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Original poster

Help needed... dinner at the ivy!

218 replies

maz82 · 16/09/2021 13:02

I am going out for dinner for my daughters 21st this Saturday and I have nothing to wear! I have gained about 3 stone over the past year and nothing fits except casual wear that I've been living in. I really need some ideas. Need to be able to order today for next day delivery or I can go in store tomorow. I am a size 18 and very insecure about myself. Really bottom heavy, small waist but conscious of my arms and stomach. Oh and I am 39 if that makes a difference although I've always been quite a young 39. Anyone have any ideas please?

OP posts:
BasiliskStare · 18/09/2021 19:31

I don't think everyone has been mean girls. But I get your point @Judystilldreamsofhorses

I think most nice people have said dress for how DD wants the evening and a nice dress or trousers and nice top would be nice

I hold to that & I think a nice place for a special meal - I'd do it.

To many mentions of nice there but I agree it could be the most fabulous evening.

ReallyNeedToPrioritiseMe · 18/09/2021 19:58

But it stands out, the people who have been rubbishing the restaurant, and it’s a real shame to do that to someone who’s looking forward to a special night out. There was no need for their comments.

Never mind the rest of us being ‘nice people’
We’re not being ‘nice’, we’re being normal.

The people who are rubbishing the restaurant are being mean for no good reason, and should be ashamed of themselves.

I hope it doesn’t spoil the birthday dinner. OP should be proud of her daughter and herself

BasiliskStare · 18/09/2021 20:18

@ReallyNeedToPrioritiseMe Flowers

XingMing · 18/09/2021 20:34

A long way off the OP's original question, but I think a large part of enjoying an event, any event, is dressing for it. Boringly, my day today involved a flu jab and having an impromptu lunch at at a nice pub where the food is good. Interestingly, I noticed that a local tradesman whose local it is was there. He's cute, as in clever, and stylish, always and a bit full of himself but he chats to the househunters searching for property to buy, because he understands that being nice to them may result in ££££ of work when they tackle their project.

XingMing · 18/09/2021 20:38

Where as, if you are really local, you know the handful of pubs where you will find all the plumbers, electricians and plasterers parcelling outthe work.

Clymene · 18/09/2021 20:43

Some MNers are absolute cunts. And this thread is full of them. What a sad tiny life you must have to piss all over someone's parade like this.

I honestly feel sorry for them. You've got to be really unhappy to behave like that.

ReallyNeedToPrioritiseMe · 18/09/2021 21:13

@BasiliskStare

Thank you! Never had that before x

SocksAndTheCity · 18/09/2021 21:36

@Clymene

Some MNers are absolute cunts. And this thread is full of them. What a sad tiny life you must have to piss all over someone's parade like this.

I honestly feel sorry for them. You've got to be really unhappy to behave like that.

Yeah. Having reread the OP by a woman who says outright that she's insecure about her looks and clearly wants to make her daughter's 21st really special and perfect in every way, cunty barely scratches the surface of some of this thread.

I hope (and I'm sure) that a wonderful evening and a lovely dinner is being had by all while I sit here in my Olaplex reading S&B 😀

SummerintheCity2021 · 18/09/2021 21:39

Yes I am quite shocked by some of the horrible snooty comments.

SummerintheCity2021 · 18/09/2021 21:42

Btw I went to the Ivy in my town yesterday lunchtime and people looked generally well dressed but not full on glam although I don’t think it would matter what you wore within reason. (I was in a summery jumpsuit and sandals.)

brokenbiscuitsx · 18/09/2021 21:43

@Clymene

Some MNers are absolute cunts. And this thread is full of them. What a sad tiny life you must have to piss all over someone's parade like this.

I honestly feel sorry for them. You've got to be really unhappy to behave like that.

This
FlowerArranger · 18/09/2021 21:44

I've only read the 1st and last page, and I'm certainly not going to go looking for mean comments.

Just wanted to say I hope OP is having a lovely evening Smile

Blossomtoes · 18/09/2021 21:47

@Clymene

Some MNers are absolute cunts. And this thread is full of them. What a sad tiny life you must have to piss all over someone's parade like this.

I honestly feel sorry for them. You've got to be really unhappy to behave like that.

It’s one of the most unpleasant threads I’ve seen here. And the bar is bloody high.
NeedWineNow · 18/09/2021 23:18

I swear to God that some MNetters are so far up their own backsides they are able to look out of their ears. How could a thread started by someone asking for advice on what to wear for a special occasion descend into competitive sneering about whether the restaurant is a chain and basically nothing more than an upmarket Macdonalds.

I went to the Ivy in Winchester earlier this week for my Silver Wedding anniversary. We had a lovely time and were made to feel very special by the restaurant. It was very busy and there were a variety of outfits from smart jeans and heels to full on glam. There was a great buzz and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves which was great to see.

Not forgetting this is on the S&B chat - I wore a silky Onjenu dress and heels.

BasiliskStare · 19/09/2021 02:07

Given S&B - I wasn't able to go to a restaurant for silver wedding - everything shut - this year went to a little pub which does really nice food and put a "posh frock" on ( well by my standards - ha ha ) COS dress which I have worn a few times but always love it.

I do think after the last times we have had it is nice to dress up a bit . & a 21st is a bit special.

I have have been to 2 Ivy brasseries and enjoyed both. McDonalds it aint. I think it is a lovely idea for a DC's 21st .

@ReallyNeedToPrioritiseMe
the flowers were because when I said nice you said normal. & I agree with you - most normal people are kind and nice.

Hope OP & DD and friends had the most fabulous time - I bet they did

Karwomannghia · 19/09/2021 09:58

It’s funny how the cats skulk away once they’ve been called out, so they know who they are!

TwinsandTrifle · 19/09/2021 10:18

I don't think anyone's skulked away. I think numerous people pointed out that whilst it's misleading that The Ivy (original) and The Ivy (chain) both have the same name, that's pretty much where the similarity ends.

It was funny to see the poster, who when I remarked, "I take DTwins in there for lunch quite a bit with DH, it's not dressy" who then had to make such a clever point of projecting that I was pretending it was like a McDonald's. Perhaps that's the only place she thinks children eat, for a comment like that to make any shape of sense. Cue all the predictables jumping on "ohhhhh these snobs all call The Ivy a McDonald's, listen to them". When actually, this was a daft comment made by one of them, not any of the posters trying to help OP, who wasn't sure of how dressy the place was.

Although, many other posters trying to help have been jumped on far more than I. All snobs, obviously with the audacity to point out a high street chain that shares the name of another restaurant, is a high street chain, and nothing more.

I don't think people have skulked off at all. Just this attempt to bring snobbery into everything is tedious and they can't be bothered to return to the thread once it's started.

LakeShoreD · 19/09/2021 10:37

Just this attempt to bring snobbery into everything is tedious
So true. It’s just a factual observation that most diners I’ve observed there have been casually dressed. I personally think it’s a good thing that you can enjoy a lovely meal, and I do think the food there is really rather good, without having to stress about what to wear which it sounded like the OP was doing. For me that’s not a negative at all, quite the opposite in fact.

OP, I don’t know if you’re still lurking since this thread has been totally derailed but I hope you found something lovely to wear that you felt comfortable in and that you and your DD had a fabulous time!

fluffiphlox · 19/09/2021 10:57

Not skulking at all. The poster is going to AN Ivy of which there about 30. If that’s not a chain I don’t know what is. And I stand by my comment that she (and anyone else) should wear what they feel comfortable in. Nobody has told her not to have a good time. Enjoy it but don’t feel that you have to live up to some non-existent dress code.

DottyHarmer · 19/09/2021 11:36

I heartily agree that this is one of the meanest threads I’ve seen, and I’ve been here 15 years. I can’t believe how some people seek to bring others down . So nasty.

Clymene · 19/09/2021 11:40

@TwinsandTrifle

I don't think anyone's skulked away. I think numerous people pointed out that whilst it's misleading that The Ivy (original) and The Ivy (chain) both have the same name, that's pretty much where the similarity ends.

It was funny to see the poster, who when I remarked, "I take DTwins in there for lunch quite a bit with DH, it's not dressy" who then had to make such a clever point of projecting that I was pretending it was like a McDonald's. Perhaps that's the only place she thinks children eat, for a comment like that to make any shape of sense. Cue all the predictables jumping on "ohhhhh these snobs all call The Ivy a McDonald's, listen to them". When actually, this was a daft comment made by one of them, not any of the posters trying to help OP, who wasn't sure of how dressy the place was.

Although, many other posters trying to help have been jumped on far more than I. All snobs, obviously with the audacity to point out a high street chain that shares the name of another restaurant, is a high street chain, and nothing more.

I don't think people have skulked off at all. Just this attempt to bring snobbery into everything is tedious and they can't be bothered to return to the thread once it's started.

It was a horrible sneering post and I'm amazed you're trying to defend it.

I never come in S&B because it has such a bad rep. Entirely deserved as if turns out.

What a petty spiteful place.

AnaViaSalamanca · 19/09/2021 11:53

IMHO the odd smattering of people you see all done up in an Ivy brasserie, is just a bit cringy and sort of highlights that they don't know the difference between the flagship (which is more of an occasion, but still not that dressy) and a high street chain.

@TwinsandTrifle I am gobsmacked how you can so brazenly defend this.

Blossomtoes · 19/09/2021 12:03

@AnaViaSalamanca

IMHO the odd smattering of people you see all done up in an Ivy brasserie, is just a bit cringy and sort of highlights that they don't know the difference between the flagship (which is more of an occasion, but still not that dressy) and a high street chain.

@TwinsandTrifle I am gobsmacked how you can so brazenly defend this.

Speaks volumes, doesn’t it.
DottyHarmer · 19/09/2021 12:17

Omg…that post by TwinsandTrifle may take first prize for the most bitchy comment on MN ever .

What a horrid thing to say - and patently untrue, may I add. The Ivy is very nice and certainly an excellent place for an occasion dinner.

RosesAndHellebores · 19/09/2021 12:18

The original Ivy was a pre and post theatre/opera haunt. People stopped dressing for either many years ago. I like The Ivy's that have popped up. If we were there to celebrate a special occasion with friends we'd dress up a bit. If we go for dinner together, we won't necessarily.