“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!

We all have our preferences - so feel free to recommend Alemais again!

They do lots of beautiful pieces (I spotted a fab dress in your last post recommending them) - but I would hazard a guess that they're not that affordable for most, unless you get lucky in the sales or on the usual second-hand sites.

I don't wear any particular label head-to-toe, high street or designer (I do mix in a lot of genuine vintage), & so I wasn't intending to suggest the OP dresses entirely from one shop either. I was suggesting the types of pieces that could work as a dinner outfit (from low-key to dressy, as I don't know which way the OP wants to go), & referencing the colours she wears.

However, aren't "mid-range High Street clothes" probably what's affordable & easily available for all of us "mid-range" people, with "mid-range" incomes ...?!!

And statistically on MN (as in the real world population, in the UK), I think we probably form the majority of readers/posters - closely followed by those who find "mid-range" as unaffordable to them as Alemais would usually be to me. Those who find full-price Alemais dresses a steal are, I should think, in the minority on MN ...??

But maybe not - perhaps it's me that's out of touch ... anyway, whether intentional or not, your post comes across as sneering to me.

OP - some pieces on eBay from that reviled bastion of mid-range High Street clothing, M&S Autograph! All these I consider versatile & could be dressed up or down for dinner etc.

A silk top with deep buttoned cuffs. https://ebay.us/m/JTYaz7

A little black appliquéd top. And matching skirt. Again on eBay as I can't be arsed searching on Vinted right now (haven't eaten yet & my blood sugar is too low to wrangle with Vinted sizing etc!).

https://ebay.us/m/4u52uU
https://ebay.us/m/olOsd0

I had a look at some of your previous recommendations as I was interested in your style aesthetic. Are you aware of which shop’s collection you recommended to someone in Jan? ;-)

This Autograph dress is actually quite All Saints-looking, IMO. And a good mix of sludge colours, OP! It would look great with gold bangles & black or tan or gold flats.

https://ebay.us/m/owDDFM

Love these !

Fabulous Autograph skirt. Vogue says lace & crochet are back in (they never go away for me!).

https://ebay.us/m/PyTiDh

I'd go for a plain mini dress, patterned tights and ankle boots or wedge sandals with a nice short jacket and simple jewellery, maybe a belt if you need the waist definition. Tbh looking stylish has more to to with confidence and grooming than what you wear, so wear something that you love and are comfortable in (that's not loungewear 🤣) , and get your hair and nails done, and rock it with confidence. You'll look great 🙂

I love a voluminous lace or tulle skirt with a plain top!

OP, oversized jackets are quite stylish. It took me a while to find one that looked purposefully oversized rather than me drowning as a petite five foot 2 person!

Me too - always have done! Worn many variants over the years ... I also like a voluminous lace top with a plain skirt/jeans!

Me too - might have to go on a Vinted/eBay hunt for my size 16 self now ...! Also good to know there's a fellow lingerie-influenced clothing fan out there, as I was feeling a bit alone!

I really appreciate your time and effort today. Loads of ideas. Really like the silk trousers and the silk/satin dresses are growing on me. I would pair with a short cardigan.

i also love the colour ways of the Autograph dress. I will contact the seller re the length. (Or google through M&S).
You have also provided some great links to clothing made of quality materials, with a confidence to mix and match, old and new, fabrics and brands.

Fab - I need to pick!

I wear a 27 or 28 and I'm an 8 or 10 depending on the shop. Their size guide says 27 and 28 correspond to a 10, so I'd say their guide is pretty true to dress size, although my waist is more like 29/30 just now so there is an element of vanity sizing. I'd try a 29 and see if you need to size up. They also do a Curve Love range in the same trousers with a bit more room round the hips.

I like the picture of this top, but was suspicious because many of their 'models' are that multi-purpose blonde you can see all over Amazon, Temu and other questionable fast fashion mail order.

This is a picture of Amy Saint's head office in the Netherlands.

You're welcome - it's been fun! I think you might find that dress for less on Vinted ... I can only find 8s or 12s, no 10s. But it flares out from the chest so 8 should be ok?

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8033841122-gorgeous-long-dress-size-s

Oh, this one is £18 with the coupon offer! Vinted isn't always cheaper ...

https://ebay.us/m/Yk734m

You're not sure why people go to luxury hotels in Milan, really?

I forgot to ask about footwear, OP - for a special occasion do you prefer heels, or are you happy in flats?

From a very quick look, it does seem as if having small feet means there are loads of designer brands at great prices on Vinted etc!

This Danish footwear brand is a favourite of mine - these heels are lovely, though you may prefer gold to silver with sludgy greens etc.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8260313449-anonymous-copenhagen-silver-barnie-shoes-size-4

Ballet flats from the same brand, on Vestiaire. Good with the silk palazzo pants or long full skirts.

https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-shoes/ballet-flats/anonymous-copenhagen/gold-leather-anonymous-copenhagen-ballet-flats-60372065.shtml

Some gold heel options that would go with lots. And a pair that are several shades of sludge & metallic, so might go with several of your outfits?!

https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-shoes/sandals/anonymous-copenhagen/gold-leather-anonymous-copenhagen-sandals-65721048.shtml

https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-shoes/heels/anonymous-copenhagen/gold-leather-anonymous-copenhagen-heels-65911778.shtml

https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-shoes/sandals/anonymous-copenhagen/camel-leather-anonymous-copenhagen-sandals-57558545.shtml

Really elegant higher heels - a bargain!!
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-shoes/heels/anonymous-copenhagen/black-pony-style-calfskin-anonymous-copenhagen-heels-44105813.shtml

I also like Penelope Chilvers footwear (& bags) - always been comfy for me.

I would wear either of these for a night out, depending on what I was wearing.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8318297112-penelope-chilvers-gold-loafers

Or these. https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7715464425-penelope-chilvers-infinity-black-satin-heeled-sandals

I am feeling slightly guilty about being tetchy earlier, as @NorWouldTilly has recommended some designer labels that may yield fruit for you, OP. So I thought I'd have a little look ...

Hades - slim pickings on Vinted bar this cardigan, though I don't think it's worth the price. Several of their logo jumpers, but I find that whole Bella Freud/Hades thing of logos on jumpers a bit tired ...

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8296720948-hades-carrington-cardigan-greek-mythology