“I never ‘FEEL’ stylish. Please help me with an outfit for my birthday dinner in a luxury hotel. Vinted options a bonus. Thank you!

[BornIn]

Surprise birthday trip to celebrate my birthday, but what do I wear?

Olive colouring, 5ft 2, size 6 bottoms/8-10 top/dress. Don’t like ditsy or animal prints. Size 3.5/4 shoes.

I want to feel stylish.

Happy with cost effective Vinted.

A bit panicked, too much choice and hopeless at putting outfits together.

Heeeelp me please!

And - as you're into sludgy colours right now (or rich but muted, or inky perhaps? Sludgy sounds a bit pond water-y!), this slip? Again, not bias-cut, more of a straight cut. https://www.wyselondon.com/products/amelie-dress-olive-green

I’m not sure!

I know that Next petite always feels too short (body of dresses, trouser/jeans leg length, tops/arms).

Lots of variants in pond water ... (I love this colour!). Dresses & tops/skirts, which are good to mix with denim/leather/fine wool or cashmere. These are from All Saints, Anthropologie, M&S Autograph (overlooked but currently excellent), & Rixo.

And another from Brora (surprisingly), in deep green, that's a more flattering shape than bias cut. And a bargain in clearance.

I'll cease with slip dress options now, as you may hate them!

https://www.broraonline.com/uk/the-satin-lace-dress-ivy-skb8528fl8547

I like the shape. The lace not so much, looks like a nightie!

From your very helpful ideas, I prefer the Wyse dress. I wear a 30f bra, so not sure how this would sit.

I am fussy.

Well, those are all lingerie-influenced, & I have always loved that look! (It regularly reappears, not just in the last year or two.) But I realise lots of people on here dislike it for that very reason!

It's good to be fussy - very fussy. The older I get, the less I can be bothered wearing things that are just ok. I want to love my clothes - while also trying to do my bit for sustainability (while on a limited budget as well, these days). Doesn't mean they have to be really expensive labels to begin with - just that I must really like the cut & colour on me, & that an item fits with my style.

Also feel the same about books, films, TV programmes, restaurants ...!! Life's too short for mediocrity!

I asked lots of questions as it can help other people to make good suggestions, even if I don't have any myself. It wasn't meant to be intrusive, I apologise that it felt that way.

I ask lots of questions too, for that very same reason. It helps!

I would give it a go with a few Whistles petite pieces. As it's great to find a brand that you can rely on for fit, which generally has a few decent pieces that tie in with your style. I'm tall, so mine are brands such as Jigsaw, Me + Em, M&S Autograph, & Toast (off the top of my head). Standard Whistles too, sometimes.

Re that Wyse dress, as it's straight-cut it may not work with a small back & F cup - you'd have to try! It's really nice though. And dual-use as a skirt with a jumper worn over it.

If dress expectations in luxury hotels in the north of England vary significantly depending on which town they're in then I don't want to be fkn stylish. Or beautiful. What is this? Leg width by postcode?

These are all pieces from the current M&S Autograph range. I generally find them a good fit for me (5' 9") so they may not all work for you. But the colours & shapes are modern & unfussy & don't scream out what brand you're wearing, which makes them more versatile IMO. I usually find the cut & quality way surpasses what you might expect for the price.

I know I said no more lace slip-type things ... but this top & trousers I really like together! How are you with wide-leg trousers? I think the swishy cuts that look almost like a skirt can work well on someone smaller, if they're balanced out with neat tops.

More Autograph. Silk shirt, taffeta skirt, shell top, lace shirt - all wearable with each other & other pieces.

Any of these any good? All petite - two dresses and a jumpsuit. Can dress up or down with jewellery depending on how glam/casual you want to look. Have a lovely time!

Pretty blue Boden midi dress | Vinted

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8564728499-boden-jumpsuit?referrer=catalog

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8539679028-boden-red-wrap-dress?referrer=catalog

... such as these, also Autograph. Black silk wide trousers, olive wide trousers. And beige camisole & harem pants, which I love (though not my colour, but might be yours?). Though the length might be an issue if needing altered ...

OP I am exactly your shape and shoe size with with 30GG boobs!

I normally wear separates. Plain tops and voluminous skirts.

I recently surprised myself. I love style and hate frumpiness. But I bought this Hobbs petite shirt dress and it looks sooo much better on. I wear it with stylish flats and it looks great.

Final few things from current Autograph range. What about strong blues? Mixed with white, khaki etc? Wide pleated trousers & white full skirt shown too.

(They also have a few lovely pink ramie pieces, but wasn't sure about the colour on someone olive-skinned.)

I also bought this top and skirt from Cos. Oops will add photo separately.

This from Cos.

Probably looks much better on someone shorter! I can't wear that length as I look as if I'm wearing hand-me-downs that I grew out of years ago!

I like Cos - but otherwise I feel so bored when these threads swerve back to mid range High St clothes …

(No need to tell me AIBU! Not my thread!)

@BornIn have you tried looking on Pinterest for some ideas of looks you like ? The adverts on there drive me mad but yo7 can create a pinboard of images and then work from there. I tend to do that then mix and match from Highstreet and more designer pieces to build my outfit.

@owlpassport I’m always on the look out for smartish but stylish trousers for work, these fit the brief. What’s the sizing like please, it’s complicated enough with the European sizing let alone the fit! I’m a size 12 in trousers usually. .

These Reiss petite jeans changed my life!
I am five foot 2 and size 6 bottoms.

Everyone is different! I can’t stand the Rixo and Farm Rio examples that come out every time, whatever people’s criteria and budgets. I usually stay quiet though and share my choices instead ;-)

Does it really matter ?? She just wants a nice outfit for nice restaurant. OP What about going into John Lewis and getting a personal shopper to show you a few pieces ? They do a whole range of higher end designs

I think we need more info about your likes and body type. What's your body shape? Hourglass? Pear? Good waist or do you have a tum? Would you prefer a dress, separates, trousers, jeans and a nice top or something like a jumpsuit?
Karen Millen and Reiss have some amazing jumpsuits at the moment if that's your vibe.
Melissa Murrell on Instagram and You Tube has some very current and amazing suggestions that I think look stylish and current.