London party outfit

[mamaduckbone]

I've been invited to a party in July - it's a joint 50th birthday bash for 4 of dh's old
Uni friends. They were all very Hoxton and trendy when we lived down in London, but I never was really part of that set and we've lived elsewhere for 20 odd years now so am completely out of touch.

Although we're now all middle aged with kids I know the London lot will still be super stylish. Please help, oh wise mumsnet stylistas - I don't want to look like a small town primary school teacher (even though that's what I am!)
Size 10-12, 5'5", most comfortable in a stripy t-shirt, jeans and converse.

I'd say anything from anthropologie would fit the bill- lots of lovely midi dresses.

Ugh, competitive under-dressing is so boring and such a typical sneery southerner type of post which you always get on these threads.

I bought the perfect boy dressy nice trousers yesterday from sweaty Betty of all places. French navy, twill wide leg cargo pant. Slightly tapered at the ankle. Flat fronted.

id wear them with a whit t shirt (arket or whistles) do the best, and tan chunky sandals. Couple of gold layered necklaces, gold hoops, gooey no make up make up and my new obsession- orange lippy.

I have a raffia clutch I might use as well. Hair up in an undone bun.

*Dewy not gooey. 😂

OP I literally would go in my pyjamas - the so called co-ord set is supercool much more practical than a jumpsuit because you can go for a pee without incident, and you can wear as seperates too so win win. There are lots around in linen, I have https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/tops/product.printed-silk-shirt-blue.1163689002.html have worn it a few times I feel elegant not overdone (because basically PJ's) but not stuffy. I am 50+ north Londoner and would wear with hoxtonites

I'd just wear something very me and not worry about fitting in. You have your own style for a reason because you (presumably) love it and it makes you feel amazing as well as comfortable.
Otherwise everyone would look like boring clones, however cool they think they look, with no sense of personal style.

There was a recent thread about a poster spotting a bunch of very glitzly dressed women in Kensington. Poster was told they must have been "out of towners" and "part of the bridge and tunnel brigade out for a girls' night out".

The women were having lunch and according to the poster from the overhead conversation they were local mums.

I particularly liked the "Bridge and tunnel brigade" comment -it was new to me, wasn't sure what it meant but it conveyed such shameless snobbery. Turned out the person using it didn't know what it meant either.

This is such a helpful thread - I'm entering my later forties, live in the Midlands and never know what to wear to anything! Hope you have a great time at the party OP.

@NatashaDancing 'bridge and tunnel' is from New York - anyone who doesn't live in Manhattan has to get there via a bridge or a tunnel. Hence not really trendy/fashionable Manhattanite types. Think Melanie Griffiths and everyone coming in to Manhattan from Staten Island in Working Girl. Although from there you actually have to get a ferry......

TK Maxx has some lovely Rixo dresses at the moment

My feeling is that people won't be that dressed up and jeans, pumps, and a nice top with a bit of jewellery would be just fine.

I'd wear something like this top with blue or ecru jeans, pumps or ankle boots, a small necklace and some hoop or drop earrings (why do these threads always lead to my buying clothes?)

https://www.johnlewis.com/mint-velvet-twist-knot-vest-top-black/p6263855

Co-ord sets are a good call too if you are feeling more bold, but if you are at home in jeans, wear jeans. If you want to wear a dress and heels that would be fine too. When I was younger we all used to phone one another and ask "Are you wearing a DRESS?" But now people don't care whether one of them is in a dress and heels and their mates are in jeans, which is a good thing IMO.

Bright jumpsuit definitely! And you can get a fresh new pair of trainers to wear with it. If you're not used to heels, you'll be annoyed and miserable all night with sore feet. (I went to a wedding reception recently where all of the women – except me – were smart enough to bring trainers for dancing in. I felt left out because my bloody feet hurt so much.)

Ooo good to know thanks x

Agreed with this. I’m not far from Kent (on borders) and one local town tends to be very dressy day or night not necessarily sequins but I’ve seen women out for lunch and dinner in dresses by Ted Baker, Reiss etc and in evenings and parties you’re either young so you don’t give a F and it’s a glitzy top with jeans or it’s full on glam. Head into certain trendy parts of London though and it’s very much like OP and her friends, dressed down if anything.

Whenever I’ve seen co ord sets recently they remind me of pyjamas which is probably the main point of them, I do think you need to have the character and sass to pull these off.

But it's neither sneering nor competitve - there are posts about what to wear in That London on here all the time as if it's another bloody planet? Nobody here cares what anybody else is wearing provided it doesn't stink and isn't covered in offensive symbols, which is why we genuinely don't understand why people get so worked up about it.

I establish the weather then go to my wardrobe and put on clothes that I like and want to wear. That's all. If other people want to buy and wear jumpsuits and blazers with white trainers, more power to them. I don't, so I won't.

I love the yellow and green version of that @Brillenbar47 ! Do they have the matching trousers too - I can't find them linked on the page?

Because I buy things I like and then find a reason to wear them (I have a lot of things), I’d either pull out a Norma Kamali jumpsuit (I grab them in the sales, they are a design classic and super comfortable) or something from COS, because they have interesting shapes. So simple, easy, but designed.
Trainers or sandals. Interesting jewelry like a cuff. Would probably stick my hair up, but not neatly?

(Unfortunately, I have another extreme in me that likes patterns and shops at Sézane and Farm Rio, but that’s not for this).

You are me @Pachangas!
Thank you, I'm sure it will be fantastic fun.

Hear, hear!

The beauty about London is that anything goes and no-one care, so wear what you bloody well want and feel great in.

Yes , I found that out. Although apparently due to changing demographics in NY, it's not quite the insult it used to be (and made no sense in a London context anyway)

You give me too much credit. I’m just really f’ing lazy. I’m far from the carefully put together under-dressers you see. If that’s how it comes across, it’s just luck.

For me you can't beat a vinted bargain. I'd look at all saints dresses, they do some gorgeous silk ones in a variety of colours. I'd pair with chunky sandals/boots (weather dependent), a statement necklace and a leather jacket.

I wouldn't describe this particular London scene as 'casual'. 'Low key' or 'undressy' perhaps but, from what I've seen (at family events and similar) it's a very considered look. The insistence that no-one notices what you wear is somewhat undermined by the references (on this thread and others) to 'out of towners', along with a photographic recall of outfits spotted in Kent, Manchester and Liverpool. Basically, I don't believe no-one cares and I can understand your anxiety.

That said, I wouldn't buy anything just for this occasion, especially when you've got other demands on your cash. However lovely these people are, you didn't keep in touch and it's quite possible you won't see them again for at least another 10 years. But if you do buy something new, I think the advice to go for upmarket versions of what you'd normally wear is good. In particular, I'd avoid a new jumpsuit because, from memory (I've not tried one this time around) they can feel a bit weird the first couple of wears and that's the last thing you need.

If it were me, I'd probably aim for a ratio of two dress-down items and one dress-up. So I might wear my favourite jeans (or it it's too warm, some ankle length, loose fitting trews or combats) with a loose fitting silk shirt, and then on top, something like one of those canvas 'workwear' jackets. Then if I realise I've misjudged and everyone's looking smart than expected, I can just take off the jacket. Or alternatively, I might wear the jeans (or whatever) with a T shirt and, over that, a vintage 50s/60s jacket, which I could take off if it felt too much, or leave on if not.

They're all things I've already got in my wardrobe and I'm not suggesting you go and buy similar but hopefully you get the idea: a 2.1 dress down/dress up ratio with layers that you can either keep on or take off once you're there and you've weighed up the scene.

Hope you have a good time.

I was out in Brixton on Sunday and it was anything but dressed down. I have never seen such amazing outfits, hair, nails and outstanding platform shoes/trainers.
When we went to see the Nutcracker at ROH at Xmas a girl in the toilets asked DD "Are you a gypsy, they wear dresses like that" in a very unpleasant tone.
I think some people dress up and some dress down regardless of class, race and location. But being a sneery bully is unpleasant in either direction.

@Floisme I can’t think of a more apt description of the ‘London scene’ as you describe it than casual, tbh. We prioritise comfort. Yes, it might be a considered and put together look in some people, but it’s just as likely to be someone checking the weather forecast that morning, opening their wardrobe, and pulling out comfortable weather-appropriate clothes they like, regardless of whether they’re going for a walk in Hampstead Heath or to a high end rooftop bar.

I have no idea why stating this fact is seen as a) sneery, or b) bullying.