SOS - please help me style this dress!!

[Dresssos]

www.monki.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.midi-wrap-dress-orange.0968156003.html

Hi guys, I have a friend's 30th birthday afternoon tea at Sketch in London at the end of the month. It has a smart/casual kind of vibe, so I've bought the dress above in orange and plan to wear it with a light coloured denim jacket.

However, I have no idea what to wear on the bottom half! I was thinking some chunky boots, but my sister reckons sandals. I'm worried that sandals might not hold up in bad weather! Clear tights or black tights? Satchel or handbag? Argh!

Some last minute advice/links would be truly, madly appreciated!!

Thank you!

Also, I'm 31, 5ft 4 and a size 16/18 if that helps...

Pretty dress, but with denim jacket I don't think it would look smart-casual. I'd pair it with a structured blazer (I am rather stuckin in 2010!)

As for shoes yes sandals, with a heel if possible. Or soft ankle boots, also small heel.

I can't help you but it just sounds like such a wonderful thing to have to look forward to! Don't worry too much about getting it just perfectly right, plan to have so much fun!

Great dress, why not wear similar shoes to the model?

I would go with the chunky boots. Not sure about denim jacket, think it would look good but very casual

No tights and heeled sandals

Oooh I love sketch. The afternoon tea is amazing. I would wear with chunky boots and a biker jacket or blazer. Not trainers

Actually If the weather is shit like today I'd wear boots but if it's sunny and actually like May weather you could do sandals but no tights

Weather depending
Wedges sandal style but covered toes ...M&S have some in
Flat ballet pump in navy
If wet....a little ankle boot would work .
No tights or if you must some natural non shiny ones

I'm not a fan of the denim jacket idea ....but I'm old ha ha
How about a chunky knit cardigan ...length to suit your shape etc

Thats such a cute summer dress OP. What's the sizing like? I'm really tempted.

I'm really hoping that it will be sandals weather at the end of the month as I have a day at the races so fingers crossed. If it is I would wear sandals with a chunky heel with the dress as I'm the same height as you and would want a bit of a heel with that length dress. Otherwise an ankle boot or white trainers. I'd go bare legs, don't think tights would go with the dress at all.

Hi @Dresssos, what about white trainers with a Pearl necklace, collar up on the jacket?
That’s what I envisioned

Tan boots and satchel, and tan silk cardigan.

Thank you so much guys! Okay I'll probably shelve the denim jacket and go for a biker style one.

For those of you that have suggested I wear similar shoes to the model - I'm wary that they're too trainer-y as Sketch demands a bit smarter than that I think!

@doadeer Glad you're a fan - I've never been but very excited!

@dudsville Ahh thanks, that's a lovely comment. It will be so nice to do something relatively "normal" after all this time 😊

Has anyone got any links to some chunky boots and sandals? I'll probably order both and see how the weather goes on the day.

@XiCi Monki is absolutely fab - everything I've bought from there has been great! The sizing is generous. I usually take an XL, but an L is always better for me with Monki. Reasonably priced too and a lot of their stuff is sustainable.

Nice dress, white trainers or chunky ankle boots would look good.

Lovely dress 😊

www.dunelondon.com/provense-chunky-outsole-chelsea-boot-black-0092508050003484/?glCountry=GB&gclid=CjwKCAjw7diEBhB-EiwAskVi1_7S-kfQNAHUAuWfwPF47mSfg0LVZiZThkG2MItsJdfQ14gBl6JwWxoCVCUQAvD_BwE orrr Dr Martens?

I like these

www.flylondonshop.co.uk/womens/flats/mong944fly?model_id=134240

Or

www.flylondonshop.co.uk/womens/flats/mes-2

Think both come in a variety of colours

www.monki.com/en_gbp/clothing/coats-jackets/jackets/product.cropped-boxy-jacket-beige.0804037005.html

Think I've found the perfect neutral jacket... Slightly smarter than the denim!

What do you guys think? Thanks!

Good god this thread is where style has come to die.

Your five feet four clumpy black boots would cut off your leg length and the dress style is very fashionable, but let's face it frumpy, so you will need to style it up with a fashionable jacket, that monki one would be frump on frump. Stick to your original choice and go denim, and if your doing boots no darker than tan or smart pair of white trainers.

@slightlysnippy Haha thank you. I've ordered that jacket anyway because I was I'm need a of a neutral one to go with jeans and a top, but will try both that and denim with the dress and see what looks best! I've also ordered some nude wedges from Dune.

Thanks, your bluntness made me laugh!

Love the dress, hate that beige jacket - sorry! If you are worried denim/biker is too casual, maybe a boyfriend blazer? The beige is like a grumpy 50 year old trying to dress like Jackie O.

Shoes-wise, there are some great espadrille wedges around at the moment that would work well, or some Swedish hasbeen style clog sandals?

www.marksandspencer.com/double-breasted-blazer/p/clp60434218?color=OPALINE&prevPage=srp#intid=prodColourId-60434218

I think a denim jacket would look lovely, how about these sandals? In tan
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/erin-sandals-black/sty-a0992-blk?cat=C1_S2_G11_G110

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/nell-heels-tan/sty-a0933-tan?cat=C1_S2_G11_G110

It's a lovely dress but a tricky colour to team with. It would be awkward to wear with a denim jacket because of the dropped sleeves.

The jacket you've linked is sweet but also tricky because it has the same boxy shape as a denim jacket, and it has a high 60s style neck with doesn't tie in that well with the relaxed smock shape and low v-neck of the dress.

Personally I'd go for a looser fitting cream blazer (with 3/4 or ruched sleeves, River Island often have them in) and tan ankle boots and bag, with sandals on standby if it's warmer. The ankle boots I would NOT go too chunky on either, I think chunky ankle boots are not that flattering. I'd go for a neat boot with a slim block heel.