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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to wear this to a royal garden party?

86 replies

Cloglover · 09/02/2020 12:42

Hello! Just need a bit of sartorial advice.

I am not someone who dresses up, I work in a very informal place and live in jeans and comfy boots. I don't want to feel uncomfortable but I don't want to look out of place.

I feel I need to add, I'm not into the royal family, but I accepted the invite as I was just plain old curious.

I bought this dress the other day in a charity shop for a fiver and was wondering if it would be suitable to wear?

Would I need to wear tights?

Would wearing flat clarks style softbed sandles be a complete nono?

Aibu to wear this to a royal garden party?
OP posts:
Streamside · 09/02/2020 12:44

The dress is lovely, would wedges be an option as they'd be lovely with this dress.

Original poster
Cloglover · 09/02/2020 12:44

Just to add - the dress is a lovely material, lined. It's originally made by Oasis.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cloglover · 09/02/2020 12:45

@Streamside oh yes! Wedges. I didn't think of that. I live in boots or birkenstocks normally!

OP posts:
silverperiwinkle · 09/02/2020 12:45

Tights yes, I agree wedges or a small kitten heel for shoes

poppy2021 · 09/02/2020 12:47

I'm sure you'll get a list of dos and donts but I think you have to wear flesh coloured tights

iVampire · 09/02/2020 12:47

The dress is fine

Most people wear hats/fascinators but you don’t have to.

Comfy shoes are a must, and flats/wedges are best

Think about what sort of jacket/cardie/wrap you’d wear with it if it’s nippy, plus get a bag with a strap (so your hands are free for cake)

LaurieMarlow · 09/02/2020 12:49

I'm sure you'll get a list of dos and donts but I think you have to wear flesh coloured tights

I don’t think they can give this degree of specificity to guests.

Gorgeous dress OP. I love it. I would wear dressy shoes with it though. Kitten heels are a good shout.

Rinoachicken · 09/02/2020 12:53

I’d go for wedges - if it’s a garden party and therefor likely to be on grass I wouldn’t a slim heel to sink in the grass and make me feel like I would fall over any second!

Katinski · 09/02/2020 12:56

Royal garden party? I've been to a couple, so low heels - and a hat!

MrsSchadenfreude · 09/02/2020 12:57

Wear wedges or flat shoes. If there has been a bit of rain, the garden gets quite boggy and you don’t want to sink into it! The dress would be perfect, I think. Wear a hat or fascinator if you want to, but if you’re not comfortable, don’t. There will be around 10,000 people there and the royals are not going to comment if you’re not wearing a hat!

Melawati · 09/02/2020 12:58

Definitely wedges or flats. There’s loads of standing around and mainly on grass, so heels are a pain. I wore a dress from TK Max - didn’t feel at all out of place. I did wear tights because of the dress shoe combo, and it wasn’t the warmest day but pretty sure they weren’t flesh coloured (or compulsory). Have a great time! I’m no royalist either but I enjoyed the experience.

Miggymoggymugwumps · 09/02/2020 13:00

It's absolutely fine! I went to a garden party at Buckingham Palace two years ago and spent ages (and money) finding something suitable but I really shouldn't have worried as there were lots of guests in far more casual stuff than me. For what it's worth although I was pleased to have the opportunity I came away a bit disappointed....the hype of it all outweighs the actual event!!!

ForalltheSaints · 09/02/2020 13:04

Yes suitable (mum and dad went to one many years ago). I like you having bought something from a charity shop so not contributing to fast fashion or single use of clothes.

Have a lovely day at the Palace. A walk through St James's Park if it is sunny/dry beforehand or afterwards is lovely too.

penguin246 · 09/02/2020 13:08

The dress is fine! I wore Dune block heels and they were okay but I had worn them im before. Lots of people wear fascinators.

You sound like me re shoes - Debenhams do comfy wedges.

The afternoon tea is nice! You are not supposed to take photos but we snuck a few. Have a walk round the gardens too, there's a lake, gazebo. Enjoy xx

TheWordmeister · 09/02/2020 13:10

Why on earth would you wear tights with a summer dress? I have (reluctantly) been to 2 and there were lots of bare legs, including my own. They do not issue with an instruction to wear tights - that would be ludicrous.

The older people there tended to be a bit overdressed with hats etc..but the attire was on the whole, pretty casual.

Nanny0gg · 09/02/2020 13:10

Dress is perfect.

Shoes need to be comfy as there isn't much seating. Stilettos are a no-no because of grass.

Fascinator or fancy headband would be nice.

Hope there's their rose battenburg. It's to die for.

Berrymuch · 09/02/2020 13:10

Try and avoid anything with a thin heel as you will continuously sink into the grass, there's quite a lot of standing up (there weren't that many chairs) so something comfy. The dress looks lovely, the invite usually specifies but I would wear a hat or fascinator, I bought a small one on a hairband and I loved wearing it Grin. Have an amazing time!

ticking · 09/02/2020 13:15

Shoes with a wide heal

You will need a hat, and maybe an umbrella just in case - it is outside!

I'd go red hat/bag/shoes....

ticking · 09/02/2020 13:16

and yes to tights....

Emmelina · 09/02/2020 13:19

The dress is gorgeous. I’d probably go for something with a good surface area on the heel so you don’t go down into the grass. It ruined my beautiful satin-covered heels at my sister’s wedding :( maybe a wedge, or a chunky heel.
Nobody will be looking at your legs I wouldn’t have thought, but I’m self conscious about mine so would wear nude tights just to give a polished look.
Enjoy!

Wingedharpy · 09/02/2020 13:20

Another former attendee here.
I agree with PP - comfy, non-sinking shoes a MUST.
I wore smart trousers, a smart jacket and.......CROCS!!!! - oh, yes I did.
The stiletto brigade that I went with, and who gave me a few sideways looks when we met up, were enviously eyeing up my newly polished footwear 2 hours later as their insteps were screaming in agony from trying to stand on tiptoes to stop their heels sinking into the grass.😁
Agree with @Miggymoggymugwumps, the actual event is a bit boring.
Lots of hanging around.
Not a street entertainer in sight!😊
The Queen can also make a sliced loaf go a long way and the cakes, though delicious, are roughly the size of a postage stamp.
It's an experience though, do enjoy it.👍

mantarays · 09/02/2020 13:35

The dress is very pretty. I would wear hair up rather than a hat because I think I look silly in hats, but it would suit a pretty hat and low heel court shoes. I think it’s nice that people want to get dressed up for events like this.

MatildaTheCat · 09/02/2020 13:40

It might be chilly so consider a jacket or smart cardigan for added warmth.

TheWordmeister · 09/02/2020 13:42

You will need a hat

You really won't.

IckyIsAFuckingStupidWord · 09/02/2020 13:46

That’s the sort of dress I could imagine the DoC wearing so it’s a yes for me 👍🏻

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