Help needed please! What to wear and a crash course in table manners!

[Somethingtothinkabout]

Ok, I won a little internal award at work. It came with a £50 voucher and an invite to dinner at a restaurant down south with a few of the managers from different branches. I was a bit scared (total introvert) but it was kind of them to invite me.

So, I was thinking of wearing dressy high heeled ankle boots, waxed black skinny trousers, a dressy bluey turquoise top and a black shawly cardigan thing.

But I just googled the restaurant and apparently it's fine dining. HELP!

Does this mean I need to wear a black dress?! I've never been to a fine dining restaurant before! What do I do?

Any help much appreciated xx

What restaurant is it?

It's called Edmunds in Birmingham.

The invite says smart casual which is why I was thinking the skinny waxed black trousers, but now I'm in a flap

I was hoping it was London based!

Anyway, tbh, I think you're stressing for no reason at all. What you're planning to wear is fine. As for table manners, am sure yours excellent. If you're worried about cutlery, remember to work inwards, although the waiting staff will remove what you don't need anyway.

Just go and enjoy yourself and stop fretting!

You don't need to wear a black dress- or even a dress- but I would smarten up your outfit a bit.

Ankle boots are ok, but ditch the cardigan. Do you have a blazer-type jacket?

I prefer dresses, but that's my taste. Do you have any or are you not a dress-wearer?

Do you want to buy something new or wear something you have?

I think you need to watch Pretty Woman- that'll sort you.

Thank you
Sorry yes south was a bit misleading! It's very south to me haha.

I had thought about a blazer (my mum actually said the same thing about the cardigan Thether but I do have a dressy cream coat I was going to wear so didn't know I could fit the blazer under it, maybe I should just go with the blazer instead though?

I do sometimes wear dresses, but they would tend to be mid-thigh length tart and this dinner is with a lot of middle aged men so I chickened out of thinking about dresses/skirts.

These are the ankle boots:
Ankle boots

Would these be better?

other option

Thank you!

The ankle boots are the black ones btw.

The trousers???

Nice cigarette pants maybe??