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Family weekend celebration in a castle in Lakes

24 replies

SmellyNelly2018 · 04/07/2018 18:34

Help wanted with wardrobe please. We have been invited for a weekend birthday celebration in castle in Lakes end of September and I am unsure what to wear or take clothes/weather wise.
I am usually always hot. I am early fifties have put weight on. I am trying too loose it. I don’t normally wear dresses but want to make an effort. The people hosting and some guests will be very stylish.
Itinerary: Fri night informal chill night (thinking comfy trousers/bottoms and a nice top). That’s ok.
Saturday day walking or quad biking ???
Saturday night formal sit down meal thinking nice dress. But don’t want to feel overdone.
Sun family BBQ weather could go either way. No idea what to wear.
Thanks

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SmellyNelly2018 · 04/07/2018 18:36

I should have said it is DH’s Family and some of their personal friends so I don’t know everyone and the ones I do know are very stylish and financially much better off than we are.

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OCSock · 04/07/2018 20:37

In the circumstances, the old rules are probably the most reliable. Given the time of year and location, expect rain so you need jeans, simple sweater, probably thin cashmere, proper walking waterproofs and flat sturdy boots you can go anywhere in (I would pack a pair of gloves and a flattering beanie too).

Then I'd look at Me&Em for a dress-up/dress down dress for Saturday dinner that you can re-style for smart work days and weekend fun time events, and I would also be inclined to buy some luxe lounge trousers for Fri evening. Me&Em are good for these. I like the satin cargo trousers.

Do the rest of the styling with accessories from your wardrobe and some cheapie high fashion ear rings, but no bling (other guests may bring real diamonds); big costume pearls are great, often cheap at bric-a-bracs and very, very on trend. A tidy small cross body bag in a contrast colour to your scheme (I adore the Geminis bags from Parfois, because they have four colours per pair of tiny bags-- they clip together): at £19, it's not an investment, but mine has stood a year's almost daily use and is still pristine). Stick to a colour scheme, just ONE neutral-ish colour scheme for the whole weekend and be ruthless, depending on what suits you best and feels comfortable. Toiletries, warm PJs and a good read of the newspaper for a few weeks ahead of the event and you should be good to talk to anyone and do anything. Hope you have a lovely time.

PS. I do hope I have pitched this approximately at your budget.

OCSock · 04/07/2018 20:47

If I may offer a couple more ideas? You give no indication of your size, shape or style preferences, but you need basic flattering T shirts to wear with everything/ complement the jeans and evening lounge wear bottoms. Seriously, start trying them on now as they are likely to be the hardest thing of all to buy. And when you find the one you like, get more than one, and in all the colours that suit you.

SmellyNelly2018 · 04/07/2018 21:18

Thanks both I will have a look at your suggestions. I am just over 6ft talll and still a size 18/20. Some female family members that I know are very petite in height and dress size. I tend to suit bright spring colours best which I know aren’t necessarily the classiest and navy, camel and brown best for basics (rather than black).

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SmellyNelly2018 · 04/07/2018 21:18

My tummy is my worst feature.

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OCSock · 04/07/2018 21:24

Nelly, thanks for the additional information. I stick by all I have said, but strongly suggest you look for strong scuptural shapes. Think goddess.

OCSock · 04/07/2018 21:27

For the tummy control... Spanx?

SmellyNelly2018 · 04/07/2018 21:51

Thanks OCSock you sound very knowledgeable and experienced. Me&Em has some lovely pieces in but I admit is a bit out of my price range.
I will have a good look for Inspiration and will have to try and source some similar prices from Long Tall Sally (very limited choice), Next Tall and our only two remaining department stores where I can still actually try things on Debenhams or House of Fraser.
The optimist in me was hoping for an Indian summer as I much prefer summer colours and styles and at my time of life I have my own summers lol.
Thank you
Anyone else have any suggestions/inspiration.

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SmellyNelly2018 · 05/07/2018 06:39

Luxe lounge trousers are these like tracksuit bottoms with wide legs or am I being thick?
I could do navy trousers flattering 3/4 sleeved T-shirt on Fri night, jeans and have a nice phase eight bright green 3/4 sleeved top Saturday day, would something like the dress below work indoors on Saturday night? Stilll not sure about the Sunday BBQ outfit. Thanks
PS also footwear? I normally stretch it out and live in mules no socks/tights until mid Oct.

Family weekend celebration in a castle in Lakes
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littlebillie · 05/07/2018 06:55

Go with a fitted dress, as you are tall you will look amazing. Nothing to busy

www.next.co.uk/g6778s1#519266 this is very smart

SmellyNelly2018 · 05/07/2018 09:48

Littlebillie thanks that dress looks classy and if I were 6ft tall and slim. I would definitely go for it. However, I am tall and plump with a big tum so I think that dress may emphasise it. I would like something that feels comfortable, a colour which suits me not too dark and which minimizes/hides my tum and ideally goes an inch past my knee to hide the thickest point of my calves (which are too chunky/overly muscular from sport many years ago).

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SmellyNelly2018 · 05/07/2018 19:56

I guess I am looking for a weekend capsule wardrobe for a tall person, with a tummy who likes colourful clothes.

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goose1964 · 05/07/2018 22:04

Monsoon do some stunning stuff in bright colours and usually have great sales.

SmellyNelly2018 · 05/07/2018 22:32

Goose1964 yes I like Monsoon do you like the red dress above from Monsoon?
Bottoms skirts aren’t always long enough for me but I can sometimes be lucky with certain dresses or tops.

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BagelGoesWalking · 05/07/2018 22:42

You could get a couple of lovely thin jumpers from Uniglo, a thin thermal Heatech vest from there as well.

I'd look on eBay at brands that are usually out of your price range. Just for fun, after reading S&B threads, I looked on eBay for Cos, Toast etc which is never be able to afford (or need!) and there were some lovely things at decent prices. Maybe go for a trying on session at some of those brands and see what suits you first and then bid!

Lastly, how about a personal shopper day at John Lewis. I bet they'd find you some good options for the Sat Night.

SmellyNelly2018 · 06/07/2018 07:04

Thanks Bagel too be fair I am usually still in summer clothes until the middle or end of October as I am always warm, have flushes and don’t like being trussed up so I will be fine with a 3/4 sleeve or long sleeved top rather than a sweater end of Sept.
The personal shopper is a good idea for tops and accessories and things I may not have considered especially if I can slim down to a size 18 and I may have more options. Although I will still have to get trousers or bottoms from Long Tall Sally or another tall range as I need a 35 inch inside leg (even with flats).

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pumpingRSI · 06/07/2018 07:09

Have you thought about trousers or jump suit as an alternative Sat night outfit? I'm not really a dress or skirt person so ditch these and then go for what I know look better. Structured trousers like a tuxedo style with stripe and then a floaty colourful top? I saw some in Next and poss Sainsbury's.

Culottes in a wide fit that are 3/4 could look super stylish with a colour block top. Same with jumpsuit with wider legs either 3/4 or full palazzo and more fitted.

I suit your colours and for me olive green, tobacco brown are beautiful with a coral, mustard of lime green. I also bought a pair of raspberry red 3/4 chino from next that look great with navy, black, khaki green.

Family weekend celebration in a castle in Lakes
Family weekend celebration in a castle in Lakes
Family weekend celebration in a castle in Lakes
SmellyNelly2018 · 06/07/2018 07:34

Thanks pumping - I love your colour choices in the pictures. Yes, I would definitely consider a jumpsuit or culottes as long as they were correctly proportioned on me and I didn’t get the dreaded ‘camel toe’ look.
LTS had a fab bright orange one in earlier in the season but it only went up to an 18 and at the time I was a 22 and it is now sold out.

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pumpingRSI · 06/07/2018 07:39

Also let be a patterned trouser to look stylish but draw eyes away from tummy.

They have some in Next and a lovely pair with jungle pattern at bottom of black trousers at Sainsbury's that would brighten up but be smart with flat open sandal.

SmellyNelly2018 · 06/07/2018 08:23

Pumping thanks do you think I would be ok in flat sandals end of Sept? I do hope so but the weather could go either way. I’m sure most of the others will be there in Black Barbour jackets and expensive designer black boots and shoes. I hate wearing black my boots are tan and probably past their best but I go straight from comfortable sandals, wedgies, mule type shoes at end of Oct straight to boots beginning of Nov.

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pumpingRSI · 06/07/2018 09:08

Yes, lovely floaty trousers and sparkly flat sandals are for any time of the year.

SmellyNelly2018 · 15/07/2018 11:22

Thanks all I got side tracked i’m still not sorted.
I can get away with some tops from Monsoon and Phase Eight or Debenhams but trousers I will need tall plus range. I am early fifties but don’t want to dress like it as most of the party guests are 30’s or very early 40’s.

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pumpingRSI · 15/07/2018 20:30

You can find tops easier, so start with bottoms and then a top to go with:
Your friends are palazzo pants, poss wide leg jumpsuits, patterned trousers.
How bout:
tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Premium-Leaf-Print-Border-Co-ord-Culottes/133457127-Cream

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Floral-Stripe-Print-Flared-Trousers/133877762-Mono

www.next.co.uk/g6752s10#509768?i=18tall

??

SmellyNelly2018 · 15/07/2018 22:05

Thanks I don’t tend to wear black or black and white and the jumpsuit is sold out of the larger sizes.

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