Soon to be Uni Daughter - won't wear any dresses! Ideas Needed!

[GrimDamnFanjo]

Lovely DD doesn't do dresses - it is years since she last wore one, fair enough.
She is going to a big University in a month and she will be invited to formal dinners. I don't want her to miss out as she has nothing to wear, or feel under-dressed and uncomfortable [she refused to go to any Proms] so I'm looking for alternatives that may interest her so if she does decide to accept an invite she won't look out of place amongst all the cocktail dresses.
These are my ideas so far:
A VERY sharp trouser suit - I've looked everywhere and can see only "work-type" - I'm looking for something maybe kimono jacket style?

Jumpsuits - best I've seen so far are some by Phase Eight - anything bandeau/low-cut/revealing is a no-no...

Any other ideas, links etc VERY gratefully accepted - budget is up to £150.
She is a size 12-14, hourglass shape. And gorgeous...

Is she interested in going to dressed-up dinners, but needs help figuring out what to wear?

Or is she just not interested?

I think at 18 (presumably) she is old enough to pick her own clothes - just leave her to it.

It may be that you won't be able to get her interested in shopping for an outfit until there is a reason for her to want one (an actual invitation, not just the idea that there may be on in the future).

What exexpat said.

If my mum had still been trying to be involved in my clothing choices as 18, I'd have been and .

I think that it would be prudent to wait until she asks you for assistance.

River island had a gorgeous houndstooth suit with cropped trousers - I loved it.
Otherwise maybe a jumpsuit?

Is there a matriculation dinner when she arrives? She might need something pretty soon after arriving.

I must have gone to a crap ujiversity because we definitely never had any formal dinners

Agree with what the others said, but a definite yes for jumpsuits. You have to try them on though, as what looks great on the model often hangs very differently.

I love a jumpsuit!

Does she want you to buy her an outfit?

I think it's lovely that you want to buy her an outfit and I'm sure she'll thank you one day - although possibly not just yet. I agree with posters about taking a step back until she asks (and it's possible she won't) but if you're looking to 'casually' drop in some suggestions, would a tuxedo meet the dress code and also be acceptable to her?

I think you need to mind your own business!

And that's speaking as a mother of two teens and a 10 yr old

I think you tell her that you don't want her to miss out and that you have a budget for her to choose and outfit if she wants it - and the offer is open till such time as she takes you up on it.

(ps her mates will be in a better place to help her get something that suits her vibe, and is appropriate for the situation than you or indeed the hive mind on here)

If she's going up to Oxbridge there'll be matric dinner when she arrives and then at my college I used to go to 2-4 formal/black tie dinners a term, so I deffo think it's worth getting something if you can persuade her to. Matriculation dinner certainly never gave the appearance of being optional and while the others are they can be great fun if you have something to wear. Gowns cover a lot up so that might help some of the time?

Would something like this be doable? www.marksandspencer.com/multiway-sleeveless-jumpsuit/p/p60117328?extid=ps_gglpla_895149989_46286430402&s_kwcid=AL!2750!3!209962061743!!!g!306816141596!&device=m&cvosrc=ppc%20shopping.google.Women%20%3E%20All%20year%20round%20%3E%20Partywear%20%3E%20Party%20Dresses&cvo_pid=46286430402&ef_id=WQ9nMAAAABkBTQdn:20170827104439:s

First photo is bandeau but doesn't have to be worn that way? Or phase 8 does some nice trousers, so maybe those plus a floaty top? I used to quite often wear a jacket or a nice scarf/stole which could give more coverage?

Let her grow up and choose her own clothes to wear. good grief.

Sorry, yes she has asked me for help - I'm not nosey parkering!
Or trying to make her wear stuff thats my taste not hers.

She's just not remotely interested in clothes shopping for herself!
Some teens love the whole shopping thing, she doesn't, I'm not sure why asking for ideas about what alternatives there are to cocktail dresses is such a problem?

She has already got a formal dinner to go to in October.

@Etymology23 that looks like a good option for the list - thanks x

Sheesh lay off the OP, she's coming from a good place with this. OP, I suggest you do as my mother did, she sent me off with a box full of envelopes with little 'scenarios' on them. Eg. The one that read 'If you're skint...' contained a tenner and a note to leave the other envelopes alone and to call home if the situation was dire. There was another one for an unexpected trip, one for heartbreak, things like that. Only few were actually monetary, most were just a bit of advice, a suggestion on a book to read, a recipe from home, or a a really nice card. You can do it far simpler (my mother certainly went a bit overboard with empty nest syndrome in sight) this way DD always has the option should need ever arise.

OK so she is actively interested then? She does want an outfit, and does want your help with it. That wasn't at all clear.

I think a tuxedo type suit is more flexible than a jumpsuit, it can be worn with different tops underneath (or not top underneath if you like that style), or the trousers worn with a different top and not the jacket.

That M&S jumpsuit looks fab - I was tempted for myself but the reviews say it comes up quite short.

I wore a trouser suit to a uni formal dinner - big earrings and a nice scarf/necklace blinged it up a bit. I'd've loved a tuxedo style suit but they didn't really exist for women back then and I was too small for men's.

I don't think there's any need to give the op a dressing down (if you'll pardon the pun). It's not like she's proposing to move in with her daughter - she just doesn't want her to miss out, especially in those early weeks that are always a bit manic.

Watching your kids move to uni is really tricky. You're perfectly aware that they're adults and it's their life but you also know they're not nearly as confident as they look and that they won't have thought of everything.

I wish my mother had done this. I went off to uni with no real sense of style or confidence. I never had any interest in clothes. We had formal dinners twice a term and balls of course and I didn't have a clue what to wear. That didnt help my confidence. I felt like I was always surrounded by people who knew what to wear.

Ok sorry, I didn't write fast enough and the thread's moved on. Good.