Am I going to look ridiculous?

[Wahtnow]

It's my sports club Christmas party, not fancy, at a WMC although our members aren't WMC people, on the whole.

It's Christmas, I'd like to dress up a bit, although probably not strictly necessary.

I have this dress, I know its a bit middle aged try hard and dated, but it's comfy, fits well and feels good on. My shoulders are a good feature and I have decent legs. Plus I don't have time to look at other options.

I was thinking with opaque tights and chunky ankle boots, or maybe bare fake tanned legs and the chunky boots?
https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls261432/p35232#p35232

Boots with this dress would be absolutely fine. The suede ones sound fine. I'd pair it with an oversized camel coat and not bother with a bag.

you all sound like my mum
My dd would wear all these with grungy boots. But she is 16.
So maybe it is an age thing??

I think your first dress is lovely - not sure why you would describe it as 'middle-aged, try-hard and dated'!

I think it may look OK with the navy suede block heeled ankle boots . Not sure what tights though .

I don't think the dresses will look balanced with chunky boots unless you wear a chunky knit over the magenta dress. If you get too hot, opt for evening shoes to balance. Pop the shoes in your bag and swap them over if you have to walk.

Magenta dress would look good with biker jacket and boots. But if you take the jacket off it might look not quite right.

I like pp suggestion of a knit - friend of mine recently wore a similar style sequinned dress with a loose fitting mohair style jumper over it and boots. Then took jumper off and changed to heels later.

It's all subjective, but the grungey boots with girly dress thing has always looked a bit cringe and cliched to me. You don't have to go to the opposite extreme and wear high strappy sandals. As PPs have said there are plenty of glam flats around, or shoes with a small heel. A pointed toe goes a long way to giving a slinky effect.
But as I say all subjective, and if you want to play down the sexiness of your dress, chunky boots is one way to go.

I like both dresses and don't think they're middle-aged or try-hard at all.

Having said that, wearing boots with the first navy one WILL look mismatched and frumpy. It screams 'I'm too old and tired to do high heels any more and don't care if it doesn't match'.

You can still wear flat shoes and avoid the discomfort of heels- you just need to go for some pretty flats that are a bit more dainty and will not make your legs look stumpy the way boots might. These are expensive but a good idea of the right kind of thing: https://www.frenchsole.com/store/collections/summer/london-quilt-silver-leather-lon04/

Or wear your boots to and from the party and bring strappy heels to change into in your bag.

With the magenta dress you might have more wiggle room with styling.

I don't claim to be any kind of style expert, obviously, but the flat dainty shoes look far more frumpy and like you've given up high heels than boots to me.

I mean ballet pumps...?

What a pointless word the word "frumpy" is. Here's this year's Vogue article on why ballet flats are in.

It's all subjective but I think party flats are much more stylish than "killer heels" which to my eyes look terribly dated.

Ballet Flats the shoe of 2023

So far as boys, some dresses go with any type of footwear. The Nobody's Child dress on another thread is one- some silk slip dresses are the same. The silk dress and boots combo was edgy years ago. It's mainstream now and nothing wrong with that.

The first dress isn't however in that category and would look odd with boots.

It's all subjective but I agree that boots with the first one won't look edgy but just stuck for what to wear.

Of the 2 dresses I much prefer the second one. The first one is a very safe corporate dinner dance dress, which is maybe why boots won't work.

I mean ballet pumps...?
As worn by schoolgirls who walk with a shuffle. Ghastly things that are bad for the feet.

Would platforms work for you OP? Lots around, like these from Next - but just google, there's loads. They're glitzy, edgy, usually comfortable, and lots of colours too.

Could you post pictures of the black and the blue boots?

Noooo to ballet pumps. Chunky boots are much more “in”. If you really want some sort of sparkly shoe go for something chunky with a platform, the kind we all wore clubbing in the 90s if you’re in your 40s like me. All the rage again.

I don't like the first dress at all but think the magenta one will look great with chunky boots and biker jacket.

Just a personal opinion but if you're going down the dressing down a dress route with boots I think it works if the boots make a definite statement so that they're a deliberate choice- not "what the hell do I wear choice". I think it's best with utilitarian boots flat, lace ups ( no side zips) Docs/ Solvair/Lanx or real cowboy boots.

I don't think neat block heeled boots work that well.

I don't like the blue dress and beyond wearing plain, but not party, flat shoes I don't think it can be dressed down.

Here's a very badly drawn picture of your dress with ankle boots 😂 FWIW, I think boots are fine with both your dresses - both of which are lovely!

I'd be inclined to balance 'em off with a big cuff/bangle.

Floaty dresses don't always have to be complemented with fragile little accessories, they can play tough too.

Agreed. The magenta dress is much nicer.

I’m with you on the ballet pumps thing OP, I honestly think most people who aren’t Audrey Hepburn look a bit meh in them (and do not give off a vibe of having kept up with whatever Vogue is saying in that article)

"you all sound like my mum
My dd would wear all these with grungy boots. But she is 16.
So maybe it is an age thing?"

I know! I agree. I think boots can be worn with most dresses. But MN seems to attract people who like a more "traditonal" look. Not my cup of tea really.

I'm not sure why what someone's 16 year old daughter would wear is particularly relevant. I doubt there are many 16 year olds on here looking for advice. The poster who suggested her 16 year old as a style icon didn't mention if she herself wore dresses with boots.

But Docs and Doc style boots with dresses is a pretty mainstream look (nothing wrong with that). I'm 64 for reference and will be wearing dresses and utilitarian flat lace up boots with dresses for the next few months - except when I'm wearing ballet flats. (Will not ever be wearing platforms - they were horrible when I was a teenager and haven't improved)

Each to their own but if I did need reassurance about what it was OK to wear I think I'd pay more attention to Vogue than MN.

Each to their own but if I did need reassurance about what it was OK to wear I think I'd pay more attention to Vogue than MN

This should be pinned to the top of the S&B board

Lovely dresses, I probably wouldn't wear boots with either though, perhaps low strappy heels (if you don't want high heels)

I think op, that you've been your own worst enemy with that 'middle aged, try hard, dated' introduction. You sound to me as if you have as strong a sense of style as any other poster. Quite honestly I would trust your instincts but, since you're asking for opinions, I think the first kind of dress is, as a rule, easier to wear. Slip dresses can look gorgeous but, unless they fit really well, they can be very unforgiving.

As for footwear, I know lots of posters love delicate, strappy shoes but I don't and it doesn't sound like you do either so for pity's sake, don't buy some just for one event! I've not been out at night much recently but family members have and, from what I've seen, chunky boots with a party dress is, as a previous poster has said, still a perfectly mainstream look and not in the least 'out there'. The only thing I'd say is not to do it half heartedly so I'd go for your chunkiest. I also second the advice from another poster to pick some equally chunky accessories so that it doesn't just look like you didn't have any other shoes.

I'd probably pay more attention to tights. I've not kept up with this as I hardly ever wear dresses but, from what I've seen and heard, it sounds like sheer and maybe patterned is the way to go if you want to look current?