Yes or no...

[sugarmatches]

Been invited to the February wedding party of one of dh's work colleagues. He is a great guy, but his fiancee is one of those snobby, designer label clad London clones that I don't have much time for anymore.

Problem is I want to be as stylish as possible without spending too much. I know labels count with this crowd and dh has a lot of contacts who'll be going.

I found this and wonder if it will be dressy enough. The wedding is at a registry office and we are only going to the party (on a boat cruising the Thames), but is this too casual?? It is a bit short, but I have good (enough) legs and if I wear tights.

I don't want to wear black because I always wear black!!

I don't like it. Try somewhere like Whistles you might get something you coudl at least wear again. and it won't necessarily cost upwards of £400

I never thought of Whistles!!
Thanks bundle!

Message withdrawn

Who gives a monkeys what labels 'they' like....
House of Fraser sale?
2nd hand also a good bet - no they would not know.
Or something boutiquey, not as expensive but one off?

Agree that you'd be better off spending money on a coat. i did that for a winter wedding recently - splashed out on a coat, got headgear, shoes etc to match, and wore an LBD underneath. Every single photograph was taken either outside or in freezing rooms, so even though I probably wasn't the one wearing the best dress, I looked fab (if I say so myself) and much better than those who thuoght of the coat as an afterthought.

How about something like this?

I thought they were only going to the party afterwards - hard to keep a coat on all night.

Missed that bit - but it is on a boat.....on the Thames...in Feb....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

It is on a nice, heated boat
The coat thing really wont work as it is a party.

In which case I would honestly go for a simple dress (black perhaps) and go to town on the accerssories - drop dead v.expensive shoes / sandals, bag, etc. especially if you wouldn't normally buy such expensive things

I am far more envious of fab shoes and bags than dresses. But then I am a bit strange. And have fat feet

Fab coat though Waynetta and a bargain price!

Message withdrawn

Is the party late afternoon / early evening? If so, I would get a cocktail type frock, and you could get some use out of it afterwards.

I like your name insanityclause

A tad 'over' now - like my wardrobe.

£500 on a dress??

I just bought this.

I really like it and I know I will wear it again and again. My younger sister is getting married this year and I think this will work for that as well. So when you think about it that way it justifies the cost...which is what I am telling myself!!

I am going to wear it with these really gorgeous vintage looking pumps I got from Topshop last summer, so I wont have to buy shoes.

I know it is still a bit Audrey FForbes-Hamilton, but I think it is pretty.

And I know it is too much for a dress and that I should not play their games, but things are different in London. The professional life in London is just consumerism gone mad, but dh is in the thick of it. If he ever wants to get on that higher earning bracket, we need to play the game.