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.

Too true. Bound to happen.

I wouldn’t bother. The poster you’re quoting can’t wrap her head around jeans. See also blazers, trainers, makeup, and blow dried hair. Oh and high heels, bare ankles, accessories, and wearing a coat that matches one’s outfit. Pretty much anything that’s not an oversized dress seems to light up the “computer says no” part of their brain.

This is very boring and not S and B related. But the number one dress mistake I see visitors to London making is not dressing in light layers. And forgetting how warm the Tube is. Then trying to struggle out of tight jumpers on the Tube.
That, and wearing stilettos which get stuck in gratings!

That’s absolutely not it that’s horrible
https://www.chloe.com/gb/belts_cod22064139mo.html

this in black but it was a gift, a nice simple belt

I happened to be looking up the dress code at The Ritz yesterday (thanks to a very specific bequest) and it just said no jeans or sportswear for ladies.

Pretty much anything that’s not an oversized dress seems to light up the “computer says no” part of their brain.

😂

I shouldn't laugh because Iike Castle, I do not understand (or even like) blazers. I would even go as far as say that we (Castle and I) agree on many things. But jeans are great, ditto denim. Many dismiss them because they can be a nightmare to buy. Indeed, I didn't wear jeans for most of my 20s and 30s, but now, gosh, can't get enough of them.

Long ago realised that Castle and I have very different taste that occasionally does align which is always a pleasant surprise to me.

Oh yes I remember that !

Yes, people dress up really nicely for tea at the Ritz.

Thanks for taking the derailment in good humour OP.

Personally I would steer away from metallics, and wouldn't particularly aim to match your bag and shoes to each other. Neutral shades look more elegant IMO, the only time I really wear metallics is to weddings.

That's not what I imagined, ive googled them myself now and imagined something more like this. But as it's a reasonable amount of money I wouldn't want to risk it. She's recently done well at university and I want to surprise her, something different than the usual perfume or bag.

Perhaps something other than that belt? Is there a particular style she likes?

That’s exactly the one I have a one referred to

It's so kind of you, but if you're planning to spend more than about £40 please ask her if there's anything she'd like. Speaking as someone whose mum has very different tastes, I've been given many things over the years that I'd just never use, and it's horrible when your mum spends her money on something that just isn't right. Chloe is just a name, there may be other brands she prefers, or maybe she'd be thrilled with a similar belt from Arket or somewhere (more my budget!).

Those big dresses are only really suitable for an extreme fashionista. I’d look like Grayson Perry.

I don’t think jeans are a good option for a dinner where you might actually eat something - very constricting. Also if you’re not svelte of leg then they invariably look frumpy no matter what the style.

Silky trousers/OP’s satin skirt seems a good idea paired with decent black top. You can never go wrong with black and no one knows where you got it from either in case the restaurant is populated with judgy MNetters, their gimlet eyes peeled for the dreaded out-of-towner .

Ah, @MaturingCheeseball - we still don't know what gives a person away as an "out of towner"!
I'm none the wiser.

Maybe they look like Kat Slater? Oh.

She's London born and bred!

I'd go with floral dress, denim jacket and trainers - the merest whiff of this is guaranteed to bring the edgies scuttling out from the dark corners of S&B to sneer in delight at the gaucheness of the out of towner. It would be fun

That was my point.

😂

Don't forget the cross body bag with a contrast strap.

Personally I would steer away from metallics, and wouldn't particularly aim to match your bag and shoes to each other. Neutral shades look more elegant IMO, the only time I really wear metallics is to weddings.

I love metallics but never wear them to a wedding, far too cliche

Veering off topic, I’m afraid, but I was wondering, where are all the denim jackets? It went from 100% of women to… well, they’ve completely disappeared.

Perhaps the very fashion forward have started wearing them again already in order to distinguish themselves from the gauche whose denim jackets are regretfully consigned to the back of the wardrobe.

May I shed a tear for this combo? So comfortable and forgiving of figure faults. I know it was a cliched uniform but darn it, it was good while it lasted.

While it lasted?! You'll have to strip this off my cold, dead body - and the bodies of many other women from what I see 😂There are times when this outfit ticks a lot of boxes.