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...

My dd went to a 'formal' at the college she'll be joining in a few weeks wearing black skinnies and a shirt which at least wasn't her usual lumberjack style. It was fine.

She does have one dress (plain bottle green) but has decided she needs something else if she goes to formals at other colleges... trousers and shoes she can walk or cycle in. She would not be seen dead in a jumpsuit, or culottes, and absolutely doesn't do heels. Hates clothes shopping, but decided she'd have to do some each time we got more exciting uni stuff ... so yesterday alongside a bathmat and kettle she acquired a pair of slim black trousers. Basically we just trawled debenhams for all slim leg petite trousers. Shirts next trip...

I would just buy a simple elegant knee length cocktail dress nipped in at the waist to start off with till she gets an idea of what's required and what other girls are wearing.

I would try jigsaw, French connection, Karen millen, coast and whistles to start of with in that order or any other shop that comes to mind for her age group. If you can get to Selfridges or John Lewis then all the better.

I personally would steer her well clear of trouser or jump suits.

I would buy one of these in her size with a pair of shoes and just slip it in her suitcase with out her knowing

www.jigsaw-online.com/category/womens/dress-types_salena-midi-flare-dress

www.jigsaw-online.com/category/womens/clothing_dresses

She doesn't wear dresses.

Yes but I'd still buy one and chuck it in her trunk / case just in case. For emergency formal dinner purposes.

Dreadful advice there, Tantpoke. The OP could not be clearer that her daughter doesn't like dresses and never wears one. She may change her mind about this at some point, but it should be her decision, not something she feels pressured into doing by her mother. And also quite clearly the OP is not that kind of mother.

Lots of people don't wear dresses, especially at that age. It really won't be a requirement (imagine a university that insisted on it - Erm hello equality act) so she really will be fine (or absolutely gorgeous by the sound of things) in trousers

how about one of these jumpsuits, lots of different styles

www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/womens-jumpsuits-playsuits/_/N-fly

Agree that just buying a dress without her knowledge and sticking it in her case is a dreadful idea. Sorry, but it is - it's intrusive.

gasp what pray tell exactly is 'that kind of mother'

do you mean rude and passive aggressive per chance

I have to say if I snuck in a dress for my DD she would roll her eyes to herself and laugh at my sheer brazeness knowing what a cheeky monkey I'd been, she would totally get the funny side, its a shame you don't have such a fab relationship with your DD's.

On that note I'm off to wind DD up and I hope you find something suitable in the JL link I posted further up, there is quite a diverse range

Great Plains

La Redoute

I bought the m&s black jumpsuit, I'll be collecting it tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to trying it on! Not expecting it to suit but a girl can dream

DD is on an FB group chat with others who'll be going to her college. One of the mums has bought a dress for her DD - they are planning to ceremonially burn it.

It's nothing to do with relationships. Does your daughter wear dresses? Some girls don't wear dresses, not ever, and as a parent one learns to respect that (or ought to).

I think salwar kameez is a great idea, with tight leggings for the trouser side of things. I have a couple myself for semi-formal occasions and love the workmanship. A matching shoulder scarf is very useful too.

I think the salwar kameez idea is nice too, but might you get some 'cultural appropriation' idiocy at a uni?

Oddly enough, Tantpoke, I did mean that the OP was clearly not rude and passive aggressive. I'm afraid your contributions to this thread suggest that the same can't be said of you. Very patronising and discourteous to suggest that people who disagree with your approach clearly do so because we don't have a 'fab' relationship with our daughters. My daughter and I are extremely close and one reason this is so is because I try to respect her decisions, even when they're not the ones I'd have made.

Maybe I'm being awkward here, but personally I think a salwar kameez isn't a great suggestion. Not on a par with 'buy her a dress and hide it in her case' but I have a feeling an 18 year old non dress wearer might feel far more awkward in one than they would in a pair of trousers and a smartish shirt.

You're probably right, Remus.

Ok, so trousers are easy (they must be if we managed to get some yesterday) - does anyone have 'smartish shirt' recommendations?

Cultural approbation isn't some crazy idea. An 18 year old woman about to leave home who can't dress herself, however is..