Christmas drinks outfit ideas?

[WolfFleece]

Meeting up with some of my DP’s family for Christmas drinks in Windsor. I’ve never been to Windsor and I’m imagining it to be generally a bit classier than my local country pub where I can turn up plastered in mud and no one bats an eyelid. No idea where exactly we’ll be going, various bars I’d imagine.

I haven’t been out for years unless it’s something super dressy like a wedding, so I don’t have anything suitable for this occasion. I’m thinking classy but not too over the top.

Please hit me with outfit ideas, I have no idea what people wear going out these days. I’m 43, size 10, 5’8”, not blessed in the boob department, decent legs. I don’t have time to go shopping anywhere before the day so looking to order something online. Also need footwear!

Please and thank you.

What do you feel most comfortable in? Dresses, trousers, skirts?

I like a bit of glitz at Christmas but still like to look quite casual & wore this set recently to drinks, which I will again. I also got some embellished jeans from M&S.

www.asos.com/asos-edition/asos-edition-embellished-diamante-fringe-spot-wide-leg-trouser-co-ord-in-black/prd/206845869?currencyid=1&browsecountry=GB&affid=28928&_EAIaIQobChMI3t-Q7OqUigMVGI9QBh22dDzjEAQYFCABEgIOjvD_BwE&channelref=product+search&ppcadref=20546713158%7C%7C&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20546713158&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADqFjOA3G2FiLB11p0V0QA1ybu62s&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3t-Q7OqUigMVGI9QBh22dDzjEAQYFCABEgIOjvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

What do you feel most comfortable in? Dresses, trousers, skirts?

Yes, you've given us a very big ask and with no information or budget , not sure where to start.

I don't like Christmas glitz unless it's a black tie event so I would go for something like these dresses

Colenimo blue dress
Colenimo pink dress

Or the big favourite on here
Nobody's Child Starlight dress

I'm waiting delivery of this dress
Cabbages & Roses red dress

Or just about anything from here
Palava dresses

And for all of them at this time of year , flat lace up boots.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle I love those Colenimo dresses, what is the sizing like? (Compared with, eg, Toast or Munthe?)

I normally go black printed midi for these occasions. My go-to is a Ghost x M&S with gold stars. This sort of thing:

Black dress

I'm a 14 and the size L is a good fit.

Sorry for being very vague! Truth is it’s so long since I went out I have no idea the kind of thing I’m looking for. Budget wise if I could get the whole outfit under £200 I’d be happy.

I like the asos outfit posted above, but I’m not sure it’s quite what I’d go for.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle I’m not crazy about any of those, sorry 😣.

I do like the Debenhams dress. It’s reminded me I do have one quite similar to that, although it’s shorter. I’ll dig it out tomorrow and see if it still fits. If I’m happy with it then I just need to think about footwear so that would be a result. Last time I had any kind of social life my go to was chunky heeled black ankle boots but I’m guessing things have moved on since then.

I'm in Aus so don't have any suggestions but I follow this Instagram profile which might provide some information. She's been posting holiday outfit ideas and is in the uk.

www.instagram.com/katievictoriahulland?igsh=MWFpMGJ6czJna2dqZw==

@WolfFleece so would you prefer trousers or a dress? I have some chunky platforms that I wear a lot at Xmas. Personally I don’t love ankle boots and dresses & think things have moved on but they are still an acceptable choice.

I’d go for a new pair of barrel jeans or straight leg in black or dark denim. Silk shirt and heeled boots. Pearls. Red lipstick. Done.

Have a look at wearsmymoney on insta

Regarding the fit of Colenimo clothes - although I’d generally argue that most people can wear most clothes (perhaps with a little alteration) as a long limbed, broad shouldered person I’ve found their coats frustratingly snug. (Even the M/L, on my size 10, not tall, frame.) So I haven’t tried the dresses, though in terms of style and quality they’d be fine for pretty much any informal occasion.

I’ll dig it out tomorrow and see if it still fits. If I’m happy with it then I just need to think about footwear so that would be a result.

It doesn’t sound as if you actually want a new outfit, @WolfFleece?

Regardless - after years of not going out, it might do no harm to take a quick turn around the Net-a-Porter website, to get an idea of new styles, proportions, colours.

And their sale has started, so you may be lucky and find something you fall in love with.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Windsor. It has the widest possible range of residents, tourists and visitors - all of whom may turn up in the pubs and bars you find yourself in with your in-laws. Just choose something casual but celebratory that gives you a fillip of delight in your mirror.

I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m the most ‘dressed up’ out of my group of friends when we go out, but I love sequins, sparkle, colour and patterns, so these are the types of dresses I would wear.

I love these dresses:

https://www.dancingleopard.co.uk/products/marley-mini-dress-in-turqouise-sparkle?variant=40315066744903&currency=GBP&currency=gbp&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADRqArRJqxpGZ9NW7l-n1F_4noQ7T&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9pK0lOWXigMVtJxQBh2dxSeuEAQYASABEgI63PD_BwE

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls441722/e22203?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UXmiBovHT6mvBxreEKmwQzMk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz7_t7eaXigMV8ZpQBh0mhQAZEA0YAiABEgL9FPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#E22203

https://www.neverfullydressed.com/products/multi-spot-megan-dress

https://www.neverfullydressed.com/products/black-multi-spot-mini-vienna

https://www.neverfullydressed.com/products/olive-sequin-mini-vienna

I would go for a pair of velvet trousers in a jewel colour (deep reds, greens, purples). With a looser fit jumper in the same colour or an ivory silk or satin shirt. The jumper will be more casual for daytime and the shirt will be smarter for dinner.

If budget allows, I add Christmas glitz with a pair of colourful earrings.

I was going to suggest exactly this.

Alternative tops being a silk or velvet t-shirt.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su320289/b72480

With jeans or velvet trousers.

I don’t think the OP strikes me as someone who would chose barrel leg jeans particularly if she thinks her legs are one of her best features.

I'm meeting friends for drinks and so far my outfit is a leopard print silk maxi. I'm not sure which top to wear as it depends on the weather.

leather look trousers (would steer away from anything shiny) a silk blouse or a long sleeve bodysuit (velvet is my preference but know not everyone likes velvet), then a pair of heels if they are your thing. If not, chunky trainers work well

I can't speak for Windsor (other than a pub once on the way home from Legoland) but my Christmas drinks outfit for the last couple of years has been velvet flares with a vintage lurex top - basically silver and very sparkly - and metallic brogues. I've no plans to change that unless the weather is very unkind in which case, as I'm normally walking, I'll swap the flares for Sienna Miller / M&S dark grey barrel leg jeans (cos they won't trail) and the brogues for my usual Solovair lace up boots and maybe a flash of glitzy socks.

For the record, I too have quite decent legs but I don't feel obliged to show them off all the time.

For the record, I too have quite decent legs but I don't feel obliged to show them off all the time.

Who has claimed the OP does this or should do this?

'I don’t think the OP strikes me as someone who would chose barrel leg jeans particularly if she thinks her legs are one of her best features.'

I love Xmas glitz and comfort so I’d be wearing black jeans, ankle boots and a sequinned bomber jacket over a well fitting black t-shirt!

'I don’t think the OP strikes me as someone who would choose barrel leg jeans ...

because she says "Truth is it’s so long since I went out I have no idea the kind of thing I’m looking for" and of the suggestions made the only thing she's liked is a very conventional, very fade into the background, dress from Debenhams. So OP doesn't strike me as being someone who would leap from having no interest to straight to barrel leg jeans.

I agree with GodRestYouMerryGentlewench's suggestion that browsing Net a Porter, or MyTheresa or similar would be a good idea to get ideas, if not to buy anything.

@Floisme so despite me linking a trouser in my first response and asking the OP if she preferred trousers or dresses you have inferred my response to the suggestion of barrel leg jeans that I think she should get her legs out all of the time! 😆

The OP is clearly not confident in what to wear in this instance so I don’t think it’s a reach to assume she will not be comfortable in barrel leg jeans. You don’t need to take it so personally!