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Original poster

This dress for a date night with hubs...

143 replies

cantwaitforlanza2019 · 15/08/2019 14:31

Hi :)

It is my birthday weekend this weekend , me and my Husband are off out to Stratford upon Avon for a meal at Bella Italia, and then off for some cocktails .

Is this dress too much ? ( pic included ) I am in love with it, just not sure if it is too much for just a meal and cocktails?

All opinions welcome... (p.s, dress already purchased, but backup outfit not planned yet )

This dress for a date night with hubs...

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 15/08/2019 16:25

Why shouldn't she dress up?

No reason at all. But in my experience the sort of person who can rock up at Pizza Hut, Bella italia, Nando's in a cocktail dress and not give a shit, isn't the sort of person to ask on here if they are dressing right for the venue and occasion.

Some people don't like to be over dressed. It makes them uncomfortable. If the op is confident enough, then she should clearly crack on. If she is concerned about being over dressed, then she is being steered well.

tolerable · 15/08/2019 16:28

its gorgeous.i wouldnt care less what anyone else had on.neither will he.wear it.x

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 15/08/2019 16:32

Not a Bella Italia fan, but it's a gorgeous dress and I've loved everything I've ordered from Silk Fred.

crustycrab · 15/08/2019 16:34

Bluegirl I'm sure the quality varies from one town to another. Just the sight of our Pizza Hut gives me the shivers! But strangely, I like Nando's.

Have a great birthday op and the fact that you have a voucher always makes it better! But still....avoid the bolognese just in case!

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 15/08/2019 16:37

I love Nando's. I'm not anti-cheap-or-chain! Pizza Hut, no!

Anyway wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same thing.

nrpmum · 15/08/2019 16:39

Gorgeous. Wear it!

Bluntness100 · 15/08/2019 16:43

The issue isn't the restaurant, it's simply the op wishes to wear a cocktail dress to it, and has specifically asked if it's "too much". What are people supposed to do, say no, everyone will be in formal attire?

If she'd said I'm wearing jeans heels and a nice top, the responses would have been very different.

chasingseagulls · 15/08/2019 16:43

For those criticising posters for being unkind for declaring the dress OTT for Bella Italia, may I direct you to verbatim quotes from the OP:

Is this dress too much ? ( pic included ) I am in love with it, just not sure if it is too much for just a meal and cocktails?

Majority answer = yes, yes it is too much

All opinions welcome... (p.s, dress already purchased, but backup outfit not planned yet )

ALL opinions both negative and positive duly offered, including many suggestions for a suitable back up involving jeans, smart tops, heels etc.

Apolloanddaphne · 15/08/2019 16:46

I live in a uni town which has many posh students and hosts loads of formal events. No-one bats an eye at people dressed in evening wear in scruffy pubs or in Nando's/Zizzi's etc before heading to their events. Just wear what you love OP and enjoy your evening.

Mitzicoco · 15/08/2019 16:46

My mother always told me that it is all about your perception of things in this kind of situation. You are not overdressed- everyone else is under dressed!!! :)

Gentlemanwiththistledownhair · 15/08/2019 16:58

Gorgeous dress! It'll be on the dressier side of what everyone else in Stratford is wearing, but who cares? Stratford, especially in summer, is full of people wearing anything from shorts to suits. I wouldn't worry.

Make sure you go to Veeno's afterwards for a nice classy glass of wine though!

Gentlemanwiththistledownhair · 15/08/2019 17:00

(I didn't mean that to sound like Bella Italia isn't classy, sorry!)

Mammyloveswine · 15/08/2019 17:01

I love this dress! Tempted to order it for myself! What's the material like?

I went out with my husband in a full length fancy maxi the other week, I couldn't give a shit! I rarely go out anywhere and like to look glam when I do go out!

You'll look lovely!

Have a wonderful night!

0pheIiaBaIIs · 15/08/2019 17:12

Balls to all the grumps saying it's too glamorous for Bella Italia and the snobs being mean about where you're going for your meal! It's absolutely beautiful, OP. If you're worried about it being too formal you can dress it down by wearing it with flats and understated makeup, perhaps. But I wear dresses like that all the bloody time with red lips and leopard print ballet flats, just to go to my local! If where you're going isn't massively glamorous, you be 5he glamour

Have a wonderful birthday (and tell the husband to wear a suit or at least proper trousers!)

0pheIiaBaIIs · 15/08/2019 17:13

be THE* glamour, even!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/08/2019 17:25

Lots of mean comments on here. This night out is clearly a big treat for OP and she's excited.

OP - wear the damn dress if you love it. You can always stick a denim jacket or biker jacket over it, to tone it down a bit if you feel over-dressed. You could even wear it with trainers if you wanted!

onanothertrain · 15/08/2019 17:25

Love that dress, I've been looking at it myself. I wouldn't describe it as a cocktail dress though. Wear it wherever you like and there's nothing wrong with Bella italia and cocktails for your birthday. I hope you have a great time

0pheIiaBaIIs · 15/08/2019 17:27

Ohhh I like the trainers/denim jacket idea! It'd look fab with brogues, too (but I'm obsessed with brogues and wear them with EVERYTHING).

Jayaywhynot · 15/08/2019 17:30

Yup wear it, if had my eye on it for the races, I love silkfred clothes, check out the Mia wrap around dress, the one that's longer at the back and crosses at the front, thin straps, I bought that in beige for a wedding

polyhymnia · 15/08/2019 17:36

Agree with pp. - dress way OTT for Bella Italia part of evening. As for BI itself, if you've been before you presumably like it if you're planning to go back. If you don't know it, it is, as others have said, not very high quality food or atmosphere compared to most other chains. Carluccios, for example, is better, and I've enjoyed meals at the Stratford branch, (though that too isn't dressy). If it were my birthday I, like a PP, would go for Lambs in Sheep St.
Dont know where you're going for cocktails but sounds like that part will be dressier. Dress is good - if you stick with Bella Italia and aren't bothered about being overdressed, just decide to enjoy wearing it.

chipsandgin · 15/08/2019 17:54

Lovely dress, totally agree with trainers and a denim jacket to dress it down & please, please no on the 'hubs' (same goes for 'bubs', 'holibobs' and the queen of all the twee cringe words 'hun', just in case you were wondering!).

Hope you have a great birthday!

Mythreefavouritethings · 15/08/2019 18:07

Yes people. Bella Italia. A chain restaurant. And??? OP the dress is gorgeous, get it on and enjoy a lovely night with your husband. You’ll look stunning. Who cares where you are, enjoy it. I love dressing up, it’s escapism and what’s the worst case scenario, people think you’re over-dressed. 🤷‍♀️

Charley50 · 15/08/2019 18:12

I love it but would dress it down with Converse or similar for Bella Italia.

WatchingFromTheWings · 15/08/2019 18:19

Wear it.

I'd wear it to the pub if I had the figure for it!

AppleHEAD · 15/08/2019 18:31

Wear it you'll look fab. Date night and hubs... Are you mother of daughters?

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