Summer work party outfit

[Namechange357]

Please help

I need an outfit for husbands work summer party. It’s on Fri eve, so lots will be coming straight from office, fairly conservative industry in the city, but they’ve hired a trendy venue for the event.

I was thinking of a floaty dress and heels, but apparently no one wears heels anymore?! I don’t want to be overly dressed up in an evening summer dress when everyone else is more casual.

No budget as such but don’t want to spend a fortune, and would be nice if I could wear it again a few times this summer.

I’m average height, size 8-10, but have a bit of a tummy post baby so don’t want anything that’ll make me look pregnant.

floaty dress and heels?

Maybe not.

This is what you want - both dress shape and footwear. Not necessarily these exact items, of course.

Or co-ords. I was thinking of an oversized shirt and wide pj like trousers - but just saw this outfit which would be great fun to wear to the event you describe; you’d look both relaxed and rather grand:

https://www.cos.com/engbp/women/womenswear/skirts/product.gathered-denim-maxi-skirt-blue.1223248001.html

However, this is what an absence of budgetary limits might buy …

https://www.zimmermann.com/uk/ready-to-wear/clothing/matchmaker-poster-flare-skirt-poster-print.html

Oooh, I like those ideas capacioushag!

I’m also recently post baby and looking to freshen up the look this summer… Heels are out of fashion now?!

Thank you so much for the suggestions.

I like the first idea, thank you, just don’t think I could pull it off with the boots.

And I’d prob feel too self conscious in the strapless second option.

I love the Zimmerman look, just not that particular skirt (my style is more floral, feminine, lots of detail), tho I’ve never bought any of their dresses as can’t justify it when I’d be wearing around the children and their sticky fingers most of the time.

What about clog type sanders? Like these

https://www.hobbs.com/product/emilia-clog/0123-CS24-031H453-NAVY-39.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20413593267&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20413593267&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwps-zBhAiEiwALwsVYXGFYYqBai2hbVJ8Uz2eT1s5RqRNueQAppy26DDCDR_2Cp4K7hHP0xoCH-cQAvD_BwE

This is what you want- both dress shape and footwear

Maybe not... Also shift dresses aren't generally forgiving on a tummy.

People do wear heels OP, styles went very casual over covid but I feel it's swinging back. Maybe not stilettos, but a block heeled strappy sandal or low pointed kitten heel (maybe not in summer). &Other Stories is a good suggestion, but if your style is floaty dress and heels don't feel you can't wear that. Maybe going with a block colour rather than a print, and lower heels will make it feel fresher? Or a more masculine silhouette?

Suggestions from &Other Stories:

Cute linen mini
Shirt dress - I'd probably belt this
Maybe more in your comfort zone?

You have to wear this,@Namechange357!

https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/jumpsuits-playsuits/product.floaty-printed-jumpsuit-pink.1235806001.html

(Suspect anyone other than the model would have to embrace trouser hems sweeping the floor - but you wouldn’t be running for a bus, so it’s fine.)

Thank you - I love the linen midi, and the green dress.

I don’t think I would have the confidence to carry that off, but admire those who can!

What about this? Would hide the tummy nicely and could look good with the Hobbs clogs you linked above

https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/loungewear/product.bow-linen-dress-orange.1236326001.html

Maybe something like this? www.meandem.com/shadow-berry-print-midi-tea-dress-purple-red-multi

That looks great, but is that really what people wear out these days? I’d prob only wear it in a beach resort / garden. Just feels far too informal for a work do, but maybe I’m just super old fashioned 🙈

Love this, but it’s not too “mumsy” is it? Would women without kids wear this sort of thing to work and then a night out?

Out of interest how old are you? With some chunky sandals and accessories I think the meandem dress would work well, especially based on what you say you like. I'm 40 and honestly I wear what I like and what suits me, I don't try to compete with the younger women on my team. If it were me I'd probably go for something like a Serena Bute waistcoat coord like this serenabutelondon.com/products/summer-waistcoat-pastel-blue. Floral patterns have never suited me. But if that is what you like, then I think you should just go for a floral dress you love.

https://serenabutelondon.com/products/summer-waistcoat-pastel-pink?variant=40507908489279&currency=GBP&gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzJzs96bqhgMV3pJQBh1gRwGsEAQYASABEgKSUUDBwE

Some would, some wouldn't... Women without kids are not a hive mind. That's a bit snarky of me, but really. I think you may have lost your confidence OP, and IMO this doesn't sound the occasion to push yourself out of your comfort zone so if you want to wear a floral dress, do it. I think the thing with nights out now is anything goes really, so there will be lots of different styles. I wouldn't personally want to wear most of the dresses suggested on here (except my own suggestions), but if someone else did I wouldn't be surprised.

Although the Me&Em one - £300 for a polyester dress? Madness.

The Arket one, in black, with the clog/sandals.
The others are... not nice!

Thanks all!

I’m early 40s, so also no interest in competing with the younger crowd, tho even then there’s no way I would have ever worn anything strapless or bearing mid-drift to a work do.

Hubs is a senior exec in very stuffy industry, so would rather err on side of being conservative.

I agree, paying £££ for polyester is madness, and a disaster for the environment, so choose linen / silk / viscose where poss. Will have a look round the shops tomorrow and try on a few styles a bit out of my comfort zone.

On the shoe note, what’s the verdict on espadrilles?

https://www.lkbennett.com/product/CSMARISSAKIDSUEDEBeigeTrench%7eMarissa-Beige-Suede-Ankle-Strap-Espadrilles-Trench?currency=GBP&istCompanyId=337c91ab-deea-4ab6-998e-03ece089da1f&istFeedId=8eb3370f-e730-40e5-89c0-e499b9e47d89&istItemId=mxrtmipaa&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAC5tE8eYFuTcC8fVlrEordAY2wehT&gclid=CjwKCAjwps-zBhAiEiwALwsVYUBBwRVPxI2E80a7qbkb5-2ZKTBHw3UbIeBd6xxXErJIVvMjbq7XFRoCY-oQAvD_BwE

https://bunka.co.uk/products/numph-kyndall-new-

https://bunka.co.uk/products/numph-nulima-dress

i got the first dress above. Wore it loads but mostly to Races, christening etc, second dress I love the colour .

Espadrille wedges are a good alternative to heels, open or closed toe.

They’re fine but you can get cheaper at Office and my friend said Dunlop I’m sure of it.

I don't know if this is helpful, but I was at a similar event last night and wore this dress with these shoes (and plan to wear the same again to something this weekend).

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/loretta-caponi/clothing/midi-dresses/plus-net-sustain-broderie-anglaise-cotton-midi-dress/1647597334104735

with these shoes

https://www.farfetch.com/uk/shopping/women/the-attico-piper-85mm-sandals-item-19321082.aspx

love this and it’s silk:

https://www.whistles.com/product/207346.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20778629898&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20778629898&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrZvsgdnqhgMVeIpQBh1_PgQpEAQYASABEgI9JvD_BwE

£1K for something she’ll only wear once?!

Agreed.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/shoe-trends-ss24

See above