Chic cocktail party - help

[FarmerFrump]

I have NC'd as lots of friends are on here and will have been invited to this doo.

I am a size 14 curvy 50+ woman who lives in jodhpurs and jeans. I would love to do 'chic' and trendy but often get it wrong.

I have been invited to a cocktail party at a very cool club in London. Most of that sentence is out of my comfort zone 😟

I reeeeally want to go. Hosts are trendy artists types and are about a decade younger than me.

Budget not an issue if it's the right thing... dress me please!

[LizziesTwin]

RIXO maxi www.rixo.co.uk/product/camellia-leopard/ leopard print maxi]]

[SinglePringle]

I too live in London and go to cocktail / upmarket hotel bars pretty regularly.

Jumpsuit, Rixo dresses all good. Bear in mind, a LOT of women will wear trainers with said items. White, box fresh, slight flatform or classics like Stan Smiths.

Really not frowned upon (except for The American Bar at The Savoy).

[Laska2Meryls]

this dress which I did link to badly up thread also is really nice, so nice that I may now actually buy it! ,

I quite like the idea of wearing it with trainers ...

[Elllllle]

It's funny how cocktail dresses are now considered so wrong for bars and nights out, isnt it? I'm in sydney and in winter (ie now) would do a leather skirt + blouse, leather leggings or black skinnies and silky top (with obligatory pointy toe boots) instead of dress for a "cocktail" party. Then summer, its all rixo/allsaints/whistles style midis (we have our own brands but same style) or ruched minis or oversized fabulous cocoon dresses with sneakers or flatforms. OP I hate jumpsuits but they are fab if you suit them! Otherwise I would def look at whistles. They have some gorgeous bits, inc informal dresses and skirts (tiered silk skirt for example, I almost bought earlier). Chic often equals brave imo

[FarmerFrump]

Thank you, I'm finding this fascinating albeit a bit frightening.

@SinglePringle are the women that wear jumpsuits and white trainers in their mid 50's or are they trendy young things that look wonderful in everything? Trainers are what I wear for exercise only, I'm feeling impossibly old and frumpy. 😟 I think I might get this look quite wrong.

[FarmerFrump]

And if they do wear heels, what heels do they wear?

I feel like I'm coming from another (aged) planet. Trainers at a cocktails party!

[Iamtooknackeredtorun]

I honestly don’t think most women in London who are mid 40s wear white trainers on a night out.

If you want flats how about a pair of brogues? Shoe Embassy do some good ones.

[Iamtooknackeredtorun]

www.shoeembassy.com/woman/shoes?p=2#_

[FarmerFrump]

@Iamtooknackeredtorun do you think I should not wear heels then? I'm 5'5" so would wear a bit of a heel to feel a bit more glamourising but I'm learning that they might be a bit dated.

I would just feel wrong and scruffy in trainers. What kind of heel can I get away with, I have kitten heels in my wardrobe, are they 'out'?

[worriedaboutmygirl]

I would definitely wear heels if you feel comfortable in them. Personally I don’t think you can go wrong with black trousers, black top and heels. Presume you are aiming to blend in rather than stand out?

[Iamtooknackeredtorun]

I love heels but if I’m out for the night I end up being uncomfortable. If you don’t usually wear them then you might feel happier in flats.

I’m not a fan of kitten heels myself but I don’t think you will look out of place in them. My favourite going-out-but-still-able-to-walk shoes are Swedish Hasbeens which are clogs in bright colours. I love them. But they might not match the jump suit (which I think is really nice)

[Lindtnotlint]

Don’t wear trainers. (Older, fatter Londoner here).

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

You can definitely wear heels if you like them, you just shouldn't feel obligated to.

I love the jumpsuits linked but try as I might I just can't get them to work on me. I'm a dresses person.

[walkintheparc]

A small block heel would do the trick I think. If you don't usually wear trainers with smarter clothes then don't force it.

I'd do a pretty blouse and a nice trouser that is comfortable for you, or a relaxed dress or jumpsuit.

[worriedaboutmygirl]

www.johnlewis.com/gerard-darel-lox-leopard-stripe-trousers-black/p4317269

[Bumbags]

With a plain jumpsuit you could jazz up the shoes a lot and get something quirky.

[Bumbags]

And

1. Get good underwear including a proper fitting bra
   
2. Get your hair cut and blow dried
   

3 get your eyebrows tinted and shaped

[SinglePringle]

I’m 48 and yes, I wore trainers out in town last night. White Stan Smiths with a midi dress. Was in Soho for dinner and then drinks out in Shoreditch. Many many many women of all ages in trainers.

If I were to wear heels - and I do - I’d wear a block heel.

[MissFritton65]

I'd look at Joseph Ribkoff trousers or jumpsuits; they are fabulous!
You can wear them with white trainers or heels and they'll look equally good.

[FarmerFrump]

Ok. Some great advice on here, thank you for your very helpful replies. I think I need someone to actually look at me and say yes/no, so I'm going to see if I can get an appointment with one of the John Lewis stylist people.

Jumpsuit is winning.

Thank you.

[DogsandBoysmeanMud]

Wallis have some
Great jumpsuits.