Please play at being a stylist with this dress

[LaMarschallin]

Button Detail Mix Dress-Navy Stripe | Boden UK https://share.google/9ZOuAke7hKc2wsdpC
It arrived today and I'm really pleased with it - fits well and material feels nice.
I'm going to wear it next week to a nice restaurant and am planning to add bright yellow ballerina shoes (my go to pop of colour at the moment).
I'd love ideas for a necklace to go with it (I've been looking at chunky or multiple gold ones).
Also, the one thing I'm not sure about is the sash belt. I just tied it quickly at the side today when I tried it on and it looked slightly random. May be a lot better when I faff about a bit more, but any ideas for a better way of doing it or a complete alternative? The dress has thin belt loops so would look better with a belt of some sort.
I'm 5'7" and have the dress in a size 12 which, as I said, fits really well despite the fact that my waist is more of a 14. Hoping the latter changes (post Christmas and post illness) but I'll always be an apple, sadly.
Thanks in advance 😊

I wouldn't wear a necklace with that dress. I'd either wear it fully buttoned with no necklace or at a pinch no more than 2 buttons unbuttoned and a short string of pearls or a short gold or silver chain with a gemstone pendant. If I wanted more jewellery I'd wear bracelets rather than necklaces.

I don't like the way they're styled it. It's a nice dress, prim and proper. It looks daft unbuttoned. I like the sash. I'd wear red ballet pumps but yellow is fine.

Totally agree with the previous poster ^
It shouldn't be unbuttoned. It spoils the line.

I wouldn't wear a necklace at all. I'd go for noticeable earrings and yes, bracelets.

Thank you both.
I agree that Boden have styled the dress with too many buttons undone. I also agree it really does spoil the line - although I couldn't have told that from the photo, so kudos to you two.
I prefer it with one or two buttons undone on me - just seems to make the neckline a bit more interesting - but a necklace would probably look too fussy then. I will try it out with my pearls (but I must make sure I don't go round clutching them 😱).
I probably wouldn't wear bracelets and noticeable earrings so will probably go down the earrings route.
I'll have to spend a bit more time fiddling with the sash. I reckon if I iron (and perhaps starch) it before tying, it would look crisper.
Must say, MN styling is much more original and interesting than AI 😊

Nice dress bit of a copy of the me and em ones they did last year.

I think it’s quite busy due to the stripes, so I’d not wear a necklace, but to be honest I’m not sure I’d wear yellow shoes either and find the concept of a “pop of colour” quite dated,

id let the dress speak for itself, and pair everything else back.

probably too summery at the moment, but espadrille/espadrille wedges would look nice.

I agree with PP, button it and no pop of colour

but to be honest I’m not sure I’d wear yellow shoes either and find the concept of a “pop of colour” quite dated,

Ahh, I love the yellow shoes and they look really nice with it.
The phrase "pop of colour" definitely is dated - don't know why I used it because it's not a phrase I like particularly but it was late - I should have waited until this morning when I'm fresher and probably would have said "contrast".
I don't mind if the actual concept is "dated" - in this case I feel it works so would rather go with my feelings about it than whether it's totally current or not.

It's a nice casual dress. I would probably style with a straw bag and espadrilles for a walk down the seafront. For a restaurant this time of year, assuming you are in the uk I would treat it as separates and add a beautiful cardigan over the top and a chunky plastic bangle.

I imagine they do look lovely, it’s likely the phrase for me too, every time I see it, be it a scarf, shoes, bag or your sofa cushions I shudder.😂

The plain red and plain black ones are much nicer, dressier, and easier to style up or down.
As you love the navy - 2 buttons open and no necklace. Noticeable, but not "bold" earings. Let the dress do the talking. What bag are you thinking?

I have to say, for this time of year, for a nice restaurant, I would be tempted to cover the top with a beautiful crew neck cashmere sweater in your most flattering colour. (Though it would probably be too hot.) Because I would find the dress as is really annoyingly unseasonal. (Cotton and Breton stripes …) Maybe that’s just me. Neutral on the sash. Quite fun at night, but I might replace with a black leather belt for daytime.

And I’m dressing up every skirt and dress right now with shiny black knee high kitten heel boots. So that’s what I’d wear with the dress.

Wouldn’t bother with a bag. Everything in my coat pockets, and phone with me at the table.

Yes, at this time of year I'd wear flat lace up ankle boots. Agree about putting a jumper over it. Short boxy, British wool. I'm not fussed about cashmere.

Bags don't interest me in the slightest. I do need one but other than when I have to use an evening bag Longchamp pliages (have them in red, navy, green and dark pink) cover all bases. I think with that dress an obviously picked matching bag might tip it too far into too neat, tidy, prim and proper field.

White and navy are cool colours and together create contrast. Yellow is a warm colour and paired with white and navy would create more than a contrast. People’s eyes will be drawn to the shoes first rather then the dress - but that’s a style choice for you to decide.

I agree with others about the buttons. Personally I wouldn’t wear pearls with that dress - I don’t think they’d go with the style or fabric of the dress. As for the tie belt - I’d probably replace it with a narrow leather belt. Jewellery - just earrings.

Alittlefrustrated
The plain red and plain black ones are much nicer, dressier, and easier to style up or down.
Well, I suppose they're not nicer in my opinion or I'd have bought one of them.
You're right, I do love the navy.
It's a restaurant with rooms place so I don't think I'll need a bag.

MetaDaughter
I have to say, for this time of year, for a nice restaurant, I would be tempted to cover the top with a beautiful crew neck cashmere sweater in your most flattering colour.
I don't want to cover the top - I bought the dress because I like it and don't want to disguise it and the top is very flattering on me.
(Though it would probably be too hot.)
Well, yes. So, not a good idea then.
Because I would find the dress as is really annoyingly unseasonal. (Cotton and Breton stripes …) Maybe that’s just me.
"annoyingly unseasonal"? Who is it going to annoy?
I'm sure it's not just you but I like it, cotton and Breton stripes and all and I doubt that's just me either.

ittakes2
People’s eyes will be drawn to the shoes first rather then the dress - but that’s a style choice for you to decide.
I don't see that as a problem.

Thanks all for taking the time to reply. I might try an alternative to the sash and agree that earrings and no necklace is the way to go, plus 2 undone buttons.
I appreciate the help from everyone and the way those who obviously don't like the dress attempted to be subtle about it - I could have felt quite bad otherwise.

I really like the belt, it adds interest to quite an ordinary dress (sorry). I agree that you do not need a statement necklace or yellow pumps.

I am imagining it with a chunky cream or ecru knit and a neutral straw bag (like an envelope clutch nothing too heavy with straps or metal hardware).

Shoes I’d go navy, beige, canvas.

I really dislike any pop of colour

dayswithaY
I really like the belt, it adds interest to quite an ordinary dress (sorry).

Please don't apologise. If you found it appropriate to point out how ordinary it is, you should have the courage of your convictions - I'm sure it wasn't meant badly.

The phrase "pop of colour" will haunt me 😂

@LaMarschallin
To be honest I'd wear it as seen in your post - a couple , however many buttons undone , yellow ballerina flats. I think a discrete gold necklace or two would be nice , nothing too chunky because there is a bit going on with the dress. or a modest string of pearls (in case of clutching scenarios 😂) or nice earrings ( I wouldn't go dangly personally )
But I think it is a nice dress - I like it and if you feel good in it then you will probably look good in it too. The yellow shoes will tone with the gold without being matchy matchy.

The good new is I like it , the bad news is I am not an internationally acclaimed stylist 😊

I don’t think this dress has a neckline suitable for adding a necklace. I’d let the focus just fall on the sash. The sash is eye catching but only when you allow the attention to be drawn to it. Chunky necklaces and bright colours will compete for (and win) the attention, making the sash feel a bit lost. Personally I wouldn’t wear yellow shoes with this dress, I’d just let the dress speak for itself.

BasiliskStare

The good new is I like it , the bad news is I am not an internationally acclaimed stylist 😊

Sez who?
You can be anyone you like here 😎
And thank you.

I’d wear it with a straw bag and dainty gold jewellery

I love the dress. Just do up a couple of the buttons and wear it with some gold hoop earrings. Your yellow flats will be perfect.

I was trying to be kind.

Fair play, it wasn't a bad attempt.
But if you feel the need to apologise immediately after passing comment you may not be being as kind as you first thought.

Anyway, I'll bear your knitwear/straw bag ideas for when I'm wearing it out for the day, thank you.

I’d tie the sash with a simple under and over knot thing between my belly button and hip and let it hang down. Don’t, whatever you do, tie it as a bow — that way lies little girl party dress up.

I would probably detach the detachable sash and wear it with red belt and shoes, but I always like red and navy pops of colour together.

The way the model has all those buttons undone makes me think it’s too small round the bust. I bought that ubiquitous Dove dress years ago and that was the same. Massive all over apart from the bust. Now I know why all the models were baring their breastbones.

SoScarletItWas
Thank you 😊
Useful advice about the sash - I was a bit worried about "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" vibes.
And, yes, I was worried about the potential straining of buttons over the bust but it actually seems fine.
Which makes it a bit of a mystery why they've styled it in the sort of slashed to the navel way they have.