Style my grey dress so I don't disappear!

[SunnyL]

I've been invited to a posh army do for the Queen's birthday. Its a day function and we've been told dresses need to be below the knee and that hats are welcome.

As I am super poor I've made myself a dress from this pattern http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8685-products-13209.php?page_id=857

I've done it in soft grey which is lovely except I'm Scottish of the peely wally white persuasion so I'm a little worried that if I stand against a white wall they might lose me.

So I was thinking of brightening it up with accessories. So would a clutch bag and thin belt be an idea. Ive seen some coral coloured ones. What colours woud work? I make a lot of my clothes so I'm not great at knowing where to shop.

Crud that link didn't work. Pattern here I hope
voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8685-products-13209.php?page_id=857

Beautiful dress, what about either coral or magenta for bag and shoes and even a pashmina or similar?

What a great skill to have sunny. It is a lovely dress. I think grey is so neutral that you could choose any colour to go with. My first colour impulse was to say bright orange of which there is plenty in the shops. Coral is softer and would work. I really think you have the choice of any colour with grey.

Yellow, red and cobalt blue would all be nice too. Think I'd go with coral or orange though. Lovely dress by the way. id love to be able to sew.

Purple can go well with grey, as can emerald.
Lovely dress, hope you enjoy the day!

beautiful dress! good choice using grey, loads of bright or pastel or metallic colours will go with it. have a lovely day.

Shocking pink - take a look at Next directory or chartreuse like this

No belt, just a clutch and shoes IMO. You're very clever to have made such a lovely dress

Excellent so dress choice is a winner.

TSS I love that clutch! That colour is just POW! I've tried so hard to rein in my normal need for mad colours by making a grey dress and now all I want are some mad accessories .

I do have a wedding to go to in May. I've made a 1940s style dress with big puffy skirt for that in a white with peakcock blue pattern fabric. I'm thinking if I went coral or yellow I could use them for that as well?

Would I be totally mad to think of adding a pill box hat to the outfit? I've found a few tutorials that don't look that hard. But is it a bit too try hard? Kate Middleton looked lovely in hers in NZ but then she could wear a bin bag

m.instructables.com/id/Pillbox-Hat/

Gorgeous dress. Any bright that you like would work beautifully for bag and shoes, and I'd do a statement necklace too.

Mary Berry used 'peely wally' last night on her programme - haven't heard it for years!

I think a pill box would look great with that dress clean, neat and stylish

sunny you have inspired me and I've just bought a pattern to make some simple cotton frocks.

Love the dress pattern. Not made anything for myself in years and years. Am almost inspired to have a go again especially as, being tall, finding fitted dresses is a real challenge.

P.S. I love grey too and all of the suggestions for bright accessories sound great. I would go with whichever colour you can find in the right styles/sizes for you.

Welcome to the dark side Whitecat. You will never again be able to walk through a shop without feeling up tops and dresses like a dirty old man. You'll become a miser and refuse to pay £40 for a piece os viscose .

Ok call me mad but I'm struggling to find a clutch in just the right style I like but I habe found a few tutorials on how to make one - apparently it should only take an hour. I'm thinking coral pink and I've got some leftover fabric that I could use.

What would a statement necklace look like? Would I have to go gold? I'm pale blonde and normally avoid gold as it cam sometimes look brassy.

What a beautiful dress and how clever you are.

I second a really beautiful purple think looks stunning with grey. Maybe a little deep purple eyeliner too, maybe as an accent under the eye.

What colour eyes do you have?

I think silver would be fine with grey and coral, better than gold if anything.

ooh purple eyeliner? I'll need to be convinced. Last time I did that I was 13 and had free reign with the Avon catalogue .

I've got blue eyes if it helps.

Am very jealous that you are able to make a dress, what a great skill to have. I think pretty much any colour will go with grey, what's your best colours?

Think I'm a winter, dark hair pale skin, jewel colours suit me.

I have to admit I have no idea what my colours are. I keep seeing those threads on here but have skirted round them for lack of confidence I know what they are talking about.

So my colours would need to match a peely wally white lady with pale blonde hair and ruddy cheeks. My I sound attractive

Go you, making a dress! I am jealous.

If you tend towards rosy cheeks, you might want to steer away from shocking pink or red accessories, but coral, purple, green, yellow as suggested by the other posters should be fine.

The dress pattern looks lovely, by the way.

Finance that makes so much sense thanks.

Now a bit worried about my red coat, red cardigan, red dress, red shoes etc in my wardrobe. I alwaus thought red suited me with my blonde hair. Ah well too poor to change it now