstimetogo]

We've got a big family do coming up - 100+ people, 70s and 80s, all 'smart'. I'm not smart, at all.
My kids (youngest is 4) will be the only ones there, so whatever I wear needs to be able to withstand them, and bubble mixture.
I need An Outfit - shoes as well as dress/whatever. What would you go for?
I'm 5.9, about 10 stone, small boobs, a bit squashy all over, but still relatively slim (10/12).
I'd really like some shoes that I can enjoy myself in, which as far as I can see is totally impossible - I'm 41/42, but with super-narrow heels (so most things just fall straight off).
Budget really depends on how nice it is, and how much use I'll get out of it.
Ideas??

[NapQueen]

Have a look at Lindy Bop - perfect tea dresses and that sort for not a lot of money at all.

[NapQueen]

id go for this one

Looks formal and dressy but a really fun print.

[mrsmayitstimetogo]

Oh they're fun! though I think most of them are for much bustier women than me.
If that sort of shape, what sort of shoes?

Anyone else have any ideas?? I'm totally uninspired...

[whitesklyer]

Budget?? I'd lean towards LK Bennet, like you am squashy all over and bereft of boob her dresses suit my shape (not too thin of waist - a good solid 12) they are pricy, even on sale. But they last forever so investment piece?

[thenightsky]

I'm not sure Lindy Bop is 70s or 80s.

That's a strange mix of two very different decades.

[Ohyesiam]

I went to a wedding recently and several women had jump suit type things on, either with heels or flats. You sound slim enough to go for that, and very child care friendly.

[HappyHoppy]

I needed similarly dressy but practical shoes for a wedding and got these M&S raddled sandals - the block heel meant I could chase my toddler around the church yard with relative ease! BTW, I wore with a jumpsuit, which I loved!

[HappyHoppy]

www.marksandspencer.com/suede-angular-heel-tassel-sandals/p/p60093543?image=SD_01_T02_4416A_F9_X_EC_90&color=FLAME&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect

[HappyHoppy]

Grrr! *tassled!

[traviata]

I assumed OP meant the other guests would be in their 70s and 80s - hence no other children.

[annandale]

Hmm - ted baker jumpsuit - too floral?

[mrsmayitstimetogo]

Yes! By 70s and 80s I meant 70 YEAR OLDS and 80 YEAR OLDS! Not people from the 70s and 80s!!!

Will look at LK Bennett.
Those Marks shoes look great - can't wear Marks though as they're made for wider feet than mine...

Ted Baker: is nice, but just too much of a Thing, if you see what I mean? I'm one for blending into the background, and I'm not sure I could do that in that!

[whitesklyer]

LK Bennett sandals/ wedges not sure what they are called ??? like these, bought them a few weeks ago in the outlet. v comfy and can be worn with jumpsuits and dresses. My sis said they were very "Middleton"

[Judydreamsofhorses]

www.asos.com/warehouse/warehouse-dandy-print-mono-jumpsuit/prd/7514076?iid=7514076&clr=Black&SearchQuery=warehouse%20jumpsuit&pgesize=25&pge=0&totalstyles=25&gridsize=3&gridrow=5&gridcolumn=3

I was eyeing this earlier - would something like that work?

[Judydreamsofhorses]

www.oasis-stores.com/gb/clothing/jumpsuits-playsuits/crop-wide-leg-jumpsuit/062527.html?dwvar_062527_color=01&position=13&cgid=jumpsuits-and-playsuits#page=2&start=13&categoryID=jumpsuits-and-playsuits

I like this too.

[Desperad0]

I would go for a jumpsuit, with a pattern but not too garesh- looks smart, disguises handprints and fine for running round & joining in games with the kids

[OlennasWimple]

If you have tricky feet, I would start with the shoes and then find an outfit to go with. There are lots of lovely shoes and dresses around, I'm sure you will find something easily when you have narrowed down what you are looking for

Wedges are probably your best bet, though there are lots of sandals with chunky heels around. Where do you normally buy shoes? (I am wide of hoof, so have no idea about slim feet!)

[mrsmayitstimetogo]

olennas, well, the smart shoes I have are from Hobbs (all 3 pairs of them) but I can't actually walk in them and by the end of an evening my feet are agonising. Buying shoes, any kind of shoes, is hell. A friend who loves shoes took me shopping, and even she was depressed by the end of an afternoon when we'd been into 12 shops and not one thing fitted.
Jumpsuits do look to be the answer, but I'm struggling to find something that doesn't look like pyjamas, and won't just gape horribly at the front.
Oh, I don't enjoy shopping!

[OlennasWimple]

Would something like this work? I think the straps mean that they would stay on you, and the heel is broad enough not to get stuck in the grass. Plus you can wear a dress, or a jumpsuit, and get lots of use out of them in the future

[OlennasWimple]

Or would sandals be dressy enough?

[RTKangaMummy]

Can you post photos of your favourite shoes from your cupboard, that are most comfy

Also, photos of your favourite outfit that you spend most of time in

Then it may show the shape and style of clothes that suit you

[mrsmayitstimetogo]

I'm not at home...
I've always treated clothes as things that you just put on because you need to keep warm/covered, and this attitude has become more problematic over the years - it's not serving me very well right now. In the winter I wear jeans, long sleeved t shirts and jumpers, with my one pair of winter shoes (shiny trainers, which I don't much like).
Summer, saltwater sandals (which aren't brilliant for my feet, but are bearable) with shorts or 3/4 trousers or linen skirts.
I don't at the moment own any comfy shoes. At all.
I do need to find a way out of this rabbit hole, as it's starting to make me unhappy.
Ted&Muffy - never heard of them before, but they look amazing! Oh, if their narrow shoes fit me, that would be such a revelation. I keep wondering if I should get one of the super-eco shops to measure my feet properly and make a last to fit, but it's just so expensive, and the shoes they make are so hobbit-like (I have hobbit tendencies, which I don't really want to encourage).

[raspberrycordial]

This is a lovely dress, I know you said you were unsure about ted baker but I don't think this screams 'ted'

[Tanaqui]

Boden have a lovely looking jumpsuit that isn't wrap style so wouldn't gape- link hopefully here:
m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/occasion-dresses/wm477-pnt/womens-navy-fresco-floral-amanda-jumpsuit?cm_mmc=PLA--Google--Women-_-WM477&istCompanyId=a40e1fa1-0635-4a1b-8d9a-2caa763eeee2&istItemId=xpmxmaxpar&istBid=wzwt&gclid=CMXMz9mMutQCFQMW0wodbwsLNA
Plus some others, 30% off at the mement.

[Tanaqui]

It comes in plain navy as well as the floral, but I think then floral is more summer partyish.