What to wear for the West End London at 3pm - dinner afterwards

[CoconutNoodles]

Please send help.

Next Sunday, I'm going to see a musical at the West End and dinner afterwards. It is for a 2nd date so a little more thought on my outfit wouldn't go amiss.

I'm stuck with a very boring and casual wardrobe and this needs to change.

I usually wear modest clothing as in not showing / revealing too much. I want to create a classic / chic / feminine style, somewhat "French". Traditional but not boring. Versatile. Comfort is important to me.

I'm young looking 46 transitioning to silver hair so I want to create contrast with my outfits and not look like someone's grandma. Looking to create a grown up but fun and somehow low key sexy style. I'm very careful with prints and prefer them in dresses rather than just the top or just the bottom. I'm about 5'5, between 50-55 kg.

Please help me with photos and links. My budget is not massive but I'm willing to use my credit card and take the plunge. I need help with the whole shebang: outfit / shoes / jacket... I have only a few days to get this sorted!

Challenge your Sali Hughes, she looks fab

Those Mary Janes look horrible too, am I missing something?

I do think part of it is the way the company are styling them. I'm seeing horrible skirts and bad trousers for lots of the shoes and it's making them look really dated and frumpy which I'm sure they're not.

I really love the cream Mary Janes.

I don't yet but might do. Re the "floral dress" thread they would take any floral dress into a new ballpark.

@NatashaDancing I don't do floral dresses (I can completely see you in the blue Bathsheba one that you posted though). I wear mine with cropped kick-flare cashmere trousers (black), black cashmere polo-neck, oversize cats eye sunnies.

It's a nod to the beatniks.

OP, I ordered the Reiss jumpsuit. Excellent find!

Very good luck on your date!

Hooray, fab bargain

Let's exchange reviews once it arrives

Nothing, they're just not your thing. I find them all remarkably underwhelming. I'm great lover of footwear though and the right pair is incredibly important for every outfit I wear.

not the dm's I called this earlier

@Iwantthepenthouse possibly!

It's fine not to 'get' something.

What do you wear on your feet?

That's an entirely neutral question btw. I'm not about to deride your footwear choices.

I would love to know what you wear! I was a one time Imelda Marcos who has now morphed into a sneakers/loafers/ankle boots type. None of them perfect.

They aren't me.

But a £295 shoe will never be me!

My most expensive shoe is a £69 pair of boots from M&S...reduced to £19 in the sale. 😂

I wear all sorts really.
Trainers
Chelsea boots
Mary Janes but either flat or chunkier
Birkenstocks in the summer
Brogues

@mikado1 Another Imelda here! For Spring, I'm currently wearing last season's clogs, Western boots, sandals, new season flats, etc but I don't like plain styles. I like statement footwear because for me, fashion is fun.

I probably have around 60 pairs of shoes as well. I haven't counted recently. Some of them are ancient but are Hobbs and LK Bennett basic, neat heeled courts - not outrageously fashionable when bought and not outrageously out of date now.

Lots from Pretty Ballerina. Two pairs of flat black over the knee boots and 4 pairs of flat, lace up "Lancashire mill lass" ankle boots.

Absolutely!

Hope you find something wonderful to wear.

Yes, I liked the fun/unusual type too in the 00s... I think maybe I wore more skirts and wideleg jeans so they went better with them maybe .. These days I'm not so sure what I like or what can work. Also...comfort!

Agree that you should keep it simple and sleek. I’d stay away from prints completely, actually.

Have you ever considered slicking your hair back, op? The cut and length is slightly awkward and emphasises the stark contrast of silver and brown/black. Slicking it back would make it look a little less severe, but also really tie in with the sexy, effortless look you want to achieve.

I know, I had an awful hair cut in December, I think my hairdresser was very unhappy I decided to not dye anymore. My hair is actually very curly and when I go out I get professionaly blowdried but not sure if they can style it back after a blow dry? I kind of do it at home but use a lot of products and the hair don’t feel fresh and clean @Lanadelfrey

Your hairdresser would be able to style it back as part of the blow dry so it doesn’t have that super super wet look, but if it’s the same stylist who gave you a bad cut out of spite I wouldn’t trust them! I just think your hair slicked back with the Reiss jumpsuit would look so sleek. Wearing it curly would give a more fresh, effortless look which would work as well.

Thank you
I will never go back to that hairdresser again

Actually curly looks worse becausd the haircut is truly awful and I’m still figuring out what works and I like to change it a bit when I want to feel more special. Will try the style you suggested;)

I did the same a couple of weeks ago (matinee/dinner).

I wore wide leg jersey trousers from M&S in black with a black and cream striped top from Zara and black blazer. Shoes wise I wore black pointed flats. I jazzed it up with a soft red pashmina and red bag. Before going on to the restaurant I freshened up with a pair of 'evening' earrings, a brighter lipstick. A spritz of perfume and another coat of mascara and I was good to go. I might not have been the most glamorous person in the restaurant but I felt good.

Yay, how funny, I planned to use my red bag and my low platform ballerina pointed toes and find a fun earring to wear. Bought a black pleated skirt from M&S in case I choose the cobalt top rather than the jumpsuit.
Blazer will be a struggle though and the skirt is black it won’t look good

Jeans always

I don't imagine jeans would be very comfortable to sit in a theatre seat for two hours, but then I rarely wear jeans. I certainly wouldn't wear them on a date.

Since I didn't actually answer I'd likely wear a short dress or maybe a pleather mini with a cashmere sweater or ballet wrap and tights with boots. Possibly this one https://www.allsaints.com/hali-gene-butterfly-print-mini-dress/5059786317920.html, which has served me well these last few months. Gold jewellery or maybe a hefty belt