Outfit for birthday party

[stringbean]

Going to a 50th birthday party in a few weeks and no idea what to wear. Evening event at local sports club venue. I always seem to get this sort of thing wrong - probably because I don't go out v often. Can I wear coated jeans (skinny) or black trousers and silk shirt, or do I need to wear a dress? Don't have any 'party' type dresses as they don't really suit me - can do wrap/shirt dress but they're more day/casual work style rather than party. Really don't want to buy anything new, and more comfortable in trousers. Thoughts?

Don’t do jeans. And definitely not black trousers - they’re such a uniform item nowadays, you’ll look like catering staff.

The silk shirt is a good start. Could you find a silk(y) bias cut skirt or some louche, flowy trousers in the same colour? Great hair, grooming, accessories would make a fine, nicely grown up outfit.

Thanks for suggestions - I do have a silky bias cut skirt but with silk shirt looks like I'm wearing a nightie. I don't have wide cut trousers - mine are still all cropped and a bit narrow - might need to pursue that again and look elsewhere. Have ordered some from Cos in the past but they swamped me ( and I'm 5'8) - not sure where else to try.

Wardrobe is really in need of an update but I WFH full time and don't have much of a social life, so anything new I buy for these occasions never gets worn again. Would love to have an effortless outfit I could just pull out of my wardrobe for this sort of thing!

Wear whatever you like and suits you! Pinterest is really helpful at pulling together wearable looks. Your shirt and coated jeans sound ok, but it depends on the colours, cut, fit etc. Would you upload a picture? Also how posh is the venue - it sounds like a jeans and a nice top place to me but maybe it’s more dressy?

BTW my go to for these situations would be a jumpsuit as I find them comfortable and easy to wear, more dressy than top and trousers but less smart than a dress

Selection from the Massimo Dutti sales. (Tap photos for prices.)

Thanks for the suggestions - not sure I am brave (or thin!) enough to try anything like the pictures posted. Like the idea of a jumpsuit and do have one, but got the dress code wrong at a previous party when I wore it and felt overdressed and uncomfortable (it's the only time it's been worn). Maybe I'm just over-thinking it: sound stupid, but have lost some self-confidence in past couple of years so find this kind of thing really tricky.