Help! I'm a real novice - smart casual dress, what tights etc?

[GoodnessIsThatTheTime]

Hello!

I'm going to something potentially work related (ooh job!) that requires me to be "smart casual". It's definitely not suits/shift dresses but given I'm v.overweight and have lived in jeans since children I need some help.

I have bought this dress, it fits and looks good given my large size -
www.marksandspencer.com/Collection-Multi-Poppy-Print-StayNEW/dp/B003T9CGD8?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_9&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-9&qid=1389136258&pf_rd_r=05K7RZJGVZQ5W3XYBQM4&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3

I am looking for a blue navy cardi and was thinking about trying this tomorrow - uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.6/4331356151

Would that work? I tried one in next but it was baggy with pockets and not sure if that took it too casual. Couldn't find anything long line in Navy in M and S

When I was in the changing room I had knee length dark brown boots on and brown thick tights and it looked ok. However the boots are ancient so I'd have to replace (tomorrow) and have thick legs so might not happen. And not sure if its appropiate look?

Do I have other options? What on earth goes with Navy?

DO I wear thick black tights and little black shoes (can you wear black with navy?) Or brown tights and those little brown shoe/boot things that look like an extension of tights? Or is that too casual>

Help!!!

Oopps links - try again.

I have bought this dress, it fits and looks good given my large size -
www.marksandspencer.com/Collection-Multi-Poppy-Print-StayNEW/dp/B003T9CGD8?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_9&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-9&qid=1389136258&pf_rd_r=05K7RZJGVZQ5W3XYBQM4&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3

I am looking for a blue navy cardi and was thinking about trying this tomorrow - uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.6/4331356151

Does it have to be longline? With a dress like that which makes the most of a curvy shape I would go for a small fitted cardigan, something like this or this?

You could also look for a red cardy to pick up the red in the dress but I think navy would be sleeker.

Any of the boot/shoe/tights combinations sound absolutely fine to me, I think shoe boots are considered perfectly smart for work unless you work in an investment bank or something. I would go for black tights/boots rather than brown I think with that dress.

Altho if you think the brown looked good, trust your instincts, I might be seeing the colours differently on screen to how they are IRL.

Thank-you MadBusLady,

I'm quite "ample" around the middle and the nice M and S lady suggested the longer cardi they had which looked good (but was odd colours). I'm still quite insecure out of my faithful jeans/jumper combo! I'll try it tomorrow. She also suggested red (instead of Navy)but that's a bit scary...

It's not at all investment bank! V low key networking thing where I might meet potential employers. All public/voluntary sector.

Black would be great if that's ok with Navy. I can find black! I just happened to be wearing brown knee high boots as that was what I had on and I'm rather limited in the non-jeans/trainers department.

I tried it on before I saw the pic on the website - so looks quite different to how I had imagined it (I'd recently been in fat face/white stuff, so was thinking more along those lines although haven't yet shopped there, just like the look). I certainly can't do thin tights.

I was wondering about something like this (or in black if that's better - I'd do brown tights/brown shoes or black tights/black shoes wouldn't I? I can't really do Navy really I don't think)

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20351642 and brown tights. Or this -

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20355408 or

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20341832

Or can you wear low court shoes with thick tights?

Much much appreciated! I used to be so confident with clothes in the pre-child era, many many moons and many dress sizes ago!

Oooh I really like these. Could I wear these with thick tights and the dress?

Presumably I'd need a black bag too for my bits? (Need to take an A4 folder)

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20346713

I'm off into town in a bit - here we go...

First brown boots I think are a bit on the casual, jeans-only side (when you said shoe boots I was picturing things more like this.)

The two knee high pairs are great and I think you'd get a lot of wear out of them (I have my eye on the Mojito ones myself).

But yy to opaque tights with the black brogues, they are great! That with the dress makes for a much funkier outfit whereas the Mojito boots would be more classic.

Generally I think the default is opaques now unless you are doing thin denier tights with a very traditional evening look or something.

On the black bags, what do have at the moment? I tend to have a small handbag and cart A4 stuff around in a non-matching tote, I think that's fine as long as it doesn't say "Sainsbury Frozen" on the side

I love the Pepperberry cardigans by the way. long line ones can look a bit frumy imo.

oh bags - try TK Maxx they have Osprey etc in there for bargain prices. so you could get a nice black tote.

also Zara sale good for bags I got a great black suede tote with chain and blue strap/handle last year in January sales there.

Thank you.

I've got the dress on, black opaques that mysteriously seem to fit and going into town on a hunt.

Yes those shoe boots were what I originally meant but got a bit side tracked when googling! Thank you for keeping me on track.

Will hunt for black brogues or shoe boots, a bag and a cardi. Slightly limited by available shops.

Thank you all so much for the help and it's given me ideas for the future non jean wearing days. ..

TK Maxx do online too.

I now have Black plain brogues (there were shiny ones too but I thought I could wear plain with more things) and a Black a4 sized leather bag reduced in Clarks.

lusted after the knee high Brown boots but they will have to wait until I've lost weight.

I now have a non Jean out fit (possibly slightly frumpy but at least it fits, matches etc isn't obviously wrong. Can work on style after I start earning!)

Thank you all so much.

Sounds good! Good luck at the networky thingy