Posh London lunch

[IslaPineappple]

Help! I'm going to lunch at a nice London restaurant next month and I really need help finding a pretty dress and (ankle?) boots

I'm currently a size 13 but today is day 1 of my diet and I will try to stick to it. 5.4" so I get drowned if dresses are too long.

I really want to look elegant and together, budget about £150. Can anyone help, I'm open to anything. Never had my colours done but look okay in most except bright red.

Thank you.

Do you want to wear a dress? I mean, do you usually and will it be worn again? Otherwise why not upgrade separates you would normally wear?

& Other Stories has lots of ‘pretty’ dresses - and also boots.

This dress is on sale but still slightly over budget, without boots. But it is rather lovely and they only have the size 12 left!

Hush have got some lovely dresses at the moment and you can get some tips for boots etc by how they have styled thier models

How short would you go? This is so cute I’d be tempted to size up (for increased length) and wear it with knee high boots.

I do wear a lot of dresses but day dresses rather than anything more dressy.

I like the look of most shirt dresses but not sure what boots to put with them.

I do like the tartan dress but will be too short I think.

From memory they have a midi dress in the same, or similar fabric - but it would be full price.

Here … Maybe a bit less cute.

I'm not keen on the frill on the neck of that one. Things around my neck give me a headache. I blame polo necks when I was little.

Whistles sale. I'm too busty for this, but I really like it.

Might be too frilly on the neck though.

I'm not busty at all, I'll have a look! Thanks

I think midi skirts are a good idea, I've just ordered this Mint Velvet one and this H & M one is a gorgeous colour....both have elasticated waists, so plenty of room for lunch!

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/brand/forever-new/aspen-flare-sleeve-mini-dress-al7304#colcode=AL730400

What type of boots would you suggest with these style of dresses?

I was thinking a midi one might be better for December. Never worn one though as I usually do just above knee length so might be too long.

Just beware, London tends to be much more causal than other UK cities/area, especially at lunch time, there's very much an off-duty, low key feel in most places. Unless you are going somewhere truly very posh you may feel overdressed in something fancy.

This Whistles bargain with black tights and ankle boots.

That is a bargain!

I don't want to be overdressed but I do want to look like I've made an effort if you know what I mean. SIL is v v glam and I don't want to be the county bumpkin frump

Most dresses look casual enough once you've got ankle boots and some sort of jacket on with them.

@IslaPineappple

That is a bargain!

I don't want to be overdressed but I do want to look like I've made an effort if you know what I mean. SIL is v v glam and I don't want to be the county bumpkin frump

You would not look country bumpkin in whistles!

‘Glam’ how, though?

Swathed in £2k cashmere layers of no discernible colour?

Huge Cecilie Bahnsen frock and absolutely no make up whatsoever?

Cleavage / hair extensions / false nails / competitive?

They’re all jostling against each other - and each wearer might feel either superior or sadly regretful, depending on which version of glam their companions ascribe to.

(Glamorous, to me, is being very confidently oneself - without regard to anyone else’s style.)

Glam as in always picture perfect and just so well put together. DB is an investment banker so money isn't an object but I think she would look good in Primark.

I would like to look nicely turned out with a bit of style

Have you ordered anything yet? What sort of boots do you want?

Will you have much walking to do?

Not ordered anything yet. I'll have a fair bit of walking to do, so no high heels.

I'm like a deer in the headlights.

As important as the outfit is the put together look comes from good skin/make up, hair, nails etc too.

I think you need to maybe choose boots first - ones that will fit well into your life, rather than just for this dinner - and then look at dresses to go with the boots. If you look on John Lewis, you can filter by heel height. Hard to recommend until you have an idea what kind of thing you like.