Outfit for 50th birthday (not mine)

[Shineyorange]

it’s not a super formal 50th, ie I think some other guests will be in jeans, but I’d like to make an effort. It’s a London bar type of location.

however my only ‘going out’ clothes are a few sparky dresses I’d wear at Christmas or day dress type things for summer. So I need some inspiration and advice as I need to buy something new.

I’m a size 8 with a hourglass figure so I tend not to wear androgynous or oversized outfits, and I do love dresses.

I generally veer towards being slightly over dressed rather than under dressed but also don’t want to look like my fashion sense died in 2008.

my budget maxes out around £150 ish.

thanks for any suggestions!

Pretty much anything from the new

& Other Stories collection

will make you look modern and sharp.

Thank you! Just looked at their website and saw this dress, it’s the sort of thing I had in mind

https://www.stories.com/en-gb/product/sleeveless-draped-midi-dress-dark-brown-1323645001/

Beautiful dress! I'm tempted ...

Massimo Dutti has lots of that sort of thing. Most probably in the sale, but this is new collection:

https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/long-flowing-dress-with-tie--studio-l09112950?pelement=56854345&category=2088776

Reformation has a sale on, I’d start there. This is nice:

https://www.thereformation.com/products/alizee-dress/1318876EXA.html?dwvar_1318876EXA_color=EXA

Thank you! I love this dress too

Oh, link didn’t work above! https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/long-dress-with-sheer-detail-l06671507?pelement=56586054&category=2187943

I cannot think of anyone who would look good in that 'dress'. Even the model looks terrible!

Something for colder weather possibly?

https://mintvelvet.com/products/teal-woven-knit-mix-midi-dress

(Just to add I bought a similar Ted Baker blue hybrid dress from JL which I absolutely love and so have my eye on the link above hoping I might get it in the sale so I can justify having 2 similar styles!)

OP, Please don't buy this. So dull.

As a size 8 with an hourglass figure, wearing that is a very nice thing that OP can do to make the birthday girl not feel upstaged!

I am so out of touch, these dresses are hideous.

Wear this one (slightly over budget, sorry) and you can say your fashion sense died in 1990 with Pretty Woman. Fit & flare style is great for hourglass figure though:
https://www.phase-eight.com/product/lucinda-spot-midi-dress-10015500806.html

This is lovely! The COS brown dress is quite officey day dress to my eyes. What does dressing like 2008 mean? Asking for a friend…. 👀

What? Gorgeous colour, nice contrast in slink shine and knit textures, can be dressed up with boots and jewellery or down with flat shoes. There are a lot of real dull dresses out there, this one not so much!

It's my cousin' 50th soon, and I intend to wear this (I'm 47, size 10, hourglass figure) https://www.johnlewis.com/never-fully-dressed-cherry-mesh-soho-dress-black-multi-black/p114405897

God that is an awful collection of clothes

People are being very rude about others' choices on this thread 😂 however some of the suggestions do seem a bit office wear. Is that what people wear out these days?

Have a look at these, I love their dresses and wore one myself for my 50th: https://queensofarchive.com/collections/the-winter-sale

Fine if you're a tall slim 20something or teen, tbh. But I'd look ridiculous in all of them, as a 50-year-old woman!

It might still upstage the birthday girl if the OP strolls in wearing this monk's habit.

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/black-floral-frill-sleeve-layla-midi-dress-d253944mlt?_gl=11jz9wd4_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA95fLBhBPEiwATXUsxJMFGfPNEFDXnOk7jWEoxkpVcrkXnaFdPc1D6qvOT7Qve16LSOAy1BoCg9QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This comes in a few different colours - plain and floral

Thanks all for your suggestions and opinions (and making me chuckle!)

I’ve ordered a few dresses and might post back once I decide on one, in the unlikely event anyone is interested

@SurferRona re my fashion sense stopping in 2008 - deep down, a galaxy dress and LK Bennett sledge heels are my happy place, but I do force myself to look slightly more modern!

That’s a very big budget!