What to wear for school reunion?

[vvviola]

I've got a school reunion coming up at the beginning of September (that I had planned to lose weight for, but that won't happen much now).

I have no clue what to wear. I was the nerd with no fashion sense at school and while I've learnt to love and embrace my nerdiness, I've retained my lack of fashion sense (I can do work wear and formal stuff, but events like this still throw me).

I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of old friends again. But there are a few people there who I feel would get ammunion if I turned up fat and frumpy. I can't do much about the fat bit in a month, but I can at least look slightly well put together.

Any ideas? It's a meal in a nice but not too formal restaurant, including some of the old staff. Then drinks in a nearby pub afterwards.

I'm size 18-20, carry weight on my middle, 38E chest, decent legs and lower arms (upper arms aren't brilliant so I wouldn't go sleeveless).

Hair, nails, makeup will be fine (job means I'm pretty well turned out that way - but I wear very conservative stuff at work so it doesn't exactly translate well to this sort of thing)

Hi vvv just can across your post. I too struggle with what to wear at these kinds of things. Firstly - dress for you and not anyone else! Do you have a certain style for work you could adapt and use to dress for the event? What I mean is, do you wear suits and shirts at work ? Or dresses? In which case keep to what you will be comfortable in in terms of style but try different materials or prints - so smart jeans and shirt with relaxed jacket if you are used to suits or if a dress person, keep to a dress but not a work type fabric or colour IYSWIM. If you can afford to spend on a new outfit , I think a lot of people would also recommend going along to John Lewis for a personal shopping day which is usually free but you get a stylist to help you chose. Have a great time!

What kind of "do" is the reunion? Sorry, don't know anything about school reunions. Will it be a casual affair, formal or party? If it were me, I'd probably try a dress or straight jeans with pretty top & fitted jacket ensemble and heels. Is there anyone in the public eye whose style you like? I'm not the best at choosing party oitfits, but maybe something sort of like these?

It's a relatively casual thing in theory (casual restaurant followed by drinks), but as It's the first time most us will have seen each other in 15 years, I suspect most people will make quite an effort.

I'm a dress or trousers/top person. I cannot do "dressy jeans". No matter how new or what shape the jeans are or what I put them with I end up looking like I just threw them on to put the bins out .

I suspect a personal shopper appointment might be in my future - but I had hoped to give the poor thing at least some indication of what I was looking for!

If you’re already on top of your hair, make up etc. then you’re halfway there. You just need to find a lovely outfit you feel good in. A personal shop session might be a great way to get exactly what you want if you’re not that confident in your own style. If you’re happy to experiment, then I’d say picking a beautiful single colour that works on you is key. Based on your body shape, a wrap dress like this style from Boden might work as it’s cut to show off all your good bits - low cut, elbow sleeves (3/4 is nice too), knee length, and with a bit of ruching to disguise your middle. I think the green is best from the choices on offer as it’s a strong single colour with no print. Add some heels, a blingy cuff and bag and some ear studs to smarten up the whole look.

Oh Sesame that dress is stunning! I never usually order clothes online but I might be tempted in this case.

I think a solid bright colour might really be the way to go. Looks smart without being overdressed. And if I keep the accessories simple and low key I'll still feel like myself.

That dress is lovely. I've just ordered it too. Now I need an occasion to wear it.....

Hi OP

If you are being brave enough to try online shopping have a look at Artigiano, they have lots of lovely jersey dresses up to size 24. They are a bit pricier but usually lovely quality and often come in block colours. I have about 4 of their dresses and all have washed and worn very well.
www.artigiano.co.uk/jersey-dress-artigiano-382149/
www.artigiano.co.uk/printed-jersey-dress-artigiano-252607/
Not sure if these links have worked!

A minor point, but at a size 18-20, you are probably not a 38E bra. I'm a size 18 and a 34GG. Get thee down to Bravissimo and watch what happens to your figure when your boobs are supported properly.

I've tried Bravissimo, slug - unfortunately the bra they decided was right for me almost made me vomit it was so tight. And the fitter wouldn't hear of me moving up a band size so that I could breathe.

That said, you are probably right that I'm in the wrong size bra (given that the ones I have are ancient!), so I'll add a decent bra fitting (or a visit to the bra intervention threads here) to my list before the reunion!

You were right slug - 38FF! (And possibly could go down to 36 depending on the make, some of the 38s were a little loose!)