Dress shops

[Swissroll12]

Hi , I’ve got my mother in laws special birthday dinner at a nice restaurant in June
I’m hopeless at knowing what to wear can anyone recommend any nice shops for dresses that suit a 45 year old please ?

I would probably head to John Lewis to get some idea of what I wanted.

Physical shops or online shops?
Size? Budget? Height?
Vibe? Conventional, glamorous, pretty, stylish, smart, flouncy, plain, patterned, dramatic, blending in?
Colours that suit you?
Arms covered or not? Preferred hem length? Anything you hate, like v necks or high necks or polyester?
Sooooo many dresses out there @Swissroll12 , narrow it down a bit and the s&b afficionados will shower you with fabulousness. 🤩

Exactly what @TemporarilyCantDoMyself says!

And - I know it’s arguable, but frocks don’t come with age-range tags on the label.

@canyon2000 I’m much older than the OP - and I would never look to John Lewis for clothes … But we’re all different.

What does your age have to do with never looking in John Lewis if, as you have just said, frocks don't come with age tags? You've just contradicted yourself!!😂

Also, would you rather a fancy party dress, or something that can slip quietly into your regular wardrobe after the event?

A few brands that make nice dresses (examples are just examples - best to look at the whole site in each case)

https://www.asos.com/topshop/topshop-v-neck-low-armhole-clean-maxi-dress-with-deep-hem-in-mango/prd/209582615#colourWayId-209582620

https://www.essentiel-antwerp.com/uk/p/purple-yellow-black-dress-jamanna?ref=MTI0

https://uk.realisationpar.com/the-ellery-diana/

Marks and Spencer. 100%.

Where in the country do you live, how much do you want to spend and what do you wear day to day? If you don’t normally wear dresses I don’t think you have to wear one for this, plenty of women wear trousers even at events now. Good quality trousers and a silky top would be perfect for a smart restaurant.

I’m 55, love clothes and gave up on John Lewis years ago, maybe they’ve improved recently, I don’t know. If you do go there book a personal shopping session, they seem to work really well for a lot of people in this situation.

(You may want to think that through again, @canyon2000?)

For something less dressy and maybe more versatile:

Cos

Justine Tabak

Kemi Telford

Are you willing to shop online, OP, or do you need high street?

I ordered a really nice one from Next, it was a brand called Yumi. Had to order online but came to store next day and it was so lovely! I wore it to an event at work and I’m wearing it to a wedding in July. It was a skater dress which I am reliably informed (by a much younger colleague) means it has an A line skirt

if your not sure go to a department store that has different brands under one roof avail of their personal shopper too like john lewis do. this helps you big time as you don't get overwhelmed and exhausted from all the choices. they will look at shape coluring biget etc and show you different stuff. don't be set on a dress either. a nice trousers and blouse or skirt and top can be fab and dressy too.
don't be afraid to go into local boutiques either some have excelling staff not pushy and some beautiful brands

I would try to see recent social media posts of the restaurant - over dressing is very easy as most restaurants, even very expensive ones are more casual these days but the general consensus on dress does vary around the country too. In warmer weather a cotton summer dress will never be overdressed, chinos and a shirt for men similarly but anything smarter I check in advance.

John Lewis (or other local department store) carry many brands at different price points so are a good first call. Personally I’d be looking at Monsoon for smarter, and fat face and seasalt for the more casual end if there’s no local John Lewis because I know they fit me. & other stories, cos, anthropologie also for a higher budget, phase 8 … have all of these in our local mall thankfully