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!

“…………an unmarried daughter.”
How archaic.

I don't think that's the case anymore.

My DH was just asked to provide the detail of his guest. There were no restrictions on who that could be.

Sorry, me again. With you having a date it may be that someone else is putting you forward as their plus one.You mention that your invite is via a Charity- it may be that they have been asked to give specific names and full details in pairs so that one is the invited and the other becomes the plus one. As you seem to be unaware of the fact that the invited person can take a plus one I would get back to whoever has told you that you will be going and ask them to clarify if you definitely have been invited and your full details have been submitted on the official form that is sent from I think it is the Lord Chamberlains Office or is it just that your name has been put forward for consideration. From what I have heard it seems that not everyone whose name is put forward then gets send the official letter and form for submission allowing them to submit details of themselves and their plus one etc. I hope you are definitely going and wear what you feel comfortable in and most importantly shoes that you know can stand many hours of being on your feet without causing pain.

I went to a Buckingham Palace garden party many years ago with a work colleague. This was in the old days when if someone wasn't married they couldn't take a partner so unmarried male friend and I coupled up for the afternoon. Ruling has been changed now I understand.

I wore a Laura Ashley cotton dress, low heeled shoes and a a straw hat I had brought back from Greece with a floaty scarf round it. I was comfortable and cool whereas the people in tight fitting fancy clothes were hot and bothered. Basically anything goes. I would recommend going for the lemonade rather than the hot tea, it's delicious.

At least it didn’t require a virgin daughter I guess. Checks at the gate …

Nonsense.

you can bring a partner/husband and an unmarried daughter
You are invited "with a guest". Utter nonsense about the 'unmarried daughter' malarkey. You have to complete their details and both take ID on the day.

A long summer dress is usual

I saw very few, if any, long dresses there, other than those that were part of traditional national dress.

and am not sure a lot of jewellery will go down to well with other guests.

What ?

When did you go @llizzie ?

Re the “Mr and Mrs His First Name, Last Name” format for name badges, they may have updated that now. It used to be the same for the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot but I believe they’ve been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st C and women now get their own name on a badge. When I went 10-odd years ago I got my own name as DH wasn’t with me!

No name badges when I went to the Garden Party ten years ago.
The looked at our invitation and passports as we went in.
Nothing more.

Same as @Talkinpeace - no-one had name badges

Many many years ago I went as an unmarried daughter living at home - it hacked my brother off big time. As he was the golden child it probably also hacked my parents off that they could take me and not him......

They have to be over 18 too, unless the rules have changed since I went.

A few years ago.

From the invitation pack hats are optional but no swords!

Hi everyone :)

I had a BEAUTIFUL time at the garden party and thought I would update you on my choice.

I ended up going with a budget-friendly Scarlett and Jo dress which was a dream to wear, and a perfectly colour-matched shallow hat-style fascinator from Phase Eight.

Victoria Green Multi Angel Sleeve Mesh Long Midi Dress – Scarlett & Jo

I am so in love with the dress- it was so comfortable, looked really pretty, has a nice waistband style that flattered my stomach area, the shoulder pads made the angel sleeves look so much more structured and neat, pretty length. All-round a perfect choice. I know that style also comes in lots of different colours and patterns.

Lovely dress!!

It was a gorgeous day wasn't it? I loved every minute.

I went with a pink chiffon halter neck dress which was perfect for the weather.

Scarlet and Jo is your best bet for a dress, make sure it’s not too low cut or thing about a vest underneath if it’s v is deep. For shoes up for a comfortable one from somewhere like hotter, comfortable is paramount! Check the rules but I think hats are optional now however I do recommend The Scarf Giraffe who have lovely foldable hats which you can reuse as a holiday hat. If the dress is really long I have shortened them and used the material to make a matching hat band

@minnienono - if you look 2 posts above your, you'll see the OP has been, already.

@goingtostealatoiletroll Glad you had a lovely day. That dress is lovely.

Oh, and did you ? (steal a toilet roll )

I am glad you enjoyed your special event. Your dress looks beautiful.

I'm so glad you had a great day. I have that dress in a different colour and I wore it to a wedding. It was so comfortable.

Glad you had a lovely time, it is a bit special, isn’t it?
And that’s is one really lovely frock.

Dress looks a dream and perfect for The Garden Party. It is a rather special event, isn't it. Hope your shoes were comfortable. Glad you had a good time and the weather was perfect for it, not like when I went last year when the Tea Tent was the only place to keep dry.

That’s a lovely dress @goingtostealatoiletroll
Glad you enjoyed the day.