Styling help for a special outfit. Which of these patterns do you prefer? And what accessories?

[SpanielsByTheSea]

I’ve got my eye on this dress for a couple of special days out on London (art show/ play with nice lunches) with friends and an anniversary dinner on the coast. I’ve got bobbed mid brown hair and blue eyes, in my forties. Slimmish, with typical middle aged bumps.

The dress I like comes in five lovely, but quite different fabrics. Which of these dress fabrics do you prefer? What accessories/ shoes would work for a comfortable but contemporary look (both friends are very stylish dressers with pared down but beautiful styles). I’d love to make up an outfit that feels really good to wear.

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-bettina-tiered-shirt-dress2?category=dresses&color=050&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

I love the pink!

Blue

Accessories - red, hot pink or bright yellow. I think. I'm not sure, I'm rubbish at accessorizing, sorry.

Entirely depends on what colours suit you best. I'd wear the pink or the blue but I'm cool toned.

If you could I’d get each one - the nicest dress in the loveliest patterns I’ve seen for ages 👍🏿☘️

Green. But if it's green I usually love it

Just ordered the Bettina in blue - what a pretty dress!

Love the pink and blue

Thank you! Pink and blue were my first choices, as I’m cool toned too. I’ve seen the green on a blonde lady and it looked great.

I am going to go for the blue with cobalt Saltwaters and a navy gauzy poncho from Brora 🙂

Pink (although the site calls it purple) blue or green.

I agree it's one of the nicest dresses linked to recently.

At £120 it's not cheap but it looks much more expensive than that.

Love them all apart from the red, but that’s to do with the pattern not the colour. Gorgeous dress!

The red, definitely

Please don't wear Saltwaters with it OP. You'll turn a nice dress into frumpsville.

Oh no, not saltwaters - that’s the wrong mix

So maybe not Saltwaters. ‘Frumpy’ doesn’t bother me particularly, I wear loads of stuff Mumsnetters would call frumpy, but I at least want well put together, maybe a little interesting frumpy 🙂

What alternative to flat sandals would work? I’m not into the white leather trainers with dresses look, as it’s a bit too everywhere for me. Last weekend, it was very evident as the ‘day visitor in Covent Garden’ uniform. Is there are more interesting but comfortable alternative?

Clogs?? I like Lotta from Stockholm, loads of different colours and styles and heel heights

That is a lovely dress op!

Garden blue then pink/purple.

I'd wear saltwaters - horrified to hear they are frumpy but I'd still wear them!

I hate the word frumpy ☹️ I don’t think Saltwaters are frumpy, they’re just a very different vibe iykwim.

I second Lotta - the open toe ones esp would look good with that dress I think.

I don't see the problem with the Saltwater sandals. Are these them?

I would probably wear ballet pumps - Might wear the Saltwater or possibly the Dune Hermès dupes.

Saltwater Cobalt

NatashaDancing they are the ones. Although I'm now wondering about white or pewter.

I love the clogs, they look really cool. But there is no way that I could manage twenty thousand steps in London in them! I might get them for my anniversary meal though.

Low wedge espadrilles

I don't own these so have no idea re sizing, comfort, wearability, or durability but they would look good.

Or these? The link looks as if they are children's shoes but they come in adult sizes.

I don't consider these to be trainers (if the "trainers and dresses are dated" thing bothers you) I never wear trainers with anything as I don't own any but I would wear these. Again I don't own them so can't speak for sizing, etc.

Trotter's Hamptons

Love the purple pink and now want it myself 😂. As for shoes/sandals i recently purchased espadrilles wedges from shein. The most comfortable summer sandles i have. 😁

Did there used to be another brand called "Anthropologie" or possibly "Anthropology"? I remember there being a large shop which sold clothes and homeware but was basically tat. I haven't been in my local Anthropoligie as I assumed it was the same.

I don’t remember one. When we were in the US (CA and MA) it was a basically a middle-class lifestyle brand beloved of yummy mummies, affluent ex-hippies and lawyers who fancied themselves as ‘creatives’ at the weekend. It’s not cheap, but wasn’t super expensive either. I’ve not been in a UK store. I’ve never bought clothes from there before so I’ll update you as to whether it’s tat when the frock arrives!

Green or blue!!! Gorgeous

i love Seasalts. But the walking… eeek. I’d suck up sneakers for the day tbh. Sore feet will sap the joy out of the day!