2 Michelin star lunch - outfit ona budget?!

[Neutralcat]

Me and my husband have a reservation for lunch at a 2 Michelin star countryside restaurant in a few weeks. I would like to find a new Summer dress for the occasion. I'm 45, 5"2, currently a size 10, but am losing fat and plan to be a size 8 by then. I am on a tight budget (the lunch is gifted, and we already know wine with meal will be expensive). I'm happy to buy from Vinted, but need some inspiration! It would also be useful if the dress could double up for a July wedding, but it's not crucial. Ideas appreciated, thanks 😊.

What is a tight budget OP?

I strongly reccomend buying a 10 and not hoping you'll be an 8.

Do you have any general preferences?

Also how dressy is the venue? It doesn't follow that a 2 Michelin star place is dressy.

@Clockface8 I'd ideally like to spend less than £50 but could go higher, but definitely no more than £100. @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle, I don't really know! It is a famous country house hotel and restaurant. I like midi length, have fairly large chest that I really don't like to have on show, am a little conscious of my tummy (but that is shrinking) and 'oversized' clothes tend to swamp me as I'm short. Apart from that open to ideas, feeling cluless!

Ok off the top of my head I'd wear something like this to the restaurant and the wedding. It's probably more than your budget but it's the style ballpark I'd be in. I'm 5'3 and a 14.

Cabbages and Roses dress

Nobody’s Child, Anthropologie, Free People, & Other Stories, Mango, Zara - all nice for summer dresses.

New Look also has nice summer midi dresses for reasonable prices, although not the greatest quality.

As long as you are clean (& probably not in jeans), your outfit won't matter. 2 star places are much more laid back than you think - if the two of you are too overdressed, then you will stand out.

Honestly, last time I went to a 2 star michelin restaurant, it was very casual, I had Nike Air Max.
There's something a bit gauche to be super dressed up in a restaurant.
Patrons are generally very casual as well, think a Uniqlo puffer gilet with a polo shirt and jeans for men.

@Cynic17 thanks, good point - although I would usually wear a Summer dress for lunch if it was a nice day, even if my local pub, but will bear in mind to consider low-key! @FastFood thanks for the tip.

This isn't my listing but this is the dress that sprung to mind when you said you description. A friend wore it at a wedding a few years ago and just looked so nice.

www.vinted.co.uk/items/4645576685-gorgeous-ghost-wraparound-dress

You will have people saying how nobody dresses up in restaurants anymore but this is a nice occasion which you are looking forward to so ofcourse you want to dress up and look your best.

I have no suggestions but I'm sure others here will have some great ideas.

As others have said, I wouldn't go too formal.

Nobody's Child would be my choice for style and budget, these are nice but they have lots of others-

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/pink-floral-printed-billie-midi-dress-d243246pnk?queryID=a57880b991af0439bbae457626d5d508&_gl=11wbkgpf_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynr73kSjwU-1x1ib9DPQnDmpVydeNmiopfoGL0gCZ_y0lPOfMMXn69kaAjV0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADQCJIX8sOb-xEH6Fnec-dTGqiR8q

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/black-floral-elsie-midi-dress-d250351blk?queryID=a57880b991af0439bbae457626d5d508&_gl=11wbkgpf_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynr73kSjwU-1x1ib9DPQnDmpVydeNmiopfoGL0gCZ_y0lPOfMMXn69kaAjV0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADQCJIX8sOb-xEH6Fnec-dTGqiR8q

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/cream-ditsy-floral-felicia-midi-dress-d243277crm?queryID=135db9a36d38350eae5f299f0b49658f&_gl=11wbkgpf_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynr73kSjwU-1x1ib9DPQnDmpVydeNmiopfoGL0gCZ_y0lPOfMMXn69kaAjV0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADQCJIX8sOb-xEH6Fnec-dTGqiR8q

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/green-polka-dot-adrian-midi-dress-d251957grn?queryID=135db9a36d38350eae5f299f0b49658f&_gl=19eb7ij_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynr73kSjwU-1x1ib9DPQnDmpVydeNmiopfoGL0gCZ_y0lPOfMMXn69kaAjV0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADQCJIX8sOb-xEH6Fnec-dTGqiR8q

There's loads of petite dresses in budget on sale in Wallis. Petite Dresses | Petite Maxi & Occasion Dresses | Wallis UK

OP if it’s Le Manoir then wear shoes that you can walk round the gardens in. For me, it’s almost the best bit! The gardens are gorgeous. And as others have said, hotel residents will likely be dressed casually. Have an amazing time!!

Oooh, is it Le Manoir? If so, you're in for a treat.

It's definitely not formal, but on the smarter end of smart casual.

Tesco has a LOVELY dark navy midi dress, kind of widens at the base so not straight down. Normal scoop neck, puffy sleeves, with a little floral pattern all over. I wish they had all their clothes on the website nowadays because I'm raving about this dress to anyone that will listen. Was only £20 as well!

@Neutralcat I promise it is not outing for you to tell us the restaurant on an anonymous site. There will be hundreds of people eating there in the upcoming weeks.

The dress code is not the same across the board-some places will be smarter than others!

Edited to say we cross posted @Neutralcat and I can see you said.

Manoir is a bit smarter than some of the others but agree with whoever said above shoes you can stroll around gardens and grounds in!!

@Daisydoesnt and @GCAcademic , yes it is Le Manoir. I can't wait.

@MrsMitford3 it is Le Manoir.

OP lucky you! Have a lovely lovely time. Without wanting to bleat on about it, if you can leave yourself time afterwards (or before) to just relax and explore the gardens etc. would be such a shame to have to dash home as soon as you’re finished lunch.

@Daisydoesnt , we live quite locally and have all day so will make the most of the gardens 😊.

I’d look at whistles silk dresses in 10 on Vinted if you’re an 8 it will hang nicer TBH better than tight. Lots of styles, colours. A quality silk dress will always look nicer than a cheap one from Tesco or Nobody’s child.

£50 is very tight op

is it just the dress? Or do you already have shoes you’ll wear? In which case the dress needs to go with the shoes you will be wearing

That was one hell of a generous gift op!!

is it a set menu you’re having?

Lucky you! Le Manoir is beautiful. It is on the more formal side of things than some 2* restaurants, but I completely agree with others that there is no need to buy something you won’t wear again. So I’d go with something you’ll also feel happy in at the wedding, and then dress it down slightly.

Just guessing but if it’s Le Manoir it’s not dressy at all, literally anything other than jeans is fine. Have you checked out Zara?