What to wear to a friend's 30th in London

[disorganisedmummy]

Hi,I'm in dire need of some advice and inspiration.I have a close friend's 30th birthday in London on saturday which is during the day and into the evening.I reckon the dress code will be fairly smart but casual.
I have unfortunately put on some weight over the hols and am really lacking in confidence.I am 10 and half stone,generous 12/maybe 14,curvy hourglass with big 34ff boobs.I just don't know what too wear.Nothing i have that's smart fits and I'd like to loot really polished and put together.

Please help oh wise women of Mumsnet!!

An a-line dress will help hide the weight and a nice blazer to smarten it up. Not sure on your colouring but a red and navy combo would look nice and not officy or a black dress and a brighter colour blazer

Where are you going? Some parts of London are uber casual and blazer / dress combo would be a no no...

Agree. Very much depends where you're going. Not a dress and blazer in some parts.

OP said fairly smart but casual.

If the weather continues as it has been, may I propose waders...?

Failing that, the universal wardrobe of jeans and a top. Do you have jeans you feel nice in? If you are feeling a bit on the chubby side, heels will help, though make sure you can spend hours traipsing about in them (through puddles and potholes). If all else fails, I tend to go for something along the lines of jeans, flat ankle boots/cons/vans, top-that-doesnt-look-Bodenesque and my old faithful biker jacket. Bit of hair/face but not too OTT, good bag and a fab bit of jewellery (not implying Tiffany's, rather just eye-catching.

Fairly smart but casual means different things in different parts / restaurants etc in London.

single, yes absolutely.

Especially when you factor in afternoon into evening. And it is so tourist central at the mo and they rock up everywhere apart from 'proper' restaurants in trainers in backpacks. Anything goes for the majority of places..

and backpacks

Do you know what you'll be doing disorganised?