How to style a nautical rope dress without looking like Popeye?

[piefacedClique]

I have a wedding next weekend and I’ve bought a really flattering rope pattern wrap dress but I’ve no idea how to style it without looking too nautical or too boring and navy! I’m happy to add colour through bags and shoes etc but I’ve no idea how! Help!

It's crying out for a smart red clutch bag (& red heels, if you can pull it off!) Lovely dress BTW, where's it from?

Good suggestion. Ah thanks: it’s from Mango x

Definitely add contrast colour.
I'd love emerald green shoes.

Top tip - don't smoke a pipe and go easy on the tattoos

Agree. It needs bright shoes and bag.

Great dress!!

I second the caution re smoking a pipe (miffed I was beaten to it) and agree with red bag/shoes/whatever. Nice dress.

I wouldn't go red, i think yellow instead.

Second dud yellow would be great.

Red would be the classic option.

How would you feel about bright coral/orange type shades? Perhaps more modern and less expected.

I'd go with orange. Red white and (navy) blue is a little obvious.

I'd definitely go red, but as it's my favourite colour I might be slightly biased.

Excellent suggestions..... I’m swaying towards yellow at the moment but there are some lovely yellow ones in the boden sale too!

Orange in the sale!

Ooh yellow is great too! But great yellow shoes and bag hard to find. (voice of experience).

Ooh yes, something in coral would look great. I'm quite into that as a summer colour at the moment!

I fell into a nautical trap the other week without really thinking about it. I wore a navy blue skirt with a red and white Breton top and navy deck shoes, and it was only when I caught sight of myself in a shop window that I realised I basically looked like a cartoon sailor. But just a rope pattern I think is a subtle way of getting a jaunty naval look.

Personally I'd just go nude sandals and bag, but I really dislike coloured foot wear.

The minute you put red with it you will increase it's nauticality. Pink, yellow, green but not red.

Just found some lovely yellow sling backs in marks and Spencer’s which look great online... will order and see!

Red is nautical.

Coral, yellow or green would look great.

Nude would look nice but very safe.

No to red, would be a bit of a cliche. I'd go mustard, coral, nude.

Pink or yellow from me. I think yellow would be more ’now’

I tried these wedges but they look a bit mumsy on but the sling backs look fab.... I’d seen them online and discounted them but they are lovely in real life.

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions xxx

Don't accessorise it with this.

Definitely not red and not the rope look slingbacks, both make it a bit sea themed.

I like the idea of orange /coral too.

These would be nice if you want heels

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/cecile-heels-bright-dijon/sty-a0479-yel?cat=C1_S2_G11
Or these which are lower
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/christina-slingbacks-bright-dijon/sty-a0480-yel?cat=C1_S2_G11