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 😊

Jack and fredas do great brightly coloured earrings. They do twisty hoops in lots of colours that would look great with this dress.

I always find the sash style belts aren’t as long as I’d like (but I’m bigger in the waist than you!) so often swap it for a brown leather belt.

And fwiw I like the sound of the yellow shoes!

HeNeedsRehab
I shall go and have a browse - thank you! I do like hoop earrings.
(Amazingly I've had a lot of compliments about the yellow shoes irl 💛 )

I think you need a pop of red to go with the yellow shoes. Maybe a red handbag? Or red headband? I love when people play with primary colours.

Wow @LaMarschallin i think your poor dress is getting a bit of a hard time here!

I think its a v nice dress & i was v interested in the me+em one last year but didn't buy it at the the time.

Big bows are everywhere & i think lean into it! I have bought some shirts recently with large, exaggerated bows & love them!

Yellow doesn't suit me but i can see it working.

I loved a pp suggestion of gold hoop earrings & some gold chains esp as wearing it at night.

I think its a versatile dress that you can wear to lots of things.

You could do red or gold accessories with that dress. Years ago I had River Island striped nautical circle earrings with a gold anchor (don’t know why I got rid of them!) but that could work and be fun.

I’d remove the belt and get a bright coloured leather one instead - could be yellow to
match the shoes, or, if you don’t want to be too matchy then another colour you like. Regarding a necklace, if you go for a choker style, or fine chain that could work well with the neckline.

To make it look more sexy?

2026IsMyYear
Thank you 😊
Those were the sort of thoughts that made me buy that particular dress and it's nice to read some positive things about it.
Also thanks SlothSpiritAnimal, Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain, and NotQuiteUsual - all suggestions that make me realise that it's quite a versatile piece and have given me lots of ideas.
I have got some red shoes that I could try with it but I feel quite protective of the yellow ones now.

I’m not sure if yellow shoes would go with it but if you’re tanned in the summer maybe they would.

I love that dress. I agree with the comments about doing up the buttons and no necklace. I would definitely add a big chunky bracelet or some stacked bracelets.

Wear the yellow shoes if you love them.

Gold earings, no necklace, and if you wanted to play around with the belt, you could just tie it...(no bow) and add a gold clasp or brooch to cover the knot.

Enjoy your meal. 😋

Personally I'd go for red shoes or some kind of ankle boot given the weather. I'd be tempted to keep the neckline buttoned low but modest with layered gold chains & bracelets with a small pair of gold hoops.

Posted this on another thread where we were talking about retailers copying each other, here is the me and em one.

https://www.meandem.com/mixed-media-shirt-collar-maxi-dress-navy-soft-white

I’d go with tan boots or chunky loafers, tan leather belt, and a tan leather bag. Gold earrings no necklace but maybe a silk neck scarf in tan/red/navy.

I love that there have been so may suggestions. I think any dress that has so many options is a wardrobe winner!

Lovely dress, I’m considering the red one.

Some really interesting ideas, thank you all very much.
I'm very fond of boots, so for another occasion the boots and a leather belt idea would be good and I hadn't thought about wearing a scarf with it.
Really grateful for all the suggestions.

BunnyOnTheOnion
I think any dress that has so many options is a wardrobe winner!
I think so too 💐

Really looking forward to wearing it next week and really looking forward to dinner - this place has a very good reputation 🥂

Interesting, Notsosweetcaroline, thank you.
I know there are various takes on this dress. The one I bought is the one I like best.

its ok - you can say pop of colour - do not be stressed about doing that!

Late to the party here, but can I just say that I LOVE the dress. So much so that I'm trying not to twitch & order it.

It's very me: stripes ✔️, navy ✔️ bow✔️ length ✔️ neckline✔️. I prefer it to the Me +Em one as it has a collar, which doesn't suit me as much.

I too have yellow flats. They're more of an acid yellow, are so versatile & I love them. I'd wear them with this (or red or gold or bright green - which I don't have & am the lookout for) or on other occasions like PP have said, tan or red ankle boots.

I'd wear it with a few buttons undone too and either nothing & a chunky gold bangle, or a gold necklace (chunky or a few fine ones). Going completely off-piste, I have a chunky yellow necklace that was my mum's- it's hard to describe, but short & made of flat circles. She passed 11 years ago, but i feel close to her when I wear it. I had it on in the week with my soft, navy, wool crew neck & wide navy trousers & got 3 compliments in work. I'd be tempted to wear it with this dress, no matter what folk here would say.

Enjoy your dress- I think you'll get lots of wear out of it. And I may just twitch!

Thank you, @Puffalicious
The necklace you describe sounds so pretty - I can see that going really well with this dress.
And I agree about the ME+EM one, the collar isn't for me.
Ooh, will you let us know if you twitch...? 😊

Just catching up . I prefer your dress to the Me&Em one.

So kind of you to say I can be anything I want to be. I say - I am not an internationally recognised stylist - but as a member of the General Public , with not a bad eye , I think I am one who can spot a woman and think "oh she looks nice " (That is my superpower 😂) Modesty forbids . I can see that dress looking lovely.

I do think it looks like a dress for many occasions and FWIW , I reckon you will look fabulous in it. I'm tempted myself but lack of height means I have to think carefully. (I do have to read the small print eg model Is 5ft 11 and wears a size 6. That is not me 😊not the end of the world - just I'm not the same size. )

Ah, thanks, BasiliskStare
Definitely nice to hear something positive about the dress.
And you have a very useful superpower.
So kind of you to say I can be anything I want to be
😀
Meant it in the context of MN really. We're all 6 figure (at least!) earners who are quick-witted and look much younger than our years, aren't we? I know I am.
And very wise words about checking out the model's stats. "Midi" on a 6 footer has turned out to be practically trailing on the floor on me.

Love this dress! I do like it unbuttoned, but I agree that I would be going for bold earrings rather than a necklace with it. Some chunky gold hoops maybe? I like the sash too but I think that if you were planning to replace the belt then you should match it to your shoes. I got a few bits in the accessorize sale yesterday, they had a chunky beaded gold necklace with 70% off if you’re really set on a necklace? Hope you enjoy wearing your outfit!

Thank you, MyNoisyBee
Totally agree that I'll be going for the earrings as opposed to a necklace. That's very much the sort of advice that I started this thread for and have been grateful for.
I've practiced with the sash and think that's what I'll wear it with on Thursday night (not long to go 😊) but other styling suggestions about the belt and different shoes etc will certainly be taken up too to give a different look on other occasions.