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Original poster

Wedding dress "cocktail attire"

73 replies

FriendofDorothy · 19/05/2025 21:32

I have worn this dress to a wedding and felt absolutely lovely in it. The second part of the wedding is in the USA and they have specified 'cocktail attire'.

Would this dress still be appropriate?

https://joanieclothing.com/celia-birtwell-x-joanie-queen-of-the-night-angel-sleeve-floral-print-maxi-dress.html

Celia Birtwell X Joanie - Queen of the Night Angel Sleeve Floral Print Maxi Dress

Our favourite daytime maxi dress (Albertini) becomes the ‘Queen of the Night,’ transported by Celia’s magical print. We’ve amped up this customer favourite in a sheer crinkle chiffon with a deep V-cross-front-neckline, a wide waistband, and flared ange...

https://joanieclothing.com/celia-birtwell-x-joanie-queen-of-the-night-angel-sleeve-floral-print-maxi-dress.html

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
4444223e · 20/05/2025 21:45

FriendofDorothy · 20/05/2025 21:33

Hotel - 11am wedding.

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Ok, as I said earlier, I'm American - your dress is absolutely fine and appropriate for an 11am wedding.

Hope you have a great time!

Original poster
FriendofDorothy · 20/05/2025 21:48

4444223e · 20/05/2025 21:45

Ok, as I said earlier, I'm American - your dress is absolutely fine and appropriate for an 11am wedding.

Hope you have a great time!

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Thankyou

OP posts:
ShrinkingMama · 20/05/2025 22:02

FriendofDorothy · 20/05/2025 21:25

It's a super flattering dress and easy to dress up.

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Thank you, I looks lovely and flattering! And from your vinted link I think I'm a similar size to you. Let me know if you end up wearing it and how you accessorise it 😊

ShrinkingMama · 20/05/2025 22:03

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 20/05/2025 21:19

Yes it is.

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Thank you! I have only been to one UK wedding before and no family ones yet (besides my own) and wasn't sure.

minipie · 20/05/2025 22:08

I think your dress would be fine. You could easily glam it up with gold jewellery and shoes/bag. Maybe even a gold belt.

Shetlands · 20/05/2025 22:22

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 20/05/2025 08:34

The black dress is boring and the other one looks cheap and nasty. I don't think "cocktail" means above the knee and / or very short and with cut outs.

This dress in navy is my regular go to for black tie but it would equally fit the bill here.
https://pauw.com/en-eu/products/korte-mouwen-midi-jurk-11201301299a240?_pos=13&_fid=f29ae52b5&_ss=c

OP- your own dress is great. The Celia Birtwell collaboration is lovely.

Edited

That's a stunning dress and looks beautifully tailored. The price is shocking though for 85% polyester. I'd expect pure silk for £925.

abricotine · 20/05/2025 22:36

I like your dress OP and agree with others who say it’s all in the styling, shoes and bag and hair etc. I also like the green Joanie dress linked above. Maybe more instantly glam looking but either will work.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 20/05/2025 22:46

Shetlands · 20/05/2025 22:22

That's a stunning dress and looks beautifully tailored. The price is shocking though for 85% polyester. I'd expect pure silk for £925.

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It's €925 not £. I bought mine in 2017- it was €470 then.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 20/05/2025 22:51

This is fascinating. I went to a wedding in the US last year, also with a 'cocktail attire' dress code. I wore knee-length navy, with tasteful sparkles in it, from Roman Originals (ideal for my age, probably not ypurs, OP). Bride and groom were Ivy League, parents were high-flyers, yet I was more glam than about 75% of the guests! Mother of the bride wore what looked like a (very comfortable!) day dress in polyester, and I really felt I'd upstaged her!

Shetlands · 20/05/2025 22:52

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 20/05/2025 22:46

It's €925 not £. I bought mine in 2017- it was €470 then.

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OK my mistake, it's about £780 then - wouldn't you say that's overpriced for polyester? Even in 2017 that would have been about £400 wouldn't it? As I said, the dress is stunning and I'd love to have it in silk but not in polyester at that price.

Mountainash · 21/05/2025 01:26

The Teal dress,on Vinted,IMHO is gorgeous. Snap it up before someone else does.

HRC2020 · 21/05/2025 12:43

Ketryne · 20/05/2025 19:30

What a nasty comment. I’m 35 and I would wear this. People have different tastes and I think this is lovely. Definitely too dressy for every day when paired with heels, hair up, earrings etc.

I do think it might not be evening-y enough for a cocktail party though.

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You what? What have I said that's nasty? The OP asked for opinions on the dress and I said I thought it was frumpy.

if you're that easily offended I'd suggest touching some grass!

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 21/05/2025 12:51

HRC2020 · 21/05/2025 12:43

You what? What have I said that's nasty? The OP asked for opinions on the dress and I said I thought it was frumpy.

if you're that easily offended I'd suggest touching some grass!

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The question was whether the dress was suitable for "cocktail". No other question was asked.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 21/05/2025 12:53

Shetlands · 20/05/2025 22:52

OK my mistake, it's about £780 then - wouldn't you say that's overpriced for polyester? Even in 2017 that would have been about £400 wouldn't it? As I said, the dress is stunning and I'd love to have it in silk but not in polyester at that price.

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In silk it would be double those prices and not necessarily have the same weight and structure.There's polyester and polyester.

Shetlands · 21/05/2025 14:04

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 21/05/2025 12:53

In silk it would be double those prices and not necessarily have the same weight and structure.There's polyester and polyester.

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I'll take your word for it as it's not a price bracket I shop in. I have silk dresses but not paid above £200. I'm very envious of your dress though - it really is the bees knees!

Mummyoflittledragon · 21/05/2025 18:20

FriendofDorothy · 20/05/2025 21:42

I think people have linked to some really nice dresses, and some that I really dislike. I had a little read of the article someone linked to and it seems to me that there is such a variety in how people interpret the dress code. So whilst a maxi floral length dress might not be the sharp cocktail look some people think is appropriate, it is unlikely to be a glaring error.

It is also tricky because I know what the bridesmaids are wearing, and so many of the dresses I like would look like I was trying to be part of the bridal party!

I think I will probably wear my dress because I love it so much and I felt beautiful in it.

However, I have also spotted this one which I quite like... www.vinted.co.uk/items/6337482968-classy-scarlett-and-jo?referrer=catalog

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Personally I prefer this dress as it’s a block colour so for me it becomes a safer option. I’m not American and I thought your dress isn’t dressy enough as I’ve heard American weddings can be quite dressy affairs. From what a couple of people have said on this thread it may well be. It perhaps depends on the crowd and as you’re not local, difficult to ascertain.

SwayingInTime · 21/05/2025 19:48

I think people haven't clicked through to the pics on the model, styled with the blue 70s heels it's lovely and glam enough for anything but black tie especially as OP is petite so the length will be dramatic. 'Cocktail attire' doesn't mean a cocktail dress, you could wear a tux or blazer and palazzo pants and it would still be cocktail attire. It's just one of those old fashioned dress code phrases like 'lounge suits' etc isn't it?

BasicBrumble · 22/05/2025 21:24

FriendofDorothy · 20/05/2025 21:22

I am 5'3" and it came to about ankle length. I did wear it with Birkenstocks to walk home and it didn't drag on the floor. I reckon it would be fine.

It's a gorgeous dress and reduced at the moment :)

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I bought it and I love it - thank you so much! Got a couple of sizes and the smaller one is fine in the length.

it is so hard to find dresses to feel confident in and this one is lovely.

Original poster
FriendofDorothy · 22/05/2025 21:31

BasicBrumble · 22/05/2025 21:24

I bought it and I love it - thank you so much! Got a couple of sizes and the smaller one is fine in the length.

it is so hard to find dresses to feel confident in and this one is lovely.

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Oh I am so pleased you like it. I think it is a beautiful dress.

OP posts:
HRC2020 · 22/05/2025 21:57

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 21/05/2025 12:51

The question was whether the dress was suitable for "cocktail". No other question was asked.

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yes? And I said no because it looks frumpy.. and?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 23/05/2025 16:34

HRC2020 · 22/05/2025 21:57

yes? And I said no because it looks frumpy.. and?

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Your first answer was

I don't think your dress fits cocktail attire at all. Sorry OP, I would wear that to potter around town or a BBQ

Perfectly reasonable answer.

Your second post was an uneccessary dig and was not just answering a question.

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