How to accessorise this dress?

[AnotherDressOne]

I bought this dress for an upcoming wedding and am slightly regretting it. I'm 38 and think it maybe looks a bit old for me ... or maybe I just want to look younger than I am/feel!!

Anyway, I don't want to buy another dress so I'm wondering how to best accessorise this one. I am rubbish at this stuff!

I'm tall and I have a dodgy ankle and a toddler so I tend to avoid heels, but am wondering about maybe low wedges with this.

Any suggestions? 😊

It’s an invisible dress …

I'd wear a purple fascinator and a feather boa with it to add a pop of colour.

No no no - it needs an embroidered top hat, red leather gloves and thigh-high red patent boots.

Not sure i'd bother with a necklace - but some xmas bell earrings would be spot on 👍

You're obviously far more stylish than me, @Laiste .

Is this the dress @AnotherDressOne Elderly Clothing Store Online | Senior Clothes | Cuppa Tea Clothing?

Hahaha I'm not actually that technologically illiterate, just sleep deprived

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/monica-lace-midi-dress-blue-20000040007.html

Really have excelled myself here 😂

I mean, that dress does have lovely colours...

I think the one you linked is nicer, @AnotherDressOne .
I'd keep accessories minimal. Wear pretty shoes.

Very sorry, @AnotherDressOne - the best thing to accessorise that dress would be fire …

Polyester lace is rarely bearable.

I hope you only payed the sale price? (Still £54 too much.)

As for being ‘too old’ for you - age has nothing to do with it. My remaining parent is in her 90s and would slaughter anyone with the flick of an eyebrow if they suggested she should wear such a garment.

This is also in a soft colour and easy shape. Would look lovely with gathered ballet flats.

https://www.stories.com/en-gb/product/flounced-balloon-sleeve-mini-dress-dark-red-1316333001/

That's not nice either- colour is very drab and I don't like high/ low hems.

On the actual dress, as it's here I agree with YYYDlilah keep accessories minimal. Wear pretty shoes. Flat pumps would be better than heels. Although it's a "dressy " event I think that dress needs to be dressed down.

Sorry OP, but I don’t like that dress 😩 I think the style and material is somewhat ageing and frumpy and the colour is meh. I wouldn’t have a clue how to accessorise it because dare I say that accessories would make the whole look worse.

Natural coloured maybe with ties around ankles.
Straw woven handbag.
Deep cream pashmina/shawl/coat.

I've completely gone off it, I read the reviews and they're full of people saying they wore it to their grandson/daughter's wedding or they're in their 70s etc... It's heading for Vinted.

It was actually the colour that drew me to it! I love that sort of muted blue. I've found these two dresses, thoughts?

https://www.paisie.com/products/flare-sleeves-maxi-wrap-dress-midnight-plum

https://www.paisie.com/products/sparkled-midi-wrap-dress-with-pleated-details-navy?variant=54252962513281

I'm 5'10" and a size 12 but with a bit of a mum tum, not sure if they'd accentuate it?

I also like this one but it isn't in my size

https://www.paisie.com/products/maxi-waist-tie-dress-green

It wasn’t intended for you, @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle …

I’d never heard of Paisie, @AnotherDressOne. To me it looks like one of those sites where it’s possible to buy a good dress, but also possible to find yourself throwing your money at something out of the 1980s.

Although less offensively awful than the polyester lace, neither of those dresses really does much beyond covering nakedness.

Are you very against fashionable clothes?

As you've decided against it- it's awful. I wouldn't have guessed Monsoon. It looks more like JJ's House. If age is relevant I'm 66 and can't ever imagine wearing it.

Of your other options, the green is the nicest. I don't like the colour of the purple one but it looks better in green or blue. I really don't like the "safety strap" across the back. Is your hair long enough to cover it? If not I'd remove it and add a popper, hook and eye or even a visible button at the top of the v at the back.

The shiny blue one is a nice shape but terrible material.

I've never heard of Paisie either and tbh it looks as if it might be a scam site but Wolf & Badger stock them so it is legit.

I don't like that one at all but it would help if they showed someone wearing it.
I don't like the colour, I don't like viscose or modal, I don't like the hem or the sleeves, and it has far too many gathers.
Basically, it looks hideous.

This one is nice Maxi Waist Tie Dress in Navy | Dresses – Paisie

Oh dear, not flattering at all - what’s going on with that tie waist?!

Each of the dresses you’ve linked to is perfectly fine OP but all very safe. That’s absolutely ok if that’s what is going to make you feel confident but equally you may want to consider something bolder. Would going into a shop and trying things you wouldn’t ordinarily be drawn to be an option? Maybe John Lewis as a starter for ten

@EscapadeVelocity I think it's safe to say that we have very differing tastes. I really didn't like the dress you suggested and I've never really sought out clothing just because it's "fashionable," I just want something appropriate that I like and that suits me.

@YYYDlilah yes I like that navy one too but all the colours are out of stock in my size.

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle my hair probably wouldn't quite cover the strap. I didn't notice it until after I'd posted the link and I'm absolutely not skilled enough to start changing things like that on a dress so that one's a no too.

It was Wolf and Badger that I initially saw the Paisie dresses on but I'd never heard of either site before. I'm also wondering about Palazzo pants but I don't know if that's just a bit of a recipe for disaster with a toddler? And it's probably hard to get the length right. I like the look of them but I've never worn them.

Struggling a bit here. I've not really managed to get my sense of style back after pregnancy and this is the first big event I've gone to. Help!

Thank you - at this point I think I can live with safe if I can't find anything else 😂😩

I live in a very rural area and our nearest John Lewis is 3-4 hours away! There is the grand total of one (tiny) clothing boutique that I would have the opportunity to visit but not until the weekend - they do sell nice clothes but I think this is going to be an online job.

Wear the Monsoon dress, @AnotherDressOne .

OP, with your height and figure I imagine you'll look lovely in anything. The Monsoon dress wouldn't be my choice but I'd go for gold and cream accessories, something a bit different like

Gold Pleated Croissant Clutch Bag| Oliver Bonas

Bags & Purses |Marbled Acrylic Clutch Bag | boohoo

Would any of these dresses suit?

Parina Powder Blue Strappy Volume-Hem Midi Dress – Club L London - UK

Friends Like These Pale Blue Angel Sleeve Chiffon Pleat Midi Dress from the Next UK online shop

V by Very Stripe Puff Sleeve Midaxi Dress -

.

Or this

ZW COLLECTION SATIN WRAP DRESS - Blue / Grey | ZARA United Kingdom

Gosh that’s very drab, what a dated hemline too.