Help me find a dress for WI garden party

[Silviasilvertoes]

I’ve been invited to a WI garden party this month. It’s in the gardens of a private country house belonging to one of the members, will be moved indoors if wet. I’ve never been to a WI event before. My DGM was county chair before she died so I need to make a good impression as I can’t help feeling DGM will be keeping her eye on me 😂

I’m 44, size 10, 5’4”, hourglass. Suit jewel colours and peaches/apricots/fawns. Budget around £100.

Please help!

Edited for typos.

And how would you style it?

I’m a member of 2 WIs and can honestly say that I’ve never seen a “WI” dress! At one of my WIs, lots of people wear bright jumpsuits or swing dresses with leggings as it has a lot of young ( 35 to 50) members and meets in an inner city area. My other one is more traditional, slightly older age range, and meets in a Working Men’s club in a large village. Most of us wear jeans or trousers with a blouse, sweatshirt to tunic top.

For smart occasions such as a dinner or special event I might wear a dress, but one from a chain store like M&S or Next, midi length, floral type. Few ladies wear formal dresses or suits, never seen a hat or matching handbag!

This looks very WI to me - in a good way, I hasten to add! 😂I like the way it's been styled (the postcards one) with a wee red cardi, could pick out any of the colours for a cardi.
Belle Dress - Seasalt Cornwall

As a WI member, i would say jeans and a top or anything you wear everyday.

I like this - bit over budget but you'd wear it lots I think and you could maybe belt it for the hourglass?
Printed V-Neck Midi Shift Dress | JAEGER | M&S (marksandspencer.com)

This is what I need! Inside knowledge 🤩

But OP wants to make it special in honour of her special DGM. I think it's perfectly possible to do that tastefully and in-keeping.

This is true. I’d like to feel smart but not overdone.

This is nice. Short sleeves don’t look great on me but I like the cut and pattern.

I love this M & S / Jaeger dress but is out of stock in all sizes.

Gosh it still had some 10s a couple of hours ago! Did you order it @Silviasilvertoes ?

You want something from another Great British Institution … How about:

Palava

Dresses or separates available. It’s a very particular look, but cute if it works for you.

Nice! Don't think I've seen this brand before, really like them!

Oh I love this! It’s 100% me! So many beautiful dresses. That’s just exactly what I wanted. Thank you 🤩

Fabulous! It’s a pleasure.

(I knew I was right to ignore your budget limitation.)

You beat me to it. "WI - in a good way" is sooo Palava.

You'll get heaps of wear out of whatever you choose. And lots of compliments. The material is excellent, washes well and is ethically made in the UK.

I want them all 🙈

I’ve bought this one. I absolutely love it. And all of them are suitable for work as well so I may have to buy another. And another… Brilliant find, thank you.

palava.co/products/cynthia-mustard-wildflowers-dress

@Silviasilvertoes that is an absolutely beautiful dress and so unusual, while still being classy and smart.
Let us know how it is when you try it on please!
I absolutely cannot buy any new clothes at the moment we are about to move house and I'm finding it hard enough to get rid of lots of what I have without adding to it (or spending money we need for the house come to that). So I have to live vicariously. 😂