What to wear out to a good restaurant (with no kids in tow)?

[smilesandsun]

Help needed here, haven't bought a new "going out" outfit in way too long. What should I get?? I'm always in black pants and a top, I need something with more style!

Would love some ideas, totally clueless here on where I should even start to look. Think I have lost my dressing confidence!!

A nice cocktail dress. Not sure what size you are but Oasis, Next etc all do nice inexpensive dresses.

A dress.
And heels.

What sort of figure do you have? what budget?

You need to make sure you don't overdo do it and look like you're off to a ball.

A day type dress with heels, make up, and hair done can look best. With fabukous shoes you couldn't wear in the day.

Maybe a tunic type dress? Look at Boden for a few ideas of the sort of thing.

I think wallis often fill this gap.

Sorry can't search for you and do links as can't work out how on new computer!

Why not have a personal shopper at somewhere like Debenhams or John Lewis.

They can have some great ideas and you just tell them your budget and what occasion and the jobs done!

Agree with Brideshead that, though you obviously want to wear something you feel good in, beware of overdoing it. Don't know where you live, but certainly in London restaurants understated style (eg tunic dress as suggested, or shift, with interesting jewellery) better than anything OTT/ blingy with very obviously 'done' hair, which tends to mark you out as a tourist. But there may well be different approaches in different parts of the country.

The last couple of times we have treated ourselves at nice reataurants I have been quite disapointed to find everyone very casually dressed - jeans and shirt for men andcasual trousers or crumpled summer dress for women. I like to take a bit of trouble and look as if I'm making an effort in a slightly more formal dress and heels. It seems the more wealthy people are the more grungey they want to look!

I disagree with the other posters, if you havent been out in a while a nice LBD and heels will feel great, especially as you say you are sick of black trousers and tops.

Why dress down to suit others or for fear you might look like a tourist! Frankly I dress down most of the time and want to dress up when I go somewhere special. I live in London, style is indeed more casual than elsewhere but when I go out it doesnt stop me wearing my Whistles dresses!

little black dress, mathcing shoes and bag.

We get meals out minus the kids and head into manchester ond even managed london a few weeks ago, imo you can never go wrong with a LBD. Timeless, pratical, smart and black always looks amazing.

Last time I went out to a good restaurant, everyone was pretty casual. I had had a mini-crisis just before leaving as I was sure I was underdressed (silk patterned blouse/linen trousers) and tbh there was a whole range of styles in the restaurant, and nobody gave a toss I don't think.
I probably wouldn't do jeans and a t-shirt myself, but trousers and a tunic top, yes; dress and heels yes; interesting blouse or something, etc.

thanks everyone. Yes there are always a lot of different levels of dressing everywhere these days. I just always seem to feel underdressed. Its not actually that I am, its more that I'm always in the same things. You know how it is when you don't go out very often, its easy to just pull out the same old things to wear. I'm in London and am fairly petite, but my issue is more about the styling!

Off to the shops I go I think....

Go for glam .

Always good to have a reason to go shopping - enjoy it, and the meal!