What can I wear to this event?

[ballpithell]

Got an event coming up in May and no idea what to wear so need some serious help!!

Basically it’s my DH boss’s home, a house party which will start in the afternoon and go on till late. DH works in City and his boss is very senior, lives in New York half the time, and the home is a very nice large house in Chelsea, and there will be catering. However, according to DH who attended last 2 years without me the vibe is very casual. Men wearing chinos etc. I asked what I should wear and he said he seems to remember some women wearing smart jeans and others in dresses but his recollections weren’t that helpful! He did mention some people were over-dressed.

For various reasons I’d like to make a very good impression. I’m late 30’s, and feeling unattractive due to busy life being Mum to a toddler.

My appearance if it helps is: tall, size 12, longish legs but not fit or toned, mum-tum, Caucasian, dark hair, blue eyes, suit Bright Winter colours (colour analysis).

I haven’t really been out or to a party since before the birth of my child, which must be before Covid now! So help is needed!

Sounds like you're maybe after an 'old money' type of outfit. Lydia Tomlinson on Instagram might provide some inspiration - I like the middle outfit in this reel, but would still look good with flats. Silk trousers could be great for this type of event, dressy or casual depending on how you style them
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C274xSJNDRy/?igsh=MTI4dWducW1ncHJ2bA==

I'm not sure if you have Banana Republics there, but they have nice quality classic styles.

I like this linen waistcoat/trousers, but with flat shoes and good jewellery. You could even do bermuda shorts and waistcoat.

https://bananarepublic.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?pid=882814013&cid=48422&vid=1&nav=meganav%3AWomen%3ADiscover%3ANew+Arrivals#pdp-page-content

I know you’re a Londoner, it says so in the OP. Not sure why you’re finding this so hard or why you’d consider a summer dress in May. But hey ho, good luck.

This Reiss number is pretty classic and could be styled up or down.

https://www.johnlewis.com/reiss-tasha-ruched-bodycon-midi-dress-navy/p111675106

The clothes in your posts earlier are some of the most boring I've seen posted in a long time. They're not so much going to a fancy house party as doing the weekly supermarket shop.

I'm not a Londoner so perhaps am way off the mark. But with your build and a decent budget I'd go for tailored slim trousers, a plain silk shirt and fabulous long jacket from Favourbrook or Shibumi (less £££ but similar aesthetic). Their glorious fabric and detailing will nail the 'dress to impress ' brief, it's a flattering outline, and easy to style with flat shoes. And if you find the party really is casual you can ditch the jacket. I have a couple from Favourbrook- one short, one long- and they take me anywhere from casual suppers to the opera.
Alternatively, if you really want a dress with clean lines and single bold colours it's worth checking out Jasper Conran.

I would wear something like this

https://www.mytheresa.com/euro/en/women/toteme-silk-maxi-dress-black-p00895607?dplink=true&utm_source=sea_pla&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=google_sea&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwwYSwBhDcARIsAOyL0fiTbXjXatvdFW4w5odqhfWGwSe7TOJe8VxjdC8c6iVC7aT4O3FjK-saAsNnEALw_wcB&chn=sea_shopping&src=google&cmp=20424313439&tarea=roe&tar=&ag=&ptyp=&feed_num=P00895607-4&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwYSwBhDcARIsAOyL0fiTbXjXatvdFW4w5odqhfWGwSe7TOJe8VxjdC8c6iVC7aT4O3FjK-saAsNnEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAD3Pw-lAnJeM3eD0NlHDOd5ZwtQ2Z&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD3Pw-lAnJeM3eD0NlHDOd5ZwtQ2Z&slink=1

With this

https://www.farfetch.com/pt/shopping/women/zadigvoltaire-single-breasted-blazer-item-21252106.aspx?lang=en-US&size=22&storeid=9462&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_keywordid=81964142&utm_shoppingproductid=21252106-22&pid=google_search&af_channel=Search&c=804272543&af_c_id=804272543&af_siteid=&af_keywords=pla-296669535746&af_adset_id=44124870440&af_ad_id=190938098547&af_sub1=81964142&af_sub5=21252106-22&is_retargeting=true&shopping=yes&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADsmKHTIVCPUIl69N4nRKRduHcDTZ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwYSwBhDcARIsAOyL0fjXqF-WkBMoU6WjVUkZldK1o4oMJxNrCgES164NwsZYpS-j3BoFGt4aAmW7EALw_wcB

With the Chanel sling backs.

Either the Celina tear drops or any cuff earrings and a long necklace over the dress.

@Movinghouseatlast That's precisely what I would do
@ballpithell
You can dress it up or down in it, feel comfortable and look cool. Enjoy yourself 👍🏻

That’s because your style is Grayson Perry meets Baby Jane.

OP asked for: “simplicity…low key… sharp/clear clothing”. If her style is Arket there’s no point advocating Batsheva.

I like the black Toteme dress above.

Have a look at Theory on The Outnet

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/designers/theory

They have multiple options that would suit.

If budget allows, I’d go for a linen blazer, wide leg pants and a dressy shirt.

I am more Grayson Perry than Carinne Rotfeld, but I just love colour, texture, beautiful prints, interesting designs, luscious fabrics, and I wear what I enjoy.

Recently, I went to a 50th birthday party in a smart bar on London borders , wearing my favourite silk dress, and was met by a sea of grey and navy. This was a Saturday night, and everyone looked as though they had just come from work. A typical outfit was a grey cashmere sweater with a black skirt. No doubt they were expensive, but so so dull. Yes, there may have been ‘sharp’ jeans there, but frankly they also looked like office wear.

OP, it’s clear I have no advice for you, but good luck with your outfit search and enjoy the party!

Simplicity might be Reay or Cos or Co- not "this won't merit even a first look, far less a second look, in Waitrose"

I would go for something colourful since it is a garden party.
Sandals, dress like:
https://hanah.co.uk/products/ruby-maxi-dress-floral

or
https://hanah.co.uk/products/ruby-maxi-dress

or with a bigger budget:
https://www.meandem.com/linen-blend-lace-print-midi-dress-light-cream-yellow-red

https://www.meandem.com/shadow-berry-print-midi-tea-dress-purple-red-multi

Maybe a denim jacket, cool earrings, red nail polish.

If it's warm enough then May is the ideal time to wear a summer dress! Or is there some ghastly white shoes/ Labour Day type rule that only insiders know?

Ok sniffy. Thanks for joining in the spirit of a S&B thread.

All S and B threads these days end in sniping at each other's taste. It's a good thing I am on a no-buy.

OP, I have been to events such as you describe. I also like very simple, sharp clean clothes. I don't do florals or frills or puffy voluminous clothes. I do wear a lot of colour and find black dull, so that rules out a lot of Cos.

How about this? To my eyes, it's beautiful and comfy, but not try hard.Very low key, with some accessories. Poetry - Silk & linen pleated dress (poetryfashion.co.uk) There are some other beautiful dresses on there.

I also like the colour of this dress, though not sure about the back. If it's warm enough. Nancy Linen Dress – Baukjen

I like sniffy 😄No worries.

Yes, I did say I wouldn't snipe, but those Alemais dresses look horrid even on the gorgeous models. Like perambulating chintz sofas belonging to Princess Anne perhaps. And yes, it's all subjective. only in my opinion blah blah.

I don't think the M and S dress will look out of place either, but I am bored of black myself.

Not a fan of Cos generally, but Cos and Reay do silk vests almost identical to my suggestions…

It's the combination of a silk vest and jeans which is uninspiring. It'd be dull whoever made it.

Enjoying this thread - such a wide range of styles! Wish I had a posh Chelsea party to go to.

So far I'm with @FluffyFlufferson above, who said : "I would probably wear wide legged linen trousers, and an interesting silk shirt or blouse with chunky gold jewellery." Or silver in your case OP. Wide flowing trousers would surely work better with your broken foot than a dress?

Try Anthropologie, or the Outnet ...

No-one’s stopping you from dressing as a sofa..

Not sure what your point is.

You're the one who told the OP to wear (a very ordinary looking) pair of jeans and a (very ordinary) vest despite her saying she didn't want jeans. And that she shouldn't wear a summer dress in May.