Royal Garden Party

[Katrinawaves]

I’ve been invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and am looking for a wow outfit for the day. I am told the dress code is posh wedding with hat or fascinator a requirement

Please hit me with some ideas.

I am:

mid fifties
5’7”
size 10, 32E bust, slightly rounded belly
redhead

Budget is flexible but 3 figures all in not 4 please!

PS
I did not wear a hat of any sort.
DH wore chilled jacket and chinos

(and joked about being a Republican as we were security cleared - daft sod)

I know someone who is knighted with a very rude anti disestablishment tattoo

I've been to the Holyroodhouse garden party, and second all the remarks about flat /wedge shoes for walking on grass. Also - had it confirmed that hats / head pieces were not part of the dress code. I went to Jenners and picked a mature assistant in ladies wear for advice and she knew everything!

I bought this rixo dress from the outnet recently. Very heavily reduced. It’s silk and gorgeous on.

@Katrinawaves I like the Wolf & Badger one
& like the DVF ones posted

@crepedechine that is a gorgeous dress

And I'll put my thinking hat on too

I wore a pink dress with polka dots and hat but this was years ago when Diana was around and spots in fashion, I went with my sister and parents as guests of my dad as unmarried daughters were allowed to go then. I was 18 and (I'm now nearly 60) so a long time ago but lovely memories. Enjoy your day x

I think you meant anti establishment!

Some beautiful dresses suggested here, but lots of cool tones. With your colouring I’d suggest something in a warmer colour.
https://www.hobbs.com/product/beaumont-dress/0223-5872-9045L00-OCHRE.html#q=Beaumont&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0223-5872-9045L00-OCHRE&pos=0

Thanks for this thread. I’m off to one this summer too and had given no thought at all to what to wear, so it’s been a nice enjoyable read. For me it’s a rare chance to dress up so I am looking forward to it.

Some really lovely outfits posted here.

Random question but why don’t they provide adequate seating? Seems like a recurring pain point mentioned by prior attendees. And then affects what people can wear and their general enjoyment of the day.
I’d be mortified inviting people to my house/garden and not being able to offer them somewhere to perch..
I’m guessing it would be frowned on to bring your own camping style stool?

Why not go to John Lewis and get their personal stylist?
They also do dresses to hire for occasions.

I would avoid plain colours, one bit of dropped cake or a splash of tea and you will feel a mess. Ask me how I know, (I'm a messy eater)

There was some seating when we went. We spent a very happy 20 minutes sitting in deckchairs eating ice cream and watching fellow guests.

That cornflower Zimmerman dress is so gorgeous. Otherwise Me+Em always have beautiful dresses, including the one someone posted.

I wouldn’t go for a tailored/shift dress look (and I wouldn’t give a stuff about not fitting in if that’s what everyone else is wearing) I think it’s a bit dull/dated/conservative mother of the bride.

Let us know what you end up buying and have a wonderful time!

I’ve ordered a couple of possibles on Vinted and eBay and will re-sell them if not quite right. One is a sunny day buy and the other I think could have some thermals layered underneath if it’s cold and wet.

I already have a short very smart black jacket which would work with both I think and I’m waiting to decide on hats until I am sure the dresses are right.

Not sure why I posted the back of the polka dot dress!

https://www.meandem.com/lantana-flower-print-drawstring-maxi-dress-green-pink-multi?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP#288=1803

https://www.karenmillen.com/flower-feather-headband/BKK15682-107-35.html?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACo7BY8Jkl7k1ODKZr19xA55Ofs5G&gclid=CjwKCAjwnv-vBhBdEiwABCYQA5pvc9qL19-6tmf5I_5AdFOboVTU9NMWBMCi2BFaFQ9EuNrEJVVcOxoC0yUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

with pale pink wedges and a pale pink bag.

The dress comes in a few different lengths and styles.

We went today and your post was really prescient as it poured all afternoon. I did have a “cooler weather” option which I wore and an umbrella but no coat.

We had a lovely day. Nice tea and got to meet both William and Mike Tindall and saw Zara but didn’t speak to her. But we got soaked so we bailed out once the royal walk around had finished and snuck off to the Ritz for cocktails and to dry out a bit.

it was a fun day out and glad I did it but would have enjoyed it more last week when the sun was shining and the weather was warm (and two of my friends had also been invited unbeknownst to me when I was choosing my date)