Thoughts on this dress for engagement party lunch?

[BlueRaspberry7]

Would this work for a fairly relaxed family engagement party (lunchtime) in an Italian restaurant? Wondering if a bit formal / workwear-ish...

www.shopcider.com/product/detail?pid=103176151&style_id=1159653&sku_id=1279782&currency=GBP&local=en&country=GB&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_campaign=pla-gb-cate-dress-mbtb&link_id=a19ee0f34a994088885f045c1d194880&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAtsa9BhAKEiwAUZAszaGYz75JWTgglMwh6J3wbQigZBNRLbBWKL920t7R1hScCbH-wpcf5BoCtaEQAvD_BwE

Well I think it's adorable!
Sheer black tights and high heels and you will not be mistaken for a maid .
What a bitchy! comment made...no doubt the lady who said that could never pull it off.

I wish I had the legs for it! I like the style but it looks cheap and it’s polyester. Can you stretch to the Sandro one? I probably couldn’t afford it, but if I could I would.

It’s ok, but people might think you’re the waitress? With the black and white. Same dress different colours would look sweet.

Not in black, no.

Yes, sheer tights and high heels is exactly what you need to not make you look like a French maid 😂

Thank you for another bitchy remark.
How old are you ?
Do you understand chic or do you look at other women and make fun of them ?

Looks a bit waitressy.

It’s lovely but too black for the ocasion. It reminds me of something the woman on Allo Allo would have worn. As PP said but French maid.

@unlikelywitch I love that first NC waistcoat - I'd get a lot of wear out of that.

@AngelaMerkin1 your username is hilarious 😆

OP, I like the lace collar on the Cider dress - it's not a look that works for me but I think it can be quite chic with the right hair and accessories.

(I've never been sure about those detachable Peter Pan collars though.)

This sums up exactly what I was going to post.

Yours looks fashionable and a bit different, I’d stick with it

Any of these any good?

You might like this at John Lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/ghospell-zoya-zebra-print-oversized-collar-mini-dress-brown/p111907406?s_share=jlappdroid

You might like this at John Lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/nobodys-child-benita-floral-mini-dress-multi/p112959719?s_share=jlappdroid

You might like this at John Lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/hush-sara-floral-gathered-mini-dress-black-off-white/p112086069?s_share=jlappdroid

You might like this at John Lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-lydia-jersey-dress-red-butter-cream/p111986443?s_share=jlappdroid

You might like this at John Lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/white-stuff-frances-printed-mini-dress-plum/p112050860?s_share=jlappdroid

@Sadsadworld thanks for putting these together!

i really like the Nobody's Child one. you've reminded that i have something similar -ish but in a different colourway - this Hush dress - another option for the party with nice jewellery.

Prefer the Monsoon one tbh. It's lovely

if you like the wednesday adams look yes, if you not into subtle goth then no.

I think it's cute but needs careful styling. Ballet flats and black tights would be suitable (if you have a French bob all the better). It's a style that I really like but, as someone else says, seems to be divisive! Just wear it if you feel comfortable and like the look.

I actually love it !

I really like it. It’s sophisticated, classic, quite French. I really like it. Might even buy it myself. I think it’s perfect for a nice lunch.

I actually think it's nice and could look good. With clothes a lot depends on what you look like, are styled like and how you carry yourself.
I actually think a black dress styled well can look very stylish and not reminiscent of morning, work wear (or a french maid). I don't judge an outfit in isolation, it's part of a package.
There is additionally no rule that says an engagement lunch needs to be a bright colourful affair.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the dress. It looks a lot like a copy of a dress by maje which is part of their smart going out range.
If this dress fitted me and was the right length I'd have no qualms about wearing it if made me feel good and able to be myself and comfortably participate in the event. I wouldn't go out in a bright, floral patterned colourful creation that many seem to think it's de rigeur because it would be unlikely to suit me( physically and personality wise).I would wear something in which feel like myself and feel comfortable. Smartness and suitability have very different meaning to different people..

I like the Nobody’s child dress linked above in one of the denim options..

Cider is another of the cheap Chinese shit-shops like Shein and Temu. I'm not surprised it looks and feels crap.