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What do I wear if the men are in suits - formal evening meal - Help!...advice please

11 replies

wrigglytummy · 04/08/2011 22:41

Please help me with some advice. I am attending a work evening meal function and the dress code is suits, or alternative for ladies. I do not know any other girls going (there are only 3 of us).
What on earth should I wear. I have a suit, but it seems restrictive, formal & frumpy for an evening meal (sitting down). I do not wear smart clothes to work - I wear a uniform, so I am panicking a bit.
I thought of a shift dress, but what would I with it - a jacket?
I am a 10-12 (12 on top after 2 children!), reasonable shape, decent legs (but do not want anything too short!), and would need some decent shoes too as I mainly have boots & trainers!
I have 3 weeks.....please help me out!

OP posts:
tethersend · 04/08/2011 22:50

What's your budget?

If you want to wear something suitish, how about a dress like this?

TBH, if there's only 3 of you, you can probably get away with anything...

tethersend · 04/08/2011 22:51

...within reason Wink

HellonHeels · 04/08/2011 22:55

If dress code is 'lounge suit' for men, usually means 'cocktail frock' for women ie a nice dress but not a ball gown.

If it were me I'd go for a Coast or Phase Eight kinda dress with heels and a clutch bag. What's your budget?

wrigglytummy · 04/08/2011 22:56

Thank you, that looks slightly scarily smart - but lovely, I really want to get dress and shoes for £150 if at all possible....but I am not very good at this smart dressing thing!
I guess I could get away with quite alot - I don't mind a bit of risk, but I am not terribly brave!

OP posts:
wrigglytummy · 04/08/2011 23:03

Hellon, it is more work suit than lounge suit I think - reasonably formal, no bingo wings hanging out - but smart & sexy (if I can pull it off) would be great!

OP posts:
HellonHeels · 04/08/2011 23:10

Annoyingly this one is out of stock but might give you an idea of where I was heading:

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/All-Sale/Janice-Jersey-Dress/200994351

I love that Ted Baker one but as I'm currently overheating it looks too hot!

tethersend · 04/08/2011 23:16

How about a Vivienne Westwood dress with some metallic heels?

HellonHeels · 04/08/2011 23:18

or this one:

www.johnlewis.com/211555/Product.aspx

HellonHeels · 04/08/2011 23:21

Mmm like the Westwood!

bestmate · 05/08/2011 06:53

Ooh that Westwood dress is yummy.

wrigglytummy · 05/08/2011 10:38

Mmmm, like the Westwood dress, the JL one looks good but my work computer cannot fully access the site and I cannot see what sizes are available - i will look again tonight.
I'm getting my head around the idea of a dress and starting to enjoy it!
Thank you

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