Dinner at Le Gavroche - what to wear?

[SatelliteStomper]

DH has booked us dinner at Le Gavroche for my 50th birthday next month. I have nothing to wear (including decent shoes)!

I live in jeans and trainers and have put on half a stone since we last went anywhere that required a bit of an effort. The only vaguely appropriate thing I have is a couple of Cos silk/cotton cocoon dresses bought before lockdown, one in a kind of orangey-red and one in silver-grey. No idea if they would be ok really.

I know the usual answer on these threads is, no one makes an effort in London (and I would generally agree), but it is a big birthday and it is the tasting menu at LG, so... I'd like to feel a bit special.

Any thoughts on comfortable but lovely things I could try? I'm 5' 7" , size 14, don't like fussy stuff, would like to hide my stomach 😆

Oh it's all those "out of towners" and "the bridge and tunnel brigade" and "tourists"

The Cos dress is very suitable.

I have the cocoon dress in navy and wear it with clicky flats like the hermes sandal type thing (more like the primark version).

Only thing is, it gets so tight across my ribs when I eat, I can only wear it for standing up drinks!

It looks perfect for the occasion you describe.

Yes to the red dress, and I love those sandals with it as well!

I'm a great one for dressing up - I wear a sequinned top just to go up our local Indian. Personally I think if you are going to a nice smart restaurant then why not go the whole hog and dress accordingly, even if noone else is.

Rich foreigners and out-of-towners mostly. Bond Street is a pale shadow of its former self. Oxford Street is a slum. Savile Row is a ghost town. The last few department stores that are hanging on are not long for this world.

Who is wearing all the Rixo, Ganni and Me and Em of upmarket London high streets ie Kings Road?

The dress looks amazing on you. Enjoy your meal 😊

You're right to say people don't dress up in London, but I think it's also fair to say that if you want to dress up others won't bat an eyelid. So don't worry about that.
Enjoy!

Love the red dress! I've been lucky enough to go to Le Gavroche twice and both times I have worn a nice dress and not felt too dressed up. They seemed more relaxed for men last year than the previous time (10 years ago!) But women seemed to be in dresses, or smart trousers with a pretty top.

You lucky thing! I have been lucky enough to eat at Le Gavroche a few times, lunch and dinner, including when I was a Londoner! I always dressed up (even for lunch, including heels!) and never felt out of place. Husband had to wear a jacket too. It is a truly special place and it is a thrill to go there!

I also have that Cos dress and love it. It is perfect!

Enjoy every moment!

It depends on your style. When I e been to Le Gavtoche it was a few years ago when most people dressed up.

I was outside the main branch of The Ivy (Leicester square) recently and everyone going in was very dressed up.

The red dress is great on you. And just right for Le Gavroche.

However, order the Cos one try it on and you can maybe wear it somewhere else.

OP I don't have a recommendation of specific outfits, but I just wanted to link a video I saw a few days ago from a online personal stylist I like.

It's how to dress to disguise your stomach, I know the title says size 16-18 but the women is more like a 12-14, and while some of the outfits are a bit casual, maybe they will give you some inspiration.

Both dresses will look great

I was in the Ivy the other day and everyone looked very presentable.

No one was wearing jeans, apart from my Teen DS but there's no way he'd wear anything else, but the rest of us dressed appropriately so he didn't stick out.

I have just read the menu, just wear anything that won’t be damaged by drool and accidental spills !

Have a lovely meal, it looks wonderful. Happy Birthday. Come back and take us through your menu.,

Just seen this. You look amazing, and I like the shoes too.

Red dress is lovely. I’ve been a few times, once for the tasting menu and a couple of times for the lunch deal they used to do which they sadly no longer do. I tend to wear wide leg trousers and a snazzy top as I’m not a dress person.

The lighting in there is fairly dim though so you won’t notice too much about what others are wearing, it’s about you feeling good.

See Michel Roux as a bonus if he’s there. He was there 1 of 3 times I have been and did come round all the tables and have a chat. He was charming.

Food is delicious! I did object to being told to look up the menu on my phone post covid though, there is no reception as it’s a basement and they didn’t even provide us with paper menus (August 2020). I think you’re paying enough to get given a menu!! I hope that has now changed. Despite that my son still says it’s the best meal he’s ever had and the sauces were exquisite. (It was a treat for him as a late teen).

Oh and the jacket rule for men no longer applies. (They used to keep spare jackets though in case anyone forgot one!)

Haha I hear ya! it's the same crap when people say London is full of grumps. It's like this weird part of London that only non Londoners know about 😂

Thanks all! I'm feeling good about the red, and will just need to find some shoes. The ones I'm wearing in the photo are probably just a bit high for me (although v comfy). They do actually look ok in real life as they're a contrasting colour but I think maybe a bit OTT - don't want to be wobbling across the restaurant when I want to look all classy, like...

I'm very excited about going to Le Gavroche, it's been top of my restaurant wishlist for years. Would be great to meet Michel too, fingers crossed! We're not strangers to the high-end experience, I guess, but LG is something special. I will definitely report back on the food!

Go for high heels! A meal out is a great chance to wear them as you're sat down for most of the time!