Am I nuts to have splurged on this?

[Peppermintcreamz]

Have loved this Self Portrait dress for a while and saw it went 25% off today. It was reduced to €390/£335. I have no formal enough occasion coming up this year for it but I’d love to save it for the next wedding or something appropriate. I’m trying to save a bit more at the moment (for nothing specific) so I can cover it if I dip in to those. There was 1 left in my size and I couldn’t resist. If it fits should I keep it? 😅

I've never heard of Self Portrait before. Just had a look at the dresses on the website .... I'm getting Barbara Cartland or Liz Taylor circa 1973 vibes from some of those dresses.

The one you posted - if you love it and you love the way it looks on you, keep it. We all deserve that one special splurge garment that we feel fabulous in. I've just forked over £140 for a Vivienne Westwood tshirt which gave me palpations when I clicked on "pay" but the cut is stunning and it really suits me.

Your frock is giving me Princess Kate at one of her royal meet and greets and personally I think she always looks lovely.

It's gorgeous.

Totally not my style, but if it's yours then go for it!

If you're planning to evolve into Princess Anne it would be absolutely perfect!

Your frock is giving me Princess Kate at one of her royal meet and greets and personally I think she always looks lovely.

Self Portrait is a brand Kate wears a lot. I agree she does look lovely.

I'm always slightly bemused by posters who use "looks like something Kate would wear" as a put down. Kate might not be wearing something from the latest Japanese , Danish or Low Countries wunderkind- (the sort of thing that should come with instructions on how to put it on), but I guess the posters who say that must be so stylishly avant garde they give Tilda Swinton a run for her money.

Exactly this... if you like it that's all that matters.

Exactly this. It will read completely differently on a young person. I can imagine it looking great.

Send it back

I'm getting Maggie Thatcher vibes

I actually think it's pretty cool. A lot cooler than most of the recommended Shein things that are pushed on S&B, but surely if it's 'old fashioned' that stands whether you're over 50 or not? I know plenty of over 50s who would wipe the floor style-wise with most of the stuff I see on here.

I think you need to try it on. I would love to see it on a real person so if you feel brave enough some pictures would be great.

It could look lovely in a Grace Kelly, Princess of Wales way but some images of it suggest the skirt lacks the volume for that and then it misses the mark and that's where some of the less flattering comments come from.

The other problem is when you wear it. If you happen to be married to a Government Minister, the son of a Duke, a Foreign Ambassador, or minor Royal then go for it. If you have an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party or are being awarded an OBE go for it. Otherwise you might struggle for a suitable occasion, maybe ladies day at Ascot. For most occasions it is a slightly awkward mix of day time formality with the jacket and evening glamour with the taffeta fabric.

If the 2027 wedding is that of royalty/nobility/high society, or very formal and conservative then maybe consider it, however I think it is a bit too far ahead to buy. Fashions, your taste and your body change and you may not love it in nearly two years time.

Ok it has arrived! It fits lovely, the only niggle is I find it tight under the arms. If I size up to a 10 I fear it’ll be baggy everywhere else then, and it’s no longer 25% off so I’d have to pay more. Pics attached as requested. I think I’ll have to wear it this year 😉

It's lovely

It looks very nice, nicer than I thought it would be and honestly I think nicer than it was on the model!
Do you think you could also wear them as separates to have more options
Eg skirt with white shirt and jacket with jeans

I think its cute! Love that you have your own individual style. Only thing I'd say is that it might get a bit hot for a spring/summer wedding and if the arms are a bit tight it won't be comfortable for dancing in. It would be perfect for ascot or a similarly fancy event.

I think it looks nicer on than the photos in your OP suggested. I wonder if a slightly bigger petticoat might look nice.

I hope you can find some events to wear it at if you decide to keep it.

I like it a lot.

I'd like to see it with those sleeves pushed up a bit or turned under. I think that would balance it. It's a crisp, neat look and I think the sleeves detract from it a bit.

My one tiny niggle is that I don't love the way it's lying around the buttons. It might just need to be flattened from being packed or it might be pulling a little there. How do you feel about it? I agree the next size up might be a bit big.

I’d return it. It’s doing nothing for you.

I would say yes it's a splurge for a brand that uses really high street level materials. Over £300 for polyester is criminal!

A whole polyseter outfit like that, with sleeves and all, in a summer wedding...nightmarish to wear.

I would keep the photos you’ve taken for future reference as you like the colour, silhouette etc then return it. When you have an event, explore some dress hire options - this is too likely to become a white elephant in your wardrobe.

Should you decide to size up, contact customer services and they should honour the discount as it's an exchange rather than a standalone purchase. That said, it's a lovely shape and a wonderful colour on you. Very chic too. However, the underarm being tight is something that will niggle you each and every time you wear it. Personally, I think you can do better spending your money on something that fits you perfectly.

It looks better on you that on the website, but it doesn’t sit neatly over your chest? If it’s also tight under the arms then I think it’s just not the thing for you.

I would get the sleeves ruched up and wear it with my gold necklace that says ‘fuck it’ instead of ‘nice’ accessories 😁😁

Hmm, you look lovely but I think something like that needs to fit perfectly and this is too tight on the arms and (it looks) bust. I would return it.

It’s better than on the website but it doesn’t fit very well over the bust. Also, I don’t know if it’s just not coming across well on pictures but the fabric looks cheap to me.

You look gorgeous OP, it's a keeper.