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!

Try Popsy Clothing. Beautiful clothes to fit all sizes x

popsyclothing.co.uk

Size 18 here… I bought a dress from monsoon when I went to a BP garden party op
You can buy fascinators on vinted.
Shoes, I’d go Esska - expensive but comfortable.

Also, if you spend lots you can probably sell after on vinted.

Op, I had the great pleasure to be invited to one last year. On the clothes front, my advice would be go for something you really like, and you feel good in, and focus less on the style. People wore a huge range of things, I didn't wear a hat for example and didn't feel out of place at all.

If I have any tip, it is without doubt focus heavily on your feet. It is a long day, you stand all the time, we also went for a long walk in the grounds, and I was crippled by the end of the day 🤣 I had worn what I felt with super comfy, wide heel shoes and I was still in agony. Invest in your feet!

Thank you so much everyone! Lots of great ideas and brands I’ve never heard of.

I’m going on 14th May, invited by a charity with whom my school works. I haven’t got my official invite yet, but other posters’ talk of plus ones is making me wonder if I’ll be able to take my husband with me. Does every invitee get a plus one?

I was the plus one!

I think so. I was told I could take either my husband or my unmarried daughter. My two unmarried sons were unimpressed by that! Though I did take the husband and he’d have killed me if I hadn’t!

@goingtostealatoiletroll in the form I had to fill in to accept my nomination I also filled in details of my plus one

The letter my husband got asked him to complete the details of his plus one.....

Until you have your official invite it is not confirmed.
Both you and your plus one need to submit identity information up front
there is NO informality about it.

Double check whoever told you that you have an invite before spending any money.

In my sector we were always told NOT to assume a date until we had the official invitation

I was the plus one. My DH had to submit all my information before we got the invite. It was then addressed to Mr and Mrs Hisfirstname Surname 🤣 Not a great look for a raging feminist.

As others have said wait until you get the official invite letter. I was a plus one with my sister. She received an official invitation that gave 2 possible dates and she then had give full details about herself and myself. This came in Feb or March. The actual printed invite that gave the actual date came about a month before the actual garden party. There were a few who's names were put forward the same time as her that did not get the actual invite, so wait until you get the official letter asking for details etc. before thinking you will be going.

But you can find really special things on Vinted! That’s why I’m suggesting it (although sustainability is great too). LK Bennett included. 😁 You can get something someone has worn once for a fraction of the new price. I’m not saying the OP shouldn’t spend that money if she wants to - but that she could spend a lot less and get something really lovely, and then have the money to treat herself in a different way too.

I went to the garden party last year and wore a beautiful shot silk cream jacket I found in a charity shop over a Jigsaw linen dress I’d worn to weddings back when everyone was getting married. I met the King and had gorgeous food. It was a lovely day.

I don't think they will mind, so long as you are decently covered - and wear a hat!

Unless the rules have changed, you can bring a partner/husband and an unmarried daughter. A long summer dress is usual. I don't think many would wear something for evening, and am not sure a lot of jewellery will go down to well with other guests.. Women are expected to wear a hat.

An unmarried daughter? Really? Why not a son? Why not a married daughter? Sounds a bit Jane Austen-ish. Is the unmarried daughter looking for a prince? Does she have to wear glass slippers, etc etc?

Tradition. Like the daughters - not the sons - of holders of British Empire honours are entitled to be married in St Paul’s Cathedral.

I’m pretty sure it’s not actually the case any more. It’s just a plus one.

I’m not saying it to diminish it for the OP as it’s a really fun thing to do, and I’m not going to be all ‘just wear a t shirt and jeans’ about it. But there was a wide variety of outfits when we went and it felt very inclusive. I don’t think anyone could have been stressing that they were either under or over dressed. People looked like they were wearing clothes that made them feel good about themselves. Everyone was mostly focused on the gorgeous cakes, spotting the Royals in the flesh, and keeping warm!

I’m sure when I filled the form in for plus one it didn’t stipulate what relationship they had to be

re St Paul's

"As St Paul’s is not a parish church, there are conditions on who can be married here and all weddings require the granting of a Special Licence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
We are able to marry members of:

• the Order of the British Empire, and their children
• the Order of St Michael and St George, and their children
• the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor, and their children
• the Cathedral Community (staff and volunteers, including Cathedral School, subject to length of service), and their children.

We are also able to marry those who hold a British Empire Medal, and their children. "

Thank you. I was obviously misinformed by someone who was married there.

It might also have chanted since then! The world is changing fast!

Pretty sure St Paul’s has been open to all children of honours people for at least twenty years.