Dress for Dinner - help please!

[Feelingblue77]

Hello!
Any inspiration would be appreciated!
I am going to dinner at a posh restaurant in a luxury hotel in London in a couple of weeks.
I'd like a new outfit, as although I have some dresses, they feel a bit more "daytime". The type I've worn to weddings for instance.
I'm 47, size 12, 5ft 7 and have a bit of a tummy that I hate things clinging to.
I don't like colours that are too bright, or animal print - but am quite open otherwise. Would rather nothing short though.
Any ideas welcome! Thanks.

This might be perfect. No danger of feeling overdressed, but still rather grand, especially if you have a nice piece of jewellery.

https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.linen-a-line-midi-dress-blue.1234843001.html

You haven’t mentioned a budget by the way?

@Wordless that’s lovely thank you!
Budget is around £120 max but if I need new shoes I’d need to factor that in too.
Thanks!

Excellent!

Shoes?

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/heeled-mules-with-bow-p11301410.html?v1=376973453&v2=2353418

Those shoes are super cute! Thanks so much. Off to Zara at the weekend so will take a look!

Enjoy Dinner. The tipsy cake is amazing. One of my all time favourite restaurant experiences. I let them know in advance it was for a special birthday and we had the best table. Enjoy😊Sorry not much help with the outfit choice! Just wear something you feel comfortable and good in.

@Busybeemumm thank you!
Yes absolutely - want to feel good but comfortable too!
Where did you go for dinner? 😊
Tipsey cake sounds good! Any cake sounds good to be fair… 🤭

I've got this dress in both navy avd black and they're really flattering. I've worn them to several Michelin starred restaurants.

I think @Busybeemumm thought you were going to DINNER by Heston Blumenthal in the Mandarin Oriental. I can also recommend the tipsy cake!

What restaurant are you going to?

www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.gathered-silk-blend-velvet-midi-dress-blue.1200816002.html

Like Dialsquare said I thought you were going to DINNER- by Heston. I thought your title was the hint and also it's in a luxury hotel! Where are you going? It's great to have it to look forward to. Still don't have any dress recommendations! I have a modest budget for clothes (think supermarket or high street) but happy to spend on events or experiences.

Is it a romantic dinner for two, a work dinner, dinner with friends? I think that would make a difference as to what you would want to wear.

how about these? I know the first one looks like it would cling to your tummy but it’s actually really flattering. I have it in a different colour, I’m size 12, slight tummy. The fabric is stretchy and holds the tummy in.
https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-cecily-fit-and-flare-sweetheart-midi-dress-by-maeve?category=sale&color=089&quantity=1&type=REGULAR&size=S

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-cecily-fit-flare-sweetheart-midi-dress-by-maeve?category=SEARCHRESULTS&color=062&searchparams=q%3Dcecily%26sayt%3Dtrue&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/nobodys-child-dove-flutter-sleeve-midaxi-dress?category=dresses&color=041&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/charlie-holiday-layne-one-shoulder-maxi-dress?category=dresses&color=001&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/nobodys-child-maxine-puff-sleeve-square-neck-midi-dress?category=dresses&color=060&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

I rented a Saloni dress before and it was so beautiful 😍

https://rentwithswished.com/products/Dresses-saloni--Pink-5828

https://rentwithswished.com/products/Dresses-saloni-Black-3142

or this one

https://rentwithswished.com/products/Dresses-ted-baker-Black-3055
Or a few Rixo / Vampires wife too depending on budget xx

https://rentwithswished.com/products/Dresses-rixo-Multi-3148

https://rentwithswished.com/products/Dresses-rixo-Multi-3226

https://rentwithswished.com/products/Dresses-rotate-birger-christensen-Pink-3230

@Busybeemumm @DialSquare that's so funny - we are going to the Mandarin but to the Aubrey! Now I'm wondering if we should switch to Dinner by Heston so that I can have the Tispy Cake.

Thank you for the suggestions - I'm really loving these dresses. My normal style is very casual, and definitely not expensive, high street, supermarket, Zara for something less casual, but I am having a treat for this occasion!

@Bubbletastic it's with my husband - loving the links you've sent. Especially the Navy nobody's child dress - thank you!

@HaileeH I didn't even know you could hire dresses! Am taking a look now. What a brilliant idea, thank you!

I think the Rachel Dress from One Hundred Stars is quite flattering -lots of different colours. I belt mine .

Dresses – One Hundred Stars

lovely dresses…!

@Max28W they look lovely. What is the sizing like? And what belt do you wear with it? I could imagine it looking lovely with a belt, annoying that they don’t show it that way in any of the pictures.

I've not been to the Aubrey. It looks really good so I'll have to add it to the list.

You've got a great excuse now to go back again and go to Dinner to try the tipsy cake!

I'm 18/20 so I wear m/l and I wear a wide elastic waste belt with gold clasp or a thin metallic belt. I do have one of their shift dresses (that they sadly no longer sell) in the black stork pattern with a matching Obi belt. I adore the black Stork pattern and if I was going to a naice London restaurant would totally wear it.

I had not heard of the Aubrey before either and it's on my list now- thanks OP 😊I also recommend Dinner for another special occasion. @Max28W the stork dress pattern is so beautiful and looks really nice on you. Am tempted now to buy the dress! What is their dress fabric like? I have a dressing gown from 100 Stars and the fabric and pattern are lovely but very sheer and wouldn't be suitable to wear outside.

Navy Chain Print Collared Midi Dress- from Asda George. I got it the other day-the fabric and cut are great. So hard to find dresses at the moment without frills and tiers!

Might this work OP? I bought it a couple of months ago and have found it can be styled to suit day or evening events. It’s good quality thick linen so no clingyness but without feeling totally shapeless. https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-geometric-v-neck-mini-shift-dress/p/clp60653096#intid=pid_pg1pip39g2r17c2

I had some fabulous, comfortable shoes from Shein of all places, less than £20. They were for a wedding that started at 10am, bloody ridiculously early, then went on until midnight, I was knackered but my feet didn’t hurt one bit 🤗

Honestly I don’t understand a lot of the MN suggestions sometimes, hundreds of pounds for shapeless sacks. Have a wander around Matalan, peacocks, new looks etc, see what you like the look of and try things on. There’s no need to pay these prices for things that just don’t look like they are worth it, IMO anyway.

The Stork dress was like a matt satin , quite light but not as light as the famous Nigella Venice print robe. As you can see from the pic it needed an iron - it came straight from suitcase tbf, I took the photo to show my MIL who gave me the money for it (she's fab). The Rachel dress is similar perhaps a bit lighter in weight? I have a lighter colour so am careful with undies with that one.
I also have the Abbi dress this seems to be a different lighter material (possibly more akin to the scarfs/coverups/kimonos etc...but is lined.