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 😊.

We went to a mitchelin starred restaurant pre baby and I was surprised at how casually people dressed. I don't regret putting on a nice dress, we have lovely photos from the evening.
I love this but I suppose it depends on the weather https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/dark-wash-denim-starlight-midi-dress-d241639blu?variant=44346540327083&utm_source=NMPi&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PaidSearch&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19541476977&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynrnWEG_gl5OWV67YRl7FV5A5iwUGNI1zqOvUrk4obBjvoDBHX2hKAsaAqJ6EALw_wcB

MIDI dress
What a lovely occasion to look forward to. I recently bought the navy and white version of this and find it very flattering as a petite hourglass.

Anything but that cabbages and roses dress, looks like a costume from amdram!

most expensive restaurants are not dressy. A summer dress that suits your figure and style is perfect, and makes sense to double up with the wedding

I have this in the red. It’s beautiful and can be easily dressed up or down. I’m 5’3” and it doesn’t drown me.

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1275665003.html

I like Tu for summer dresses - I just bought a lovely sleeveless linen-mix shirt dress with a palm print for about £25. It’s excellent quality, fits really nicely (I’m an 8/10; the 8 is great) and looks a lot more expensive than it is.

£50 is loads for a second hand dress!
Every single charity shop and clothes bank in my well heeled town is full to bursting ( the clothes bank have bags 5 deep in places).

People have SO much stuff especially nice dresses they wear a few times to weddings but have no room for.

Izabel London have some nice dresses in, and have a sale on at the moment so it'd be under budget
Vintage Boho Print Cap Sleeve Maxi Dress | Izabel London
Floral 3/4 Sleeve Wrap Dress | Izabel London
Ditsy Print Off The Shoulder Dress | Izabel London

When I went to Le Manoir last year I wore:

Soft, black, gathered ankle trousers.
Crew neck t-shirt (peach).
Boyfriend style blazer with rolled up sleeves (cream).
Cream loafers.

I’ve got this in navy, it looks really good on. I think a jumpsuit covers all occasions well. Swap the belt out and add a short jacket.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdYsXSVX/

Exactly this. Smart casual would be fine.

😂😂 brilliant

This. We recently ate at a 2* in London, I wore trousers and a nice swingy jacket but honestly, anything goes.
People were in jeans, dresses, whatever, but it was mostly very casual. (Clean, of course!) No formal jackets and ties on the men at all that I noticed, for example.

OP, casual is fine, but please don't wear white trainers!

I’ve been to a 2 star a few times. I think I had a skirt on with boots and a tight top once. Smart casual I suppose. One of the other times I had wide leg trousers and a tight top. I wore a playsuit to one but it was with trainers.

Haha the comment above mine 🤣 my trainers were silver

Are white trainers too casual?

I've only been for dinner, but, yes, I'd say white trainers would be pushing it. If I remember right, they ask for 'smart casual' which generally means no trainers, ripped jeans, hoodies. I suspect you could get away with smarter trainers, but white would stand out. They're unlikely to refuse to seat you, but you might feel a bit out of place. My sense is that it's a bit less anything-goes than London.

IME the country house type ones are much more dressy than those in London (or other cities). People tend to dress for the venue as well - if it’s an old pub next to an overpass (looking at you Restaurant Sat Bains 👀) then very casual but somewhere like Le Manoir will be more formal. I think the OP will be safe in a nice summery dress.

As others have said, you don't need to dress up too much, if at all. And definitely don't buy the next size down. Tight clothes make people look fatter and would be more uncomfortable, especially at a sit-down meal!

White trainers are also now seen as fashion suicide for more mature women, especially when worn with a floral dress and denim jacket.

Some cute ballet flats perhaps?

Not to derail but their clothes are coming back online soon. Apparently at the end of the year.

Look at Ghost x M&S on Vinted.

What about this, you could get loads of wear out of it.

I wondered if the link has broken because OMG!!!!!
Never in a trillion years.
That really is emperor's new clothes!

Oh good! fashion suicide it is for me then - as long as I can.
So shoot me!