Help! What to wear to a school reunion?

[frAKKINPannikin]

We're going to DP's school reunion (international school in Holland) next weekend. It's Saturday afternoon for around 4/5 hours and is full of people he hasn't seen for nearly 10 years.

He says he'll wear smart jeans, a shirt and a light cotton v-neck jersey thing if it's cold...

I have no idea what to wear that's on the same 'dressiness' level. Would wear my nice linen trousers but they won't travel and crease if you look at them the wrong.

Need to pack light and we'll be going out to a piano bar in the evening (for which he'll swap the jersey for a jacket). His ex is going to be there and I want to look fantastic but not like I'm trying too hard IYSWIM.

I'm 23, fairly tall, size 10/12, largeish boobs, slim-hipped, lightly tanned, blonde with blue eyes. Normally wear jeans, have various shirts but worry that it'll be a bit matchy-matchy then, own a couple of summer dresses but nothing that makes me thing 'wow', could go shopping if necessary this week!

Help me help me help me.

[FlorenceAndtheWashingMachine]

I would suggest jeans with a really gorgeous top.

You sound like you have a fab figure so show it off but in a subtle way. I love silk and always feel really good when I am wearing it, so how about this?:

Monsoon cami

That will pack really light and you could buy a gorgeous stole to cover your arms just in case it gets nippy.

[Jewelsandgems]

I personally would go for a dress, an understated definatley short dress, worn with a boyfriend tuxedo jacket (sleeves rolled up of course)

[frAKKINPannikin]

Oooh that cami is beautiful! I love the colour and silk is fabulous to wear. I want it whether I end up wearing it or not this weekend.

Jewelsandgems I like your thinking but do I then run the risk of looking like a floozy? She is apparently v. clever and the intellectual type (and not completely unfortunate looking). I'm not completely thick but I am blonde and people tend to prejudge More fool them later on...

[FlorenceAndtheWashingMachine]

FrakkinPannikin, glad you like it!

[Jewelsandgems]

Well frakkin when I say short dress, I do not mean 'boobs-out' short dress - more demure and definately not cheap, or floozyish looking.

I am a blonde, and this look works well as long as you have a good golden tan (fake ot otherwise) and everything else is kept very cool and understated. It is a little bit kate moss, but you are young enough to make it work.

It's just if it was me, I would go for a dress regardless. Because there's nothing better than turning up in a fabulous little dress to see all other women in boring old jeans and knowing they are all at you, with your DP/DH being and [proud emoticon]

[Jewelsandgems]

This is something that would look great with tux jacket, and a long thin gold necklace, or even long pearls.
www.warehouse.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion/Dresses/lace-shift-dress/12453

[Jewelsandgems]

right I am going to shut up now and not harp on anymore about dresses and tux jackets. I obviously love this look, but totally understand if it's not your thing

[HeliumBee]

Well you sound gorgeous - so I would choose something that was quite fitted - like the sound of that Cami thing - would also show off a nice tan - (what will the weather be like though?!?!)
I wouldnt wear it with jeans - but would get some nice trousers - or even a skirt.

[KristinaM]

if i was 23 and had your figure i would NOT be wearing boring old jeans

i like jewels and gems idea, although not that particular dress, sorry

zara have lovely dresses and jackets in at the moment. you need to watch with the neckline of the dress though, as some of them are not cut for large norks

[frAKKINPannikin]

Zara might be a plan. Demure I can live with!

I may be going dress shopping on Thursay then

Weather is an ishoo. It might be nice, it might be chilly, it may rain (please no please no because then my hair will hate me), it may be warm but overcast....unfortunately I can't pack outfits to cover every eventuality. And I have to economise on cosmetics too

[naomi83]

I would go for an every weather dress like this with a white cardie over in the day if it's cold and a silver shrug in the evening. I would wear it with silver gladiator sandals if it's warm, and black pumps if it's not.

[Jewelsandgems]

Sorry Naomi but I think that dress is very mature for a 23 year old. Infact I consider it too mature for me, and I am 31

[frAKKINPannikin]

Right my lovelies...

I went shopping today and got 3 dresses (and a skirt and a pair of shorts!). Which one do I wear to which bit and how do I accessorise? Have decided I shall change for the evening rather than trying to do day-to-night and failing at both.

Dress 1: Zara. Khaki colour, squarish neck, capped sleeves, knee length, linen mix, interesting detailing on waste (kind of a lace up corset style belt but not).

Dress 2: Matthew Williamson at Hennes. Wrap dress, again knee length, blue/green colour with peacock pattern.

Dress 3: Hennes. Little black dress, fairly structured, square neckline, wide waistbad, interesting material folding on the front to give pockety type thing.

is appalling at describing clothes

I hope someone knows what I'm talking about. I tried to find them on the net and link but both websites were fairly unhelpful!

[frAKKINPannikin]

dress 2

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

Dress 2 from the description, it sounds just right, any chance of photos?

The other 2 sound a little too structured or "officey".

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

Yes, definitely!

[Jewelsandgems]

You see, I would say NOT dress 2, and that dress 3 sounds like my favourite.

[frAKKINPannikin]

Well you two are no help then!

Accessorise for either and I'll work out which one sounds more 'me'.

[Jewelsandgems]

ok, wrap dress already has lots going on, so plain gold thin long pendant necklace, and cuff. (did not find anything plain enough, but the french connection linked below may look ok)

for black dresses I am loving gold right now. You can either go for gold earrings (big) like this style or long pearls this or gold pendant here like lots of thin long necklaces all worn at same time like this And cocktail ring.

Basically, the black dress allows you go to town, the patterened dress needs something very low key.

[frAKKINPannikin]

I am v. scared of big jewellery and don't actually own any...

Rings are a no-no except for my BIG SHINY SPARKLY ENGAGEMENT RING which I shall be gratuitously displaying allll evening. I don't want anything detracting from that

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

Oh, you see, I was thinking of silver with dress 2.

I saw some lovely silver sandals in LK Bennett, but it could have been K. Millen

[Jewelsandgems]

Well this is smaller and nice...
www.oasis-stores.com/fcp/product/Oasis/Jewellery/Beaten-metal-multi-drop-neckla/7300101681

nice with black.

You see my version of 'wow' includes fashionable items. Sorry I cannot help it!

[frAKKINPannikin]

Oh I have silver heels!

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

It has to be 2 then!

[Jewelsandgems]

2! 2!

Oh ok then. Well anyway, I am sure you will look lovely, and have a great time