School reunion - help me with outfit

[stinkingbishop]

35 years on. Will be spring time. Evening do in hotel with drinks and 80s playlist.

Desired response - "she's looking great....lovely but approachable" vs "blimey what happened to Stinking" or "she's tried waaaay too hard". I know I shouldn't care, more important to catch up with everyone...sue me for being human!

Size 10/12. 5ft 3. Strawberry blonde and freckles - suit blue/green. Early onset bingo wings so need upper arms covering. Max max max budget is £500 but would need to get serious wear out of that!

Inspire me please!

If it were me, I’d be stealing inspiration from

https://petarpetrov.com/

And attempting to achieve something similarly louche, for a bit less. (Not the leotard thing, obvs.)

Don’t do a sparkly frock …

Oh the leotard would be a hoot though! Yes, defo no sequins.

Two more suggestions.

Colourless, à la Phoebe Philo. Photo. Have a look at the website for more inspiration.

Colourful, here:

https://nackiye.com/products/breakfast-club-shirt-2

I love scamp and dude, feels young and fun to ancient me

scampanddude.com/products/split-hem-midi-dress-blue-with-black-shadow-tiger-print

I came on to say not Scamp & Dude! I used to love their stuff but it's now the uniform of 'middle aged woman tries to look a bit funky' - too ubiquitous.
You want something that looks fashionable and expensive but wearable and not too formal.
Try M&Em, Ba&Sh, Iro, Maje, Sandro

Don't know those middle three, so that's great, thank you!

Jeez condescending much !

I must be a similar age, I would choose a skirt (either cord or patterned depending on time of year) a top with 3/4 sleeves and not too short, tights and dm's. Not too try hard, unless it's a posh hotel in which case I'd opt for a sea salt dress and knee high boots.

Love this! https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/dark-green-guipure-maxi-dress-R561606006.html?utm_term=561606006&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD4IbFEGmIVaD6-Thu5ZksuSuDcfl&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzoeuBhDqARIsAMdH14FVr4_YSQRi9KOsSV6BogcE3U4ZCwR70TQQpj8_CA9zHDWfAqsr6KMaAha4EALw_wcB

Or maybe a rental? https://www.hurrcollective.com/listings/toto-dress

I’ve also nearly bought this a few times 😊https://www.jigsaw-online.com/products/silk-linen-gauze-midi-dress-green?variant=44035097297062&istCompanyId=5cb36b28-3b54-4573-9793-5e46611a0358&istFeedId=862761a5-2bf0-4417-ab0a-7e46ee93302a&istItemId=lwtxttptl&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzoeuBhDqARIsAMdH14F_aBpXCPV7orPATS8-_cMjhz24O2Vyl6wDm5yLIUgM3TGgWRFid94aAqwdEALw_wcB

I’ve got this skirt which is really beautiful in real life and easy to dress up or down- I wore it with a jumper and flat boots for a nice lunch out at Christmas. And wearing it to a friends wedding with heeled boots, and top soon .. so I’d wear something like this https://www.matchesfashion.com/products/Roksanda-Stained-glass-high-waist-silk-satin-skirt-1512359 (edited link)

www.dancingleopard.co.uk/products/dove-dress-in-bamboo

All the dove dresses are stunning and can be buttoned all the way down.

They have a lovely selection of jumpsuits as well if thats more your style

The dancing Leopard dresses are fab I am 5'0 and get away with either the Dove ones or the wrap ones.

Oo these are great! I love the Dancing Leopard dresses (there's a dark green and poppy one I might try), the Jigsaw and Liberty dresses, and the Vampire's Wife one. I am going to have to try very very hard tonight not to do bedtime shopping...I've actually got a statement skirt a bit like the Matches one, so will see if I can dress that up somehow.

Keep 'em coming, this is like personal shopping 😄

That is gorgeous, not in my size sadly

https://www.meandem.com/roses-print-panelled-midi-dress-green-light-cream-ink-blue

https://www.matchesfashion.com/womens/sale/clothing/dresses?pageOffset=0&q=categories%3Acatalog01_womensshop_womensclothing_womensdresses%2Csubdesigner%3Aisabel_marant_etoile

I did my school reunion recently - I decided absolutely no dress as way too try hard (normally I’m a dressaholic). I did designer jeans, beautiful boots, black fitted jacket and a netaporter top. But then a. I was always too cool for school and b. It’s London. If you’re up north there will be plenty of polyester floral dresses.

Oh goodness no. Not that. Or the Dancing Leopard dress.

www.jigsaw-online.com/products/velvet-ashby-blazer-raisin

Mirabai, is that what northerners wear then?

It’s a much dressier aesthetic. You could go out in lamé in Liverpool and no-one would turn a hair.

I've always thought "designer jeans" are one of the most uncool garments imaginable.

I'd look at websites like Liberty, Matches, MyTheresa, and more specifically for me Klements, Sister Jane, Erdem, Cabbages and Roses, Ganni, Baum und Pferdgarten, Batsheva, Alémais (Many of which have florals and some even in polyester)

Oh no they fit much better than high street jeans, by a million miles.

And sold by Matches, Liberty, MyTheresa etc.