Buckingham Palace garden party, plus-size apple shape. Help!

[goingtostealatoiletroll]

I'm in the very lucky position to be invited to one of the King's garden parties in the summer and I'm already panicking about what to wear.

I am a UK size 22-24, with an apple shaped body thanks to a hormone condition. I have a B-belly with a distinct upper bit and lower bit, and not much of a waist. Big boobs, much smaller legs by proportion.

I don't often have cause to dress up and have no idea where to even start looking. Most of my clothes come from ASOS, Primark and supermarkets...

I will also need to wear flats and have extra, extra wide feet, so could do with some tips on the kind of shoes that would be appropriate to wear. And where the hell do people buy fascinators/ hats??

Thanks!

Adrianna Papell range is worth a look as well. I got mine on Vinted .

Nothing worthy for me, hobby related.

I'd love to go but I can't imagine either DH or me being invited.

Friends of ours went twice in a week! The first was for her work (long standing civil servant), the second was for his work (I know what he does but I don't know why it would warrant an invitation).

Another website, with shops too so you could try on outfits in person, is nigelraymentboutique.co.uk

I went last year. It was a wonderful experience.

There was a lot of Hobbs, Self Portrait and Me and Em. It was very colourful and people really made a lot of effort.

I wore block heels and a hat/fascinator which was required. I would check out Vinted, I sold mine straight after having only worn for that occasion.

Another tip would be to use a wristlet or a bag with a strap. Not everyone will get a seat so you may be standing with your plate and drink so this would make it very difficult with a clutch.

I wore a dress and jacket combo from Hobbs - so glad I did as it was torrential rain (it didn’t spoil it) we still had a great time. I also am rubbish with pashminas so the jacket with bracelet sleeves worked much better for me.

Sorry not to add anything in the fashion front but am so curious as to how so many of you have been invited to royal garden parties ! Are you all involved in charity or similar work ?

My husband was nominated by his boss. He works in education. He's a huge royalist so is unbelievably excited. I'm just his plus one 😂

I'm going in May with my son for his Gold DofE award. Is this the same event? I'm struggling to get information out of my son, I've asked him what the dress code is and he said he doesn't know !

Think it is different @sparklystar333 There should be contact details so can ask for information

Sorry not to add anything in the fashion front but am so curious as to how so many of you have been invited to royal garden parties ! Are you all involved in charity or similar work ?

Members of the armed forces can ask to be put in a ballot for places - not sure if it’s just officers though.

I’m not a dresser upper so I was worried last year when we got invited through DHs work. I live in jeans, hoodies and DM boots. I wore a jumpsuit from Seasalt with DM sandals. I dressed it up with a charity shop hat and jacket. He brought the wrong suit and ended up going in his dinner suit 🤣 Nobody cared. I thought it was hysterical.

Don’t sweat too much over it. It’s pretty laid back as long as you make an effort. We met William and had some lovely food but got very VERY wet. We took the tube so bear that in mind. I nearly lost my hat on the platform from the piston effect 🤣

Have a great time op.
It will be amazing.

Two different things (I've been to both )

The DofE presentations, you don't usually get food (although there was a hot drink and a cake when my youngest went most recently). I'd take your own bottle of water, as the tiny cups you can get don't really meet the need. Whereas the garden party is a lovely afternoon tea.

The Garden party tends to be a bit more dressy.

The DofE Gold presentation is a lovely afternoon too (well, or morning - they do two in a day). Parents generally wear a suit (men) or lovely dress (and jacket, if temperature means you need one), just as for the garden parties, but, generally, not a hat or fascinator. The odd person does, but not like at the garden parties where is it only the odd person that doesn't.
But the point about a lot of walking and lot of standing around still holds - wear comfortable shoes!

Enjoy! It is a lovely day out.

Have not read all of your replies, so sorry if repeating. Like one reply I saw I went last year and it was cold and absolutely poured down. The lawn was muddy underfoot. Once we had crammed ourselves into the tea tent we stayed there as did many others.The sandwiches and cakes are brilliant. The really glam people seemed to be heading for the diplomats and VIP tents and we felt very sorry for them watching them in their flimsy dresses and sinking into the ground in their stilettos. Female fashion was very varied from glam to a basic summer dress with a jacket or decent cardi. The most important thing to wear is what you feel comfortable and happy in.There are thousands of people there and unless you wear something outlandish you will just be part of a crowd and enjoy yourself. I am not a dress wearer at all as have narrow shoulders, little bust and wider hips so the thought of buying a dress sent me into a panic mode. I lost count of how many I ordered and returned. In the end I settled on a simple cotton dress along with a jacket I got in the Hobbs sale and I fitted in fine. A pair of wedge sandals coped with the muddy grass- do not wear a heel. You will queue for up to an hour to get in and past security and there is not a chair for everyone so you will be on your feet a lot. Find a fascinator on line or in some shops.Take it in a carrier bag and pop it on in the ladies in Victoria station along with many other ladies there. We had to queue to get to the mirror! If your phone has a location for photos ask another guest to take your photo there on your phone and it comes out as Buckingham Palace as the venue- not many can claim that. Even though it was a complete washout we have fond memories of it.

Reminds me of this one, could add a bow or fascinator in pink to make it more summery https://www.phase-eight.com/product/maybel-ombre-dress-100025100026.html

There were plenty of chairs if you wanted to get very very wet 🤣 Despite the rain we had an amazing time. You met a huge array of people. I loved it and hope we get to go again.

Ohhh, congratulations! I do not really have a suggestion, but would love to go with you :-) Enjoy!

The really glam people seemed to be heading for the diplomats and VIP tents and we felt very sorry for them watching them in their flimsy dresses and sinking into the ground in their stilettos.

Fashion commentators picked up that Zara wore heel protectors at that party - little plastic caps that fitted over her stiletto heels to prevent them sinking into the lawn.

There's a lovely photo of her posing with umbrella, with three gents with top hats, tails and rolled umbrellas, all looking as if they're about to break into a song and dance routine.

Really sweet, appropriate dresses at Hell Bunny - https://www.hellbunny.com/collections/all-plus-size

I’ve been to one of the garden parties (to do with job) the Reformation dress would be perfect. It’s really elegant.

Monsoon have some gorgeous occasion dresses at very good prices. The Jane floral midi dress is lovely.

Monsoon have some gorgeous occasion dresses at very good prices. The Jane floral midi dress is lovely.

I'm afraid I'd think it was a dressing gown if I hadn't known it was a dress!

That looks like a robe I'd throw on to go from the shower to the bedroom.

Do you mean the pretty Kitty one? I thought but was lovely. I don’t knuw how you could be so rude about a suggestion then post that vomitously garish splodge patterned dress. I wouldn’t normally be so harsh but if you’re going to speak your mind …

Off topic but a word of advice. Get in the food queue early doors. They start packing away early, even if there is still a queue of people who haven’t been served - speaking from personal experience! It’s a very long day, and worse when you are starving.

Try pretty kittens website. They do beautiful dresses for plus size. I've bought several dresses from them and they fit beautifully. I'm a size 16 .If you like 50's theme. There are a lot of formal and tea dresses.
Have a wonderful time. I had a male friend that went to the late queen's tea party and he loved it. Meeting lots of stars. It was a hot day and had wasn't allowed to take off his jacket.