Using a dress agency?

[hibiscuslightening]

I’ve been invited to an event at an extremely fancy London venue later this summer. It’s so beyond my comfort zone and I know that other people going will be slim, elegant and wearing expensive outfits. (I’m normally in primark jeans and Lidl trainers…) I’m 50 , short and ( having lost 2 stone) now a size 14… and I’ve no confidence with dressing up. I’ve not got a big budget - max £100? So I need some help. Would a dress agency be a good start?

What’s the dress code?

You mean renting? Absolutely!

Have a look through this article as a starting point:

https://www.redonline.co.uk/fashion/a37750531/rent-clothes/

Dress code is I guess summer wedding? It’s not black tie or evening wear (which is a pity as I actually have a fabulous black evening dress!)

And this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/designer-clothes-rental/

But remember it’s usually ‘not deep’. Half the people you think of as particularly well dressed are probably renting some of their outfits - whether dresses, bags, or shoes. Maybe as a one-off for a few days, or regularly, on a monthly basis. Just find a rental set up that suits you.

I get invited to lots of dos that feature a lot of the same people. I often hire dresses. You can get something absolutely gorgeous plus your hair done for £100!

Have a fab time!

@Sesquipedahlia yes exactly - have you tried this personally? I am a bit concerned about being able to find my size and try it on (as the sites mostly seem geared to slender, young people?)

Are you absolutely sure that is exactly what you are seeing, @hibiscuslightening? Because Hurr, at least, goes up to a size 32.

This page of dresses is filtered for a size 14:

https://www.hurrcollective.com/collections/dresses

(Just re-filter if it doesn’t reproduce it immediately.)

Oh that’s great! Thank you

I have tried out John Lewis dress hire. You can hire a few days ahead of time and return if it doesn’t fit. I wore something else in the end but I would definitely use it again.

Dress agencies don't cater for short/petite women.

They usually cater for woman size 10 who are 5 foot 7 and don't ever seem to deviate from that.

What’s your height, @hibiscuslightening?

When I saw 'dress agency' I thought at first you meant an up-market second hand clothes shop (where the shop owner keeps a percentage of the sale and the original garment owner gets the rest). I have one local to me where I buy a lot of my clothes and at this time of year it's rammed with 'summer wedding' outfits from brands like Rixo and Me and Em, mostly priced well under £150.

Obviously somewhere like that will be hit and miss and the sizes vary, but you can try on before you buy and it certainly doesn't only cater for size 10s. I'm 5'3 and often buy stuff there.

I’m almost 5’3” so not super short -
to be honest I was thinking of a traditional agency but the rental really looks like a good idea - now I just need to decide what kind of frock I could wear - they all look so ‘floaty’. I’ve no idea where to start with the current trends ( I’m not worried about following them - just bemused by what’s available…)

Shape wise I’m a sort of out grown hour glass - large hips and bust - but now with a tummy… very short neck and rounded shoulders- I like my ankles though!

Ah, we’re the same height!

I find I can wear most things. I’m not a Me & Em type so have no idea how their clothes fit our height.

What sort of event is it? Day or night - and is a dress the only option? Could you wear a trouser suit or whatever, instead?

Afternoon into evening with a dinner I think - I’m hazy on the details but the venue has thrown me. And I’ve been to events with some of the same crowd before and been very unhappy with my outfit (my Seasalt dress did not cut it)

I used to visit one of those in Bradford upon Avon, @Floisme - could be in there for hours.

Definitely worth exploring if you have anywhere within reach, @hibiscuslightening.

Thank you for all the information about rental and agencies - but now I’m even more flummoxed about what kind of dress I can wear?
perhaps a personal stylist kind of thing would be a good next step? The John Lewis near me does these I think - has anyone had success with this (it’s truly out of my comfort zone!)

I’m no expert in this but I think:

Avoid prints
Look for a solid, pure, jewel colour
Knee length or above to show your legs
A draped top with a tighter skirt
Some beading, detail or sparkle towards the neckline
Buy decent quality so it has the structure to support you in the right places.
Don’t buy shapewear, you will boil, but think carefully about your underwear.

Would this work?

https://www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-jo-draped-jersey-dress-cobalt/p114797392

No beading or ‘sparkle’.

Dress for your whole person - not body parts.

Given that you obviously have a bit of time, why not browse widely and look for something you think you’d feel good in and that would give you presence. Take a look at the websites of some of the brands on all the hires sites. Get a feel for what’s available and what you yourself are drawn to.

And at the same time start preparing in terms of grooming, (if that’s something that would give you more confidence).

Wolf and Badger might be worth a look; not a dress hire place but they have a great selection for a variety of budgets.

No beading or ‘sparkle’

Well why not? It is a day-to-evening event. The OP has literally asked for suggestions. As she is shorter, then detail around the neckline helps to draw the eye upwards and also reflects light onto the face. A really nice piece of jewellery would also work! In terms of beading I mean something tasteful, not something that could be found in the now-defunct Claire’s Accessories.

The OP has a budget of £100 for an apparently extremely smart summer wedding. If she’s buying rather than renting that really isn’t going to stretch to cover beautiful fabric and extraneous embellishment.

I like the idea of dress rental but have never gone for it because it seems so expensive for one wear! But I have got really nice things in the sales. I am petite and have found the fit of Whistles, Hobbs and Boden petite clothes good for petite adjustments, though I usually find Boden runs a bit large in general.