Garden party. Thoughts on this dress, please?

[28BarbaryLane]

Love the back shape and sleeve detail.
Am not well-endowed, so could even do without bra to avoid back strap showing.
https://ba-sh.com/uk/p/dress-teoli-turquoise-3664784607168.html

Just not sure I £177 worth love it!
Although I'd get a lot of occasion wear from it.

Recovering foot injury, so no heels/wedges possible.
Will these Huaraches do? They're the only comfortable flats I own:
https://www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/6/4900645008

@Neveranynamesleft
Forgot link to my metallic sandals 🙄
https://www.next.co.uk/style/st253136/d03526#d03526

@mybluemerc, thanks, will check on there later.

The dress is gorgeous and a great reduction and sounds perfect for your build. Love it in pink too. You will get a lot of wear out of it.

I love that dress OP - in fact I bought it but very reluctantly had to return…

I’m a 14/16 with a huge tummy, and they didn’t have a size 4. The size 3 fit me, but (I felt) it accentuated my tummy because it was so snug across my chest (G cup) so I sent it back. Your figure sounds better suited and you can wear it with a bra no issue, the back isn’t that low.

In general I am not a fan of the puffy sleeve vibe that is so prevalent right now, but the fabric on this is so light that it flows really well and doesn’t add absurd volume.

I also spotted someone locally wearing it recently (thinner and taller than me) and it looked great - pulled together but relaxed and not over dressed.

You can definitely wear it with those shoes.

Enjoy your garden party!!

I don't like the dress and it's way expensive. I would go for a maxi

Love the dress. I find summer dresses last for years.

I love that first dress and I bet it is beautiful fabric. You just don't get that kind of quality in New Look or wherever.

Those Next sandals are lovely....a yes from me.

Just a thought but I hope you give your charity shops a look over...you just never know what you may find...

Yes, try charity shops. Where are you based? One of the best is Mary's Living & Giving Shop for Save the Children. Great styles and quality and fair prices.

See: https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/shop/marys-living-and-giving-shops

Be comfortable in your shoes - they both have a rather thin sole - not much support? Your feet may get tired. Something with a thicker sole for cushioning?

I have this dress (and paid full price )

Have had loads of wear out of it and easy to dress up a bit or keep super casual.

I say go for it

First one is lovely, the fabric and styling look expensive, definitely nothing like a supermarket dress! I think smock tops look better on smaller bust too

No, color is awful.

It's a nice dress but can you not find another for less if budget is ian issue? It's only a dress and only one garden party, not your wedding, keep things in perspective. Do you really need to agonise about it?

First dress is gorgeous. If you can afford it and will wear it more than a couple of times it'll be worth it.

The second dress is a bit meh.

If you're still looking around, Anthropologie have a sale on: might be worth a shufti?

I love the first dress. I would wear the metallic sandals
I like these www.next.co.uk/style/st254837/d02743#d02743 as an alternative

That's an amazing site. (I prefer the dress you've linked. The colour is lovely)

I like the first dress. I think it's one of those dresses that will look effortlessly good. I think a size 12 body will look even nicer in it. Get it, you can always return it if you don't think it's worth the money.

That first dress is gorgeous OP, definitely at least order and try it on. It looks good quality and isn't absurdly expensive, it's the sort of dress that won't date so you'll get plenty of wear out of it. I think I'd prefer the look of the rose gold sandals but the other ones would also be fine with it, so go with whatever's most comfortable.

That first dress is gorgeous. If you can afford it, and think you'd get a lot of wear out of it, then go for it!

The first dress is lovely and would be perfect for the non-formal birthday garden party as certainly looks like making an effort but really pretty and easy-going looking. With the shoes, definitely the silver option - the others look too ordinary for the dress and the occasion.

The first dress is pretty but I wouldn’t pay that price tag for that kind of dress. It looks like a £50 dress to me (not that there is anything wrong with that, I wear heaps in that price range!)

I don’t like the second dress.

It seems to me to be what my mil would call "too expensive for what it is..."

I have tried this dress on, it was beautiful and such a gorgeously soft flowing fabric, sadly the colour just didn't suit me. I say go for it.

I agree, it is lovely OP.