Find me a garden party outfit, please!

[Blu]

I have to preside over a fundraising garden party in the first week of september - a work-related do.

Don't want to spend too much, don't do flora outfits, like straight lines, classic looks, taste (if I could afford it) would be Nicole Farhi, Jasper Conran, Paul Smith, like 50's retro, sludgy colours and navy, black, tan, olive, pale blue, duck egg blue...not too formal and smart, and things that are very 'girly' don't suit me. Not pink. No yellow.

Can it be done? At this stage in the shopping year?

What do you mean, preside? Cor. How very Queenly.

Wrap dress? You'd look good in a wrap dress, what with being tall and gorgeous.

WEll, I mean I'm not the host, but i do have to make a speech.

A wrap dress sounds good...

You need Aloha if it's a wrap dress, she'll snap you one up at Primark.

Might be well off the mark but retro and wrap dress made me think of this , top right.

M & S had some lovely black wrap dresses in the sale; I'm wearing mine now! £12 and really flattering.

Great ideas - a wrap dress would work well if it isn't boiling and summery, wouldn't it.
Thank you.

Boden has some wrap dresses in vaguely retro-ey patterns I notice (I say this on remote offchance you haven't already seen these!)

oooooh - I have to ask - does anyone have the phone number for Boden?

probably better to order online..