How would you style this dress for an evening reception?

[NotDarkGothicMama]

DH and I are going to a colleague's evening do for their wedding in May. I have this dress that has been sitting in my wardrobe waiting for an occasion to wear it, but no idea how to style it. Makeup, nails, shoes, jewellery, bag... no clue.

The reception is at a very posh hotel in Scotland. I don't wear high heels and the reception involves a ceilidh, so comfortable footwear is a must. Looking at a budget of £200 for the shoes, jewellery and bag. I'm 5'4", size 10-12, mouse blonde shoulder-length hair, usually found in jeans and a hoodie. My hair is as flat as a pancake so will be pinned up in an up do to keep it out of the way.

Any help from people with an iota of dress sense would be very much appreciated!

I rather like this little vintage number, if it's your size! I'd swap the button for a single more ornamental one though. Lots of beauties on Etsy.

https://1940sstyleforyou.co.uk/products/jacket-2

NRBY does silk-mix velvet jackets that I'd definitely wear again, casually. They also do velvet coats, which they call opera coats but are actually a tailored style. I find those a bit much though (& from past experience with velvet, the arse will quickly become shiny if you sit while wearing it!).

These are pricey though. Loads of other options new or secondhand, from M&S, Jigsaw, & many other brands. I like either cotton velvet or silk-mix - less keen on other versions.

https://nrbyclothing.com/products/new-may-silk-blend-velvet-jacket-khaki

This pale grey wool-mix coat from Jigsaw is a bargain. Spring-weight too, with pretty sleeves.

https://ebay.us/m/WWZ3Jm

This cardigan coat from Poetry comes in a greenish-grey or grey - fine to throw over your dress & a good spring coat afterwards?

https://www.poetryfashion.co.uk/product-RA79/doublesided-cotton-coatigan.htm

Cashmere, so this one is expensive, but a simple kimono cardigan would also work if you'd wear it afterwards? It comes in grey too, but is too warm a grey IMO.
https://www.poetryfashion.co.uk/product-RN84/cashmere-kimonostyle-cardigan.htm

Wrap (sister co to Poetry) does a linen one.

I'm a 10-14, depending on the label.

I love the green jacket and nearly bought the grey Whistles coat but TBH I have blazers in my wardrobe that would do. My coats are very much on the "let's climb a mountain" side so I wouldn't wear anything lovely very often.

Definitely lose the necklace and the bolero.

Have you got a leather jacket or even a black velvet jacket, just to wear until you get to the venue? Or a faux fur?

I've got a denim jacket or a navy blazer.

For a ten-minute walk, if you're not going to wear it again, one of those will do fine slung over your shoulders (if the weather behaves!). You could always try both on over the dress & post pictures - but you're probably over your fashion choices being excoriated on MN by now!!!

Haha I have no fashion choices so I'm very grateful for the help. I work from home in my pyjamas and rescue cats.

Re. the shoes, I can't walk in them because I haven't worn heels since my now-teenage DC were born. I used to wear gorgeous heels nearly every day but my feet have forgotten how.

I hope your "let's climb a mountainside" coats will get an airing on your trip here!

I'd also suggest (despite the loathing for pashminas I keep seeing on MN) that you bring one in case it's cool! If you don't have one, I'm sure you can find one in TK Maxx or similar.

Or even a big wool shawl like this.
https://www.woolovers.com/womens/scarves/wide-pure-wool-scarf-38165

This trip's just a quick whizz up to Edinburgh for the weekend but we're up fairly often so get plenty of walking in.

You have my dream job!! (Well, the cat rescue part - not the pyjamas. I'd prefer a velvet dressing gown ...!)

You're bloody brave (or mad) though to wear heels for the first time in about fifteen years for a ceilidh though - or any kind of dancing!!!

I hadn't worn heels since lockdown & I am only just wearing in a pair of low kitten heels ... I used to run to the train station in heels (always being late!) years ago - I can barely make it down the street in my new heels!

Are you quite sure you don't want to give the flatter silver shoe options a go?

Sense tells me I should go for flats, but I really wanted to look pretty and heels do great things for my calves... Not if I'm clonking around like an animatronic dinosaur though, I suppose.

Perfectly understandable! But - will anyone actually see your calves ...???!! The dress looks as if it's almost ankle-length on you?

These are not leather, but they are reviewed very well for comfort. And if you're not going to wear the Memery shoes again, £175 seems like a bit of a daft amount to spend? These are £36, so that's a saving of £139 - & they have a heel ...

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su428982/ab8974

Haha, as pretty as these shoes are, please not for a ceilidh...the navy flats posted by the OP @NotDarkGothicMama above are much better (bring both, if you really want to wear heels for pictures/first appearances purposes?). I've danced a whole ceilidh in heels, out of sheer stubbornness, so it's not impossible, but (for those comparing it to some sort of muddy sporting event), it's not a proper ceilidh unless there's a broken bone in the Orcadian Strip-The-Willow! And if you wear heels, the likelihood of that broken bone belonging to you is greatly enhanced! In my experience, heels-wearers end up barefoot for the dancing, so if the look of the thing is important and you prefer heels, take both (in which case: bag big enough to hide shoes in).

The dress will stand on its own, with a strong pendant on a relatively short chain if you like, or a collier-type necklace, or amazing earrings (and no necklace). For a wrap, anything will do, really, because you won't be wearing it indoors, and outdoors, no-one will care.

No one will see your calves in that dress. I agree with EleanorMc67, unless you are going to wear the hell out of the shoes £175 is a lot to spend.

The OP has already been advised several times to wear flat shoes for a ceilidh.

She wants to wear heels though, & has already bought a pair of Memery silver heels. But as she's unlikely to wear them again it seems rather a waste of £175, so I was suggesting these as a much cheaper alternative. Neither pair is especially high - I'd consider them medium-height.

I know plenty of women who are happy to dance ceilidhs in a heel of this height, but they're used to both heels AND ceilidhs ... whereas the OP has just said she's not worn heels since before her teenage children were born ...!! I have suggested again that she might wish to reconsider, as I'm sure so will others.

Perhaps she'll take her navy flats with her - or perhaps she'll sit the wilder ceilidh bits out & rest her (silver high heel-clad) feet ...!!

And with the greatest of respect the evening invitation is an afterthought invitation. By that stage the day party has loosened up, undid its tie, taken off its jacket, kicked off its heels. You're not going to be in the photos.

I'd probably put the money saved on the shoes towards one of these fabulous vintage evening coats instead ... though I wouldn't want to take them off!

https://www.marinavintageuk.com/products/vintage-1970s-golden-brocade-maxi-opera-coat

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1715495755/vintage-1930s-blue-devore-coat?ref=share_ios_native_control

https://modesandmore.com/products/a-vintage-1950s-turquiose-horrockses-for-harrods-evening-coat

Insane to spend £175 on heels when you never wear heels.

Insane to wear heels for dancing when you never wear heels.

As below, the dress is so long that you can hardly see your ankles and feet anyway- just get some cheap silver flats. Anything else is bonkers, unless you’ve just got money to throw away.

I wouldn’t bother with buying a coat or jacket just use one you have and take off as arrive (they may have a cloakroom)
Shoes I can’t rave enough about these it’s like wearing trainers. I’ve just bought another pair as they are on sale. I have worn the silver to a fancy gala dinner with lots of standing with a long dress and no one looked twice.
Walking awkwardly or not being able to join in is much more noticeable.
https://www.johnlewis.com/fitflop-delicato-leather-bow-ballerina-pumps/silver/p112109096?size=7&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151161232&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1wFbr1dV_2med1ggxr6IZBfg&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2bTNBhDjARIsAK89wlHUIQezf7BkWfvYbp0K9NlH6aZ2GXyqiWf8izdo65prrm07B_FM2-8aArxwEALw_wcB

Right. Everything has gone back except the dress and the earrings. I've ordered the Fit Flops and a pair of very low-heeled silver party shoes from the Monsoon children's section. They have a hideous bow on the back but I'm sure it's nothing that can't be taken off.

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/embellished-metallic-two-part-heels-silver-55900610022.html

I'm now looking at sparkly cocktail bracelets.

I know, it's just so rare that I have a childfree weekend away or an occasion to dress up, I really wanted to feel a bit special. Not for the photos, just for me.