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.

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

I’m certainly not effortlessly chic! More effortlessly ‘couldn’t care less with a side of scruffy!'

But my point was not to disparage the OP but to help her to relax about what she might choose to wear. As (most) PP have said, it really doesn’t matter if you dress up or down - what does matter is that you’re comfortable with your choice.

Do you talk to all these people in fancy outfits to confirm your assumption that they’re out of towners?

People even Londoners do sometimes dress up but depends on area & restaurant really. Equally you could go fairly casual & fit in fine.

I'm a born & bred SW Londoner though (currently in z3) so I guess I come under bridge & tunnel 😆

I like the LBD with flat shoes but would go for a more structured layer as opposed to a kimono.

Green satin skirt would work too, could wear with a cami or boxy t-shirt & jacket.

Wtf is bridge and tunnel?

suburban/ not sophisticated

stupid tv show reference

It's an expression borne from New York to describe those who aren't from Manhattan Island, i.e. Central NYC, because they can only get there via a bridge or tunnel. It doesn't really work for London.

Anyway OP, I've lived and worked in London for decades and I always dial it up a bit for a special occasion. And I do like to look at other people's outfits.

I will give the "wear what you like no one cares" crowd the benefit of the doubt that they're trying to put you at ease rather than knock the "out of towner".

Gosh we wouldn't want that would we? Dressed up people having fun and being noticed, how gauche!

Crying at YSL and gym shorts! Can you imagine a restaurant crammed with all shapes, sizes and ages, all sporting YSL jacket and clingy shorts?

These threads always bring out the Mean Girls. I always remember the hapless poster who dared to ask what to wear to The Ivy for a special occasion. First out of the blocks was someone asking if it were just “an” Ivy, followed by much sneering and saying they just called in with their kids and wore jeans.

Anyway, I have consulted Girl About Town dd who suggests - to cover all bases - a pair of satiny trousers (or skirt), nice top and some jewellery and ballet flats or kitten heels. Depends on the restaurant, of course. Not everywhere is a tourist trap or full of hens with big cocktails as some seem to be suggesting.

Well if that were you intention, it had the opposite effect.

Well then you totally misread my post.

I can see from this thread that London is as full of pretentiousness as it has always been. Even if that is to aspire to the dizzying heights of being effortlessly scruffy.

It's a handy short cut to let you know that you can safely ignore the opinion of anyone who uses it- especially when they are referring to London.

I file it along with "pearl clutcher" and any idiot these days who proclaims they are a "Marxist" [see Sally Rooney and Ash Sarkar].

How boring.

Little black dress with black pumps not silver.

I’d like to know what a ‘naice’ dinner is 🤷🏻‍♀️?

Well as a Londoner who accidentally left their favourite green satin skirt on holiday and now doesn’t know what to wear out tonight I vote for wearing that!

You can wear whatever you like in London - so whatever makes you feel good. I’d go for nice trousers and maybe a camisole/jacket. But do make sure you have some comfortable shoes for the weekend - lots of walking/tubes/sightseeing to be done!

You haven't been on MN for long enough! Naice ham was on a shopping list many years ago. It's now the go to word for a bit fancy. It's posh nice 🤣

Your post was not at all the kind I’m objecting to. Yours was kind. Others are often sneery.

Thanks for the bridge and tunnel explanations. Sounds totally twat-ish to me.

Totally twat-ish.

Thank you @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie. I wasn’t trying to be sneery or Mean Girl at all.

Which is entirely obvious to anybody who actually read your post properly.