Naice Dinner in London - what to wear…?

[baggyleggings]

Advice needed please. I’m going to London for a weekend next week to meet up with some good friends whom I don’t see very often. One of my friends (lives in London, high earning man) has suggested that we go somewhere ‘special’ for dinner. Am trying to play it a bit cool and not ask for specifics! What should I wear?

I live rurally and generally dress up a pair of jeans to go out from home.

I have a flattering LBD which I could wear. What with though? Would silver ballet pumps and bear legs work? What about a kimono style shruggy thing over the top? Expect it will still be quite warm.

I have a green satin calf-length skirt or wide leg linen trousers. Or dresses in other colours.

Don’t really want to buy new if I can avoid it.

Thanks for reading.

Ha! *bare legs not bear legs. I don’t think that bear legs would ever cut it.

Love the idea of bear legs

TBH, in London, most people just wear whatever they feel comfortable in.

Dress up if you want to, but don’t worry about it.

Hate to be one of those " anything goes in London" people.. however! Do you know what restaurant it is?

I wear jeans to pretty much everything I go to. High end restaurants included. People who really dress up stick out more in my opinion.

London generally doesn’t require smart clothes and you can spot out of towners as they are the ones in fancy outfits

Do you know the restaurant? Much easier to advise.

London generally not very dressy-it's def tourists, Hens and home counties mums on a big night in town that are dressing up
(*disclaimer-I am a home counties mum)

I never like to look tooo dressy-would rather be a bit understated.

Green satin skirt and black crop top, ballet pumps totally fine unless you love heels

I was at a one Michelin star place in London last week in a three year old sleeveless rib knit ankle length Loulou de Saison dress. (Chosen to be particularly accommodating around my middle.) I was too busy stuffing my face to pay particular attention to other diners’ outfits, but no one looked at all dressed up. Just a range of everyday clothes.

At the theatre that night the one woman in full Charlotte Tilbury highlighted cleavage and a fresh blow dry really stood out.

If in doubt I’d say wear your most expensive suitable thing as simply as possible. (Your vintage YSL or adjacent jacket, with gym shorts, for example. Definitely not a big puffy cotton midi dress.)

Yeah I was going to say that. Londoners are a pretty casual bunch.

The LBD with flats would be fine for most restaurants I think.

Since a capital city thrives on the number of ‘out of towners’ it can attract, I would hope London is grateful for every single fancy outfit!

This post is so cringy... What's the point you're trying to make, that your dress was old or expensive or casual or..? 'Your vintage YSL' lol, I'm sure OP has that in her wardrobe just behind the jeans.

OP, the green skirt sounds good. Perhaps paired with a high necked vest top and sandals (black or neutral). I'm nowhere near London but it's just a city like any other.

I agree with the recommendations here. The skirt sounds fine and perfectly appropriate, particularly if worn with a simple top and shoes. I also concur with the advice about avoiding OTT makeup, which definitely looks very bridge and tunnel. Minimal is your friend here.

(Londoner born and bred, also regular restaurant-goer.)

Re - other posters saying no one dresses up/don't bother, If you want to dress up and have fun, why not. Sure maybe you don't ' need to ' but isn't it nice to have an excuse to get a little bit dressed up? Maybe op wants to mark an occasion and have a change of pace.

Not saying full drag queen here.

Green satin skirt/ lbd sounds good, maybe some more special jewelry and if your hairs up to it get a bouncy blow dry / gel nails/ minimal make up/ nice perfume? Nice bag.

@baggyleggings i’d echo what pp have said - wear whatever makes you feel good from your wardrobe. I eat out a lot in very naice restaurants in London and I can assure you that no one is judging about what you wear…( I would however judge you for using your phone hands free without headphones sat next to me on the next table.. ) At a fancy but small place last weekend female diners were wearing everything from a dress to a smart trouser suit to full head-to-toe very blingy Louis Vuitton to jeans and a jacket. But they did match with the rest of their table… so I’d ask your friend what he’s intending to wear and match that level of dress code maybe? If he’s wearing jeans and a shirt, maybe dress down the green skirt. If he’s going fully suited, maybe the LBD? The silver flats sound lovely with both.

Tbh, the only restaurant I go regularly that has a dress code I know about is Sexy Fish and tbh that is very subjective depending on the time of year and seemingly at the door person’s discretion. Neither of the outfits you describe would fall foul of it.

Enjoy your night out!

Which restaurant. Then I'll tell you

I always find it a bit bemusing when everyone responds saying Londoners are casual and everything goes - I live in London and I don’t think it’s that casual but maybe I just don’t have a comparator?! Having said that, all the dressed uo people at Liverpool Street on a Friday night do stand out! So maybe I’m wrong.

also, agee @owlexpress- I had to read that post twice, made me cringe too!

I am a Londoner and would wear a pair of dark straight or slightly flared jeans, a Chloe belt, a silky cami and an oversized blazer. Possibly with kitten heels or trainers depending on the restaurant and a small smart bag / clutch

From your suggestion I would go with the green skirt and either a cami or a really good white tshirt tucked in, the silver shoes and some layered thin necklaces of different lengths, medium hoop earrings and a nice but small bag NOT worn cross body so a clutch or mini shoulder bag

I think you should wear your bear legs. 😍

It would be so great to have a London thread on here without loads of people jumping on to say nobody dresses up - wear a dish cloth and trainers. It totally misses the point that going to London is a treat for lots of people who might actually want to wear something nice.

And as for vintage YSL with cycling shorts ffs!!! 😂

Your green skirt sounds perfect.

It’s a walking city so anything you want with comfortable shoes.

I also agree with the green skirt.
I disagree about not wearing a bag cross body. It's London. Cross body is a safe bet for your valuables. I've been dipped once on the tube, in 45 years, so I don't think it's a regular occurrence, but it's there and if your attention is not on your stuff 100% you are vulnerable.

I go out a lot to nice restaurants in London and it is very mixed - evening is always dressier. I was in a 2 Michelin star restaurant last week for lunch and it was very casual - however I wore a linen dress and some kitten heels as I was celebrating and wanted to dress nicely but equally, I have gone to similar venues in ballet flats, smart shorts and a vest top. I’ve also worn silky skirt with trainers and a vest top. West is always dressier than east. My advice would be to find an outfit you look good in and don’t overthink it as nobody will care. When I see groups of Essex ladies out - dolled up to the nines with their Chanel bags - - I love it - I like to see people wearing different things and making a bit of an effort is always appreciated.

Oh lord don’t Londoners just love to tell us provincial types how effortlessly chic they are? 🙄

op I saw a young woman in sort of fun fur leg warmer things yesterday - are those bear legs?

I think the green skirt sounds great and you Can dress that up or down as you see fit. I was in London for a naice girls’ lunch last week and wore a jumpsuit if that’s any use at all. And for the theatre on monday in the west end I wore…the same! And tbh I couldn’t care less if what I wore makes me “stand out”. In fact, I hope it does.

Have a great time!

"Bridge and tunnel" are you trying to out cringe the "out of towner" poster?