Slightly fancy pub meal

[Cocoadream]

Off for a pub meal on Saturday night with DHs side of the family. We very rarely get together and there will be a couple of new people I'll be meeting. Casual pub but due to the occasion, I feel like making an effort.

What shall I wear?

Size, preferences,budget?

Sorry are you looking to buy something for it or suggestions from what you already have?

I could tell you what I'd wear but without knowing anything about you, it wouldn't be terribly helpful.

Busty size 14, no preferences, budget around £100, something I'll want to get a lot of wear out of.

At that price range I'd go for something from Joannie.

Joannie dresses
Joannie Laura Ashley 1
Joannie Laura Ashley 2

I have that second Joanie/Ashley dress in the dark blue colour and it is absolutely gorgeous!

Normally it would be way out of my budget, but I had a wee windfall so bought myself a nice dress with it.

Haven't worn it yet, it'll be for special occasions only, but it is beautiful.

It's beautiful. And it'll be so easy to wear.

Love these dresses.

I'm going for similar on Saturday (well, Miller and Carter) and I'll wear one of my 1950s-style halter neck dresses (which I wear all the time anyway, to be fair, suppose I should get a posher version for future posh dos.)

They're not necessarily as expensive as your budget. I tend to buy from https://www.heartsandroseslondon.com/ or https://prettykittyfashion.co.uk/

I put one of the little retro cardis with it such as https://www.heartsandroseslondon.com/centifolia-rose-shrug-in-wine

I've just bought this. I'm a busty size 12 and a small was perfect. It's long on me at 5'4" but wearable. I know I'm going to get loads of wear out of it this winter.

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-bettina-tiered-midi-shirt-dress-by-maeve?category=dresses&color=001&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

If nothing else, I always feel better and more confident with a salon blow dry, or trim and blow dry.

I'm busty and a V neck suits me best. I also prefer a 3/4 arm length to cover the upper arms. Are you thinking a dress, blouse with jeans, skirt? What is your colouring or what suits you?

I like the second Joanie dress but agree it may not suit if busty.

I'd be more inclined to go separates for a pub meal, like a denim maxi skirt with a lace or silk blouse. It depends a lot on your own style though.

The Bettina dress is beautiful. I don't have it but I've seen several versions out in the wild and it's as good as the photos. The dark floral and the black and white versions look so much more expensive than they are.

(I'm amused to see on another thread that someone has confidently posted that prints are out now- yeah right)

Aw thanks everyone. Actually wondering if these are all a bit too nice for our little local. Maybe £100 including some new shoes? Love all these choices though, something a bit quirky is a great shout 😁

I’m intrigued as to how you’re going to get something reliably delivered by Saturday? Will you actually only be shopping in person?

Yes, it seems a bit pointless posting this on Wednesday evening.

Scamp and dude dresses - can dress them up or down! I wore one to a wedding actually and never had so many compliments but also dress it down with tights and boots. I’m a size 16 pear, but they’re so flattering

https://scampanddude.com/products/midi-dress-black-with-electric-blue-and-pink-snow-leopard

Just here for the inspo 🙂

Apologies - it's a week on Saturday night. Didn't think it mattered too much but any ideas welcome 😁

The Bettina dress and the Laura Ashley dresses are wearable, every day dresses for someone like me who wears dresses all the time. I'd wear them to work, to a
pub, to a restaurant, the theatre.

They work equally well as dressy up, going out special dresses for people who don't normally wear dresses.

Goodness knows what your local pub is like but I can't think of any pub I'd ever be in where either would look odd. Equally neither of them would look odd at say any top end restaurant or hotel.

Your problem is you haven't given yourself much time.

Re shoes, I'd wear them with flat lace up ankle boots at this time of year.

V neck or cross over suits busty better. I find a bit of stretch helps too. Still sad about the demise of pepperberry

LOVE the print on the dress @Fluffybagel and denim skirt is a really good shout @1035tg

I'm maybe thinking these but not quite sure on shoes. I've got olive skinny Chelsea boots which might work...

Also a blow dry might be a nice idea @SM4713

🙂

OP, do you not go out much? It's a meal in a pub with your husband's family. Everything on here is fine, including the 2 things you've picked. I don't like the Scamp and Dude dress but it's fine for the occasion. I've got some reservations about the Hearts and Roses suggestions. but that's because I don't like faux vintage but it's ok too if you're comfortable with that look.

Everything which has been suggested, including your own choices, except the Hearts and Roses, can be worn with Chelsea boots or any other style of boot. Although I'm not sure what "skinny Chelsea boots" are- Chelsea boots are ankle boots - do you just mean they're tight fitting?

If you want to make an effort I'd go with the dress you like, not the denim skirt or jumper. You could wear them to the pub but tbh if you wore them to do a supermarket shop nobody would notice them.

@NatashaDancing I relate to the OP. I go out plenty, and never had a problem choosing clothes until recently.

Suddenly everything seems wrong. Too fussy, too formal, too work-like, too young for me…

I’ve lost all my confidence in choosing going out clothes since I’ve been in my late forties, and I hate it. Getting dressed up used to be such a pleasure.

(I’m not saying OP is as old as me, but I recognise the lack of confidence in choosing).

I’m not sure it matters much what dress you wear … What people are more likely to notice is very up to date accessories / hair.

Do you own a furry gilet? If not, get one. And if it’s not pouring with rain, furry Birkenstocks or clogs with thick socks will look cooler than any boots.

This sort of thing.

Or:

Zara gilet.

With:

Something more exciting than these.