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? 😅

Except I'm 65 and I don't think that.

I avoid calling anything "frumpy". Clothes especially dresses are either (1) love it or (2) wouldn't be my choice but if the airline lost all my luggage and this were the only option I would wear it or (3) the airline has lost all my luggage and if this were the only option it would make me cry if I were forced to leave the house wearing it and I'll stay at home thank you.

The pink version of the OP's dress is 1. The blue is 2. Phase 8, Jolie Moi, Roman, Yumi "occasion wear" is 3.

I'm actually shocked to read you re 26! Are you a Royal? They are the only people who wear such drag clothing-you only have to look in this weeks Hello magazine to see what I mean-Camilla excepted.

Not everyone of course, but I see these comments so frequently.

I mean, when I was in my 20s and a young, beautiful and a size 8, I could wear pretty much anything and would have looked amazing in this. However, now that I’m late 30s and a size 12 I wouldn’t go near it. It’s much easier to look frumpy as you get older, unfortunately. However, while you’re young you should experiment with different looks and make the most I think!

It reminds me of Mary Poppins but if you like it and not going into debt to buy it, then why not?!

I'd say if u love it, u can afford it and your weight is stable then why not? You can wear in the future.

I think it is gorgeous and classic, but in a good way. If you can afford it and it looks good on you, I would keep it,

You are only 26, but it is the kind of dress that might come handy for formal occasions in the future.

I agree with @MissScarletInTheBallroom. My two most expensive mistakes have been falling in love with something and buying it (usually at a stretch) with no occasion in mind (but hoping one will come along) and usually for a life I haven’t got! Eventually a wedding invitation or similar arrives and the item I’ve bought turns out to be not quite right/wrong season etc. Then another occasion rolls round by which time the outfit has slightly dated, or I’ve changed shape or it’s inappropriate for the occasion again. I’m summoning up the courage the stick my second mistake on Vinted at a much reduced price :(

I love it but this is definitely my style (I'm 30's)... Wouldn't pay that price of it though 😂

I think it would suit the wife of a tory MP to show a united front after facing a public scandal or an interview for a nanny. Other than that I am sure there must be other dresses that would suit you more.

I hardly think the Tory Wife scenario would call for taffeta. That would be more jeans and a nice jumper from Arket. Nor would the dress be suitable for anyone wanting to give the impression they’re ready and able to clean up vomit at soft play day after day. Honestly @madaboutpurple it kind of looks like you’re re-using phrases you’ve seen or used elsewhere - without having taken the time to properly consider the dress in question!

I really like it and I'm also a bit bemused by some of the references. I agree with @bunnybunnybunnybunny that for me it has a vibe of Grace Kelly in Rear Window or Tippi Hedren in The Birds or Kim Novak in Vertigo (in fact pretty much any film involving Edith Head but maybe that's for another thread). I'm also pleased, op that you're not constrained by regressive ideas about what a 26 year-old should wear.

I do have a reservation though and that's about whether you'd get enough wear out of it to feel you'd got your moneysworth. A suit would be far more versatile. I think I've also read it's a taffeta fabric which I imagine would restrict it to occasion wear. I'm sure that, at 26, you'll be going to more weddings and parties than I will over the next few years, but I think it's worth asking yourself some hard questions about how many times you'd wear it before you started to get a bit bored. In theory it's a dress you could put away and get out again in 20 years but a lot of us weren't the same size at 46 that we were at 26. But equally you could recoup at least some of the cost on Ebay / Vinted if that happens so, provided you can buy it and still put food on the table, then I wouldn't stress too much,

Thank you! I see the dress has divided opinions, so I must pop back with an update when it arrives. I must admit that the Princess of Wales and Grace Kelly actually are my style inspiration and that has clearly been picked up on in this thread 😉

looking forward to hearing your review on it when you get it

@Floisme Aha, the films of Alfred Hitchcock and Edith Head, either would be my Mastermind subject! Tipp Hedren in both The Birds and Marnie has a less full silhouette, as does Madeleine in Vertgio. It's also too classy for Judy to wear too. If anything, it brings to mind the dress (with matching parasol) Schatzie Page (Lauren Becall) is modelling in How to Marry a Millionaire. But yes, it's absolutely something that one could see Edith Head put her name too.

What I like best about the Self Portrait outfit is that it's a brilliant blank canvas to accessories. If one was to pair it with nude court shoes, pearl studs and a strings of pearls, then yes, absolutely, it's trad/Tory wife vibes. However, I can't really see a 26 year old styling it that way, or anyone with even a modicum of style. Ice blue such as this looks amazing with other ice colours, neon brights too. In fact, pretty much anything. Indeed, am in my late 40s and. would wear it with either oversized drop Roccoco pearl earrings studded with gems (a la Phoebe Philo for Céline) or enamel earrings, also studded with gems and pearls. Add in some amazing strappy/cage/laced sandals in a bright colour, and it will look super chic, ditto even with the right black accessories. Maybe, probably, this is the real issue, many just don't know how to accessories something for a wedding beyond a nude pair of shoes and a fascinator, the latter of which should never be worn anyway.

You know what.you do you
MN style section is not a reliable or measure of good taste
MN recommend a bolero or shrug for every wedding guess and pee themselves if a guest wears white to a wedding

Go Rock the republican senator ,at a chastity fundraiser ball, vibe😉

I’ve never seen such hideous clothes than some of the ones suggested on the style threads. I sometimes wonder if they compete to see who can suggest the worst outfit 😆

Personally do not like it, far too conservative, not sure if it is a separate jacket or dress, but it is your taste that counts, so if you like it go for it!!

It's not for me but if you love it, why not?

I think it’s lovely. Give it a go.

well if you absolutely love it why not.
It looks like an old nursemaids outfit to me but it wouldn’t do for us all to have the same taste. Lovely colour though x

Would suit one of the stepford wives surrounding Trump.
Quite frankly I think it’s awful.
And I have a load of very expensive outfits lingering in the wardrobe which I will never have occasion to wear unless for a court appearance as the glamorous Other Woman where the MP is caught enflagrante 😆😆

Gorgeous outfit.

A royal nanny is spot on! Where would you realistically wear it? It’s too hot and stuffy looking for a summer wedding.

It's like something a royal might have worn 25 years ago. It's not unattractive but very dated.

It's like something a Royal wore in February 2025.

It's not "dated"