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?

Clogs with thick socks and a furry gilet?

See? This is why I feel old. I’d feel like Robin off Ghosts.

I have no idea what to wear any more.

I’m so, so confused!

That’s stunning. I don’t need it but am seriously tempted.

Just my opinion, but I think those Joanie and similar vintage-style things are a bit frumpy. I'd go for something plainer and a bit more structured.
How about a shirt-dress? You can get cord ones for chillier weather. Or a classic cotton one if you like something lighter, maybe with a long-sleeved top in a toning or contrasting colour underneath and sleeves partially rolled up.

If it were me, I’d wear a midi dress (long black Primark one or other, or knee length parrot print Whistles dress or I’d wear a nice pair of jeans with Hush long sleeved floral top or other long sleeved tops, 1 is slightly sheer but with a bit of glitter in it (Zara).

I don't have it but it's a beautiful dress. I've seen it on several people but as it comes in several patterns and colours that doesn't matter.

I strongly disagree with whoever said it's just up to date accessories which matter.

These are the sort of thing I’m thinking of - over any dress. Given a completely empty wardrobe, lots of money and a casual pub evening where I cared about making an impression, I’d want one of these + a long easy sweater dress and some furry Marni / Birkenstock type footwear. Haven’t included sources or prices, these are just for inspiration (or not, of course).

I’d love a gilet exactly like this black / white coat.

I see where you are coming from about only accessories mattering because if you were wearing any of the ones you've linked nobody would notice what else you were wearing.

Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on how you feel about those accessories. I don't like them at all. I wouldn't care how bang up to date they are, as they're awful.

I also don't see the point of having clothes which are going to be overwhelmed by your accessories, even if they were nice accessories.

This is the type of thing I would wear too. A mesh or sheer lace top would work well with that denim skirt OP. Also a jumper like the one in your pic. I like whistles, Zara, and mango for tops. Hush so I hear is good for bigger busts, so could have some inspo on their website

Fully agree @DareDevil223.

Op, I love the skirt and jumper you posted and they’d look cool paired with the olive ankle boots you mentioned as well. Or even a button down shirt instead of the jumper? I just think the printed midi/maxi whatever has been done to death (just imo, I know it’s a staple for loads of women).

Most Joanie dresses, especially the recent Laura Ashley collaboration, look absolutely awful on anyone busty due to the matronly monobosom that they create! Sorry.

I'm a curvy 12 and look horrendous in those Joanie dresses. They make me look totally square and about three times my size.

I think that sack/tent look really works only on very tall, very thin, very straight up-and-down people and even then it's very much a matter of taste.

How about a pair of palazzo trousers with a dressy top? Or a knitted dress with boots in warm autumn colours?

These are just hideous sorry. I don't know anyone that would wear anything like this, especially on a night at a pub.

Furry gilets!! Get them while you can.

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.

I like that they emphasise the hip to waist ratio, which flatters everyone. Also I'm single and men recognize them as pretty and making an effort, I get a lot of compliments on them.

I used to be into Laura Ashley etc but got no compliments (at least from men) on my cottagecore including Laura dresses. They just see them as conservative dresses. Maybe a couple of men like them as a 'kink'/preference for the 'wholesome' woman. I also think Laura Ashley clothes in recent decades tend to have not much of a waist and that makes people look fatter than they are.

But each to their own. If I had more money I'd probably get some Vivienne of Holloway as I've heard they're posh for vintage style, but actually there's not much up there at the mo that I like because of the odd prints, and they're out of OP's budget.

Denim skirts (or denim at all really) I would never wear but I'm quite girly in my tastes.

Years ago a friend of mine had a lovely Vivienne of Holloway dress with a print that you would expect, feminine/floral. Maybe those ones I'm not even looking at because of the price lol.

Well another poster on here has said she owns one and loves it and is looking forward to wearing it.

I agree! Perhaps I am missing something but these look shapeless and frumpy to me - even the model doesn’t look good in them! Perhaps it’s a current fashion thing that I simply don’t understand??

Sadly (because it wouldn'tve been the case with the early Laura Ashley) the dresses make even the models look much fatter than they are. The only tolerable (though still wouldn't be that eye catching to a bloke in itself) one is this one https://joanieclothing.com/laura-ashley-x-joanie-rhian-gracie-floral-print-midi-dress.html but I don't like the collar.

I wouldn't wear even that one to a more glam do either, but like a PP said, I wear dresses all the time. I had some modernish Laura Ashley ones (from charity shop) but I binned them for shapelessness.

A whole of lot of thinking has clearly' gone on here about 'men' (as a homogenous blob who all feel and think the same) and what they find attractive and why. I have to say it's never crossed my mind whether something I wear might appeal to a man with a 'kink' for a 'wholesome woman' (whatever that means).
God forbid that a man might not compliment a woman on what she's wearing because he's decided it doesn't look as if she's made an effort.

I'd never wear anything with the idea in mind that it might please the menfolk. I wear what I like, what I am comfortable in and what I feel is flattering - for myself, no-one else.

A furry gilet over a jumper dress sounds lovely for a country walk, but far too warm for a pub lunch, especially if there's a log fire burning. Maybe it's just me, but I can't bear feeling too warm and not being able to shed any layers to cool down.