Need an outfit for a VERY smart September wedding

[OvertiredandConfused]

Very excited to have been invited to a wedding in September. Long-standing friends have finally decided to get married and they're doing it in style. DH will be in morning dress and I need a new outfit! I want to do the works - dress, jacket, shoes, hat and bag. I do have a couple of hats and a rather lovely clutch that I might be able to use, but only if they actually match - don't want to plan my outfit around them.

I'm size 12-14 and 5'10". Tummy is my worst bit so not too clingy and I don't like anything much above the knee either.

So, oh wise ones, what do you recommend?

I'd go to John Lewis for a consultation with a stylist.

I have found phase eight great for completely coordinated outfits. If I go elsewhere I find I never find shoes to match or the right jacket etc. I am similar height too and they fit really well.

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0114-5593-3554S00&productvarid=0114-5593-3554S00-RUBY-12&refpage=promotions/sale-highlights

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0114-4060-3554S00&productvarid=0114-4060-3554S00-RUBY-18

As far as hats go, do you have a good hat hire near you? I always hire hats for Royal Ascot as you can get a far better hat than you could afford to buy and any decent hat hire firm will ask you to bring your outfit along so they can match the hat.

What's your budget. I like this.

abbie-the op is a size 12

this looks like spam to me!

Yy, need to know budget.

That's the worse spam ever. Those dresses are about as flattering as a boiler suit.

I recommend the wearing of gloves to a wedding

They always make your outfit look vair posh . And they are not expensive

Last wedding I wore a completely plain dress with big hat , fur stole and gloves to match . I've been able to wear the dress again as it's not weddingy . Gloves were v cheap from ebay . Hat can be hired but I got mine cheaply in the sales .

You may not be able to carry this off if you are very young or very small. I am neither

The rule about gloves is - the shorter the sleeve, the longer the gloves

I've just been googling the royal wedding guests (I don't get invited to posh weddings very often hence the research ) and I would summarise the dress code for women thus:

• dress
• with sleeves
• knee length
• court shoes, mostly nude coloured
• coordinating knee length coat
• hat or fascinator

Do you happen to live anywhere near Boundary Mill? That is wedding outfit central at quite discounted prices. They have hats too.

I agree on dress and coat combo. Key is that dress must be lovely alone as the coat will come off indoors. I'd keep the clothes neutral and the hat outstanding, and I'd recommend v fine tights and closed toe shoes.

Google Pippa Middleton wedding style -bridesmaid and you'll find lots of hits and misses. Good luck!

I meant minus bridesmaid as in google search (- ) or you'll just get her derrière ....

Not sure on budget - probably about £200 but that may need to include some accessories.... And I may go higher if I can reuse!

babybarrister I'm 44 and would probably be assumed to be around 40. Prefer navy to black, cream to white, never pink and am not adverse to bright colours - orange, green, bright blue. Love red! Style is more classic than high fashion, but I do like to add a few quirky bits when I can.

Good rules whereisshe. Can't decide about the coat bit - partly due to weather and partly doubting I'd use it again. And I do like the Paul Smith but not sure on black.

Plummyjam nowhere near Boundary Mills sadly.

GymboyWalton that's gorgeous - and out of stock

Look for a designer called "Kate Cooper", her outfits are sold through many bridal shops/boutiques. I've got a couple of her dresses and they're gorgeous!

This gives you an idea of her stuff.

Baby -you have excellent taste in dresses. I wish I had an excuse to but the anglomania one

Although you have a liberal interpretation of the terms " £200 per outfit " and " not pink "

I'm size 12-14 and 5'10".

You may think your 'worst bit is your tummy' but, unless you have skeletal limbs and a medical reason for a large tummy, you're perfectly proportioned! Review your self-image, please; it will help you choose outfits.

I agree on dress/coat combo for posh wedding, and also the gloves trick. Much depends, though, on whether it's "old money" posh (traditional values) or sleb posh (expanses of tanned thigh.) One golden rule: NO artificial materials. Also, no visibly machine-stitched hems - though you could always buy a slightly too long item and turn the hem over by hand. Don't wear mass-produced statement jewellery. If you're a veggie who won't wear leather or silk, carry a cotton canvas bag and wear fabric shoes. Do wear a bright colour. Have fun :)

This isn't bright, but it looks like a failsafe and very easy to accessorise. You could wear it with a little cotton cardi or a shawl/pashmina/shrug.

I like this blue Moschino dress (hem stitching doesn't count, as it's decorative) though poplin creases like a bastard.

Orange silk, too dressy?

Lemon shirtwaister Could look cheap in RL? Looks fab in picture!

Last post - just pinched this from someone else's thread. It's only £30 so you could splash out on your jacket.

Wrong link, sorry www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Smart-Day-Dresses/WH630-ORA/Womens-Orange-Tapestry-Notch-Neck-Shift.html

I got an amazing linen coat in East - pale grey embroidered. £175. I got it for a wedding & other things. Wore with dress & since with trousers for posh client thing. Have a look there as I dislike most of their stuff & they do some good timeless classics