Outfit for a “casual” work dinner

[FreshStart2025]

My company are taking us overseas for a work-do, staying overnight. In the evening, there will be a dinner. I’ve asked what the dress code is (my wardrobe is seriously bare) and have been told nothing too fancy, a dress/jeans and a nice top. I’m in my 40s and a size 10. Got to be chilled but smart. Any ideas? I’m stressing already as I don’t get out much / spend much money on myself (single Mum 4 kids!). Budget £100. Any style gurus out there?!

Don't stress about a coat. You will need to travel lightish I assume so you need one coat that does everything. You presumably have one already and in any case you'll be all day in workshops or similar and the coat will be hung up immediately on arrival at a restaurant. Bring a shawl or something to keep you warm at dinner in case of a chill and it packs up small.

Personally I'd go for a midi dress unless you've got great legs. Works well with trainers and looks like you've made some sort of effort. Again, usually easy to pack up small. My experience of these things is women always change in the evening so don't do a day to evening thing unless you decide to wear something really quite smart and it means bringing evening shoes so again, more of a faff. Finish up with work, have a shower and wash your hair and you'll feel like a new person with fresh makeup.

What shops do you have near you and we can focus on those? You can order to be delivered to many stores by Saturday / Sunday and you can go in and try it on.

Lastly, they have presumably told you where you are eating? Tripadvisor often has reviews from people who include details on dress code in the restaurant. But work budgets [unless you work somewhere with a very healthy entertainment budget] are usually quite mid tier restaurants that will accommodate a large group.

A jumper dress would be fine. Uniqlo does those too and fairly decent quality.
Don't stress about it. Everybody is a lot more casual than they are.

If you are on a real budget TU sometimes has nice cord dresses that look more expensive than they are. Go with trainers. I have one that looks more expensive than my Brora dresses. Is there a Sainsbury's near you?

Also have a look at Nobodys Child.

OK, well, my opinion is that it doesn't matter if someone thinks white trainers with a dress is 'over'.
It's hardly a 'splurge' to suggest an £80-ish dress, or a jumper/top to wear with existing trousers, when the OP has about £100.

I don't know the last time I looked at someone and thought " wow what a terrible dresser" unless they were wearing Xmas jumpers when not Xmas. IRL nobody notices you that much as long as you are somewhat within brief.

Goodness this thread is long running. Looking back I notice I suggested

Uniqlo
& Other Stories
Massimo Dutti
Zara
etc

and posted photos of a jumper, a blouse and a jumpsuit on the 18th of September - more than two weeks ago!

Given the OP mentioned her lack of options, encouraging her to buy something good quality which will not only build her wardrobe but bring longevity too. As such, o's more than sensible to recommend brands that wear well, not only in terms of quality, but aren't trend-led.

For the record, yes, I love Cos, but do you know something, I don't and have never bought or even tried on any of their draped dresses. The brand makes great basics, indeed, their new strap line is 'everyday luxury', so if I was looking to build/add to my wardrobe with a good pair of jeans, a great t-shirt/blouse/top, a dress, a new jacket, I would start there. However, although it isn't right for OP, maybe someone else in a similar position might rethink and give Cos a try - this thread rather shows that many posters don't know the brand as well as they think they do.

Good luck OP, I hope you find something. I honestly don't think it's a problem if you wear jeans even if you're wearing them during the day. Jeans are the workhorse of my wardrobe, as are nice tops. By the latter, I mean a variety of blouses, shirts, sweaters. Indeed, anything worn on the top half. But, only you can decide what is a nice top. I recommend looking on Pinterest or online for french girl style and nice tops/jeans - the french, particularly Parisians do this very well. H&M might, and should turn up a good option, as will John Lewis.

I have a lot of trouble finding a nice top these days as the aesthetic appears to be super baggy widelegs and a plain crop top.

Ha! I don’t think I’ve bought a draped dress from anywhere in the 50 odd years I’ve been choosing my own clothes. (And I don’t think they’re the style my mother would have made or bought for me before I was 10.) I used to try them on in Rick Owens but couldn’t be persuaded. They look great on other people though.

Over about 12 years, pre-Covid, I had from Cos tweed trousers, a cotton and leather top that could be put in the washing machine, worn about twice a week relentlessly for at least five years, countless t shirts, shirts, skirts, odd bits of knitwear. And I bought dresses, knitwear, trousers, a jumpsuit, coats and accessories for female relatives ranging in age from thirties to late 80s. They’re still wearing most of those things, years later.

I recall the brand became less interesting shortly before Covid - and I had plenty of other places to replace it (Raey @ Matches RIP - though a different price bracket - American Vintage, Community Clothing, Uniqlo …) But recently it has revived (to my eyes) and I actually look forward to being in the vicinity of a physical shop, rather than just ordering online.

The denim jacket sounds fine op. I don't think you need to buy a new jacket/coat unless you really want to.

@DisneyHag I’m sure it does. As does everywhere else at the moment. Thats not what was being suggested from cos though was it? Not by the cos-pack, scoffing at suggestions from so-called lesser shops.

Have a look on Vinted there is so much stuff new with tags on there. Reiss, Cos, Boden etc

I would get some nice jeans that you can wear again. And then a ‘nice top’ for dinner. Something like this would suit me. I’d wear a vest top underneath. And a nice necklace.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls438560/q62459#q62459
And buy a thin jumper for daytime if you need. And wear trainers.

Oh and if you need a jacket I’d get something cheap and practical you can wear again. Like this with a jumper under

www.next.co.uk/style/su106868/170847#170847

Oh too late to edit again. I see you have jeans. Just buy a nice top then.

If the work dinner is in a restaurant you could look it up on Instagram and see what smart outfits the diners have been wearing recently. I do this sort of thing a lot whenever I plan to go anywhere!

There’s nothing wrong with a dress from Cos for a dinner, but it’s not the most approachable choice for someone who has asked Mumsnet what to wear because they’re not sure, has less than £100 to spend and doesn’t seem to have a clear idea of how they like to present themself.

A nice jacket of some sort (I’d go blazer, despite the fact that @DisneyHag hasn’t seen anyone wearing a blazer since 1975 or something) from somewhere like Marks would be maybe half the budget, less on Vinted. Then I’d get myself a pair of slightly smart flat shoes (pointy flats for me) to stick in my bag just in case they didn’t mean trainers when they said casual. If I had any money left I’d grab a pair of supermarket jeans in a dark wash that I’d set aside to wear for going out rather than every day,

Complicated dresses are great, but they create more problems than they solve in a small wardrobe with a small budget, imo. Simple stuff that can be used for other purposes would be my choice. You can’t go far wrong with jeans, a plain top and a nicer jacket,

What’s also worth bearing in mind is that by casual dinner they might mean ‘we’re going straight from the office’ so you might not have the chance to change into your carefully prepared outfit! You may well find you finish for the afternoon, go for drinks and then for dinner.

Cos dresses aren't complicated. They are unpatterened, non- clingy dresses in mainly natural fabrics. You can put pretty much whatever you want with them. They adapt to any footwear.

They're far easier to wear than many dresses suggested on MN.

No other shoes at all???

No other shoes at all???

single Mum 4 kids!

This is why the OP needs a good, reliable wardrobe of hard wearing, trouble free work clothes that don’t need constant replacing.

, I probably need some sort of coat. I only have a jean jacket (no!) or a thick winter coat which seems overkill.

If I were you, unless you want a new coat, I wouldn't worry about getting a coat or a blazer. We're in October. I've had winter coats out. Unless your winter coat is Arctic expedition standard, wear it.

You only need the coat to get to B from A. It's what's underneath the coat that's important

Honestly some posters on this thread are starting to come across as slightly deranged.

I hope you manage to find something suitable OP and that you enjoy your trip and evening out.

Happy with the jumper dress (just plain black) I ordered and some boots from next. It’s fitted so looks smart. We’re having drinks outside and some walking involved hence the need for a coat (I feel the cold!). Happy I’m all sorted now, thanks for your help everyone!

That sounds perfect - and something you'll get plenty of wear out of afterwards.

Absolutely!

Hope you have a great trip, @FreshStart2025 !