What to wear for a garden glam and disco birthday celebration?

[WildflowerMeadow]

I need help please...

I have been invited to an amazing birthday celebration that is entitled 'An Evening of Garden Glamour and Disco'. There are cocktails and afternoon tea followed by a live big band and then a 'Disco with a Difference'. Venue is rural, think farm with events barn.

The Dress Code is 'Garden Disco Glam - English elegance meets Ibiza after dark.'

I am 5' 8" and a size 10/12, age 57 but with a mum tum so won't get away with anything bodycon or tight fitting. Budget would be around £100 but could stretch to £150 for something fabulous. Don't have big boobs but really need to wear a bra to deal with sagginess.

Can you lovely ladies suggest anything that would fit this theme as I am a bit stumped?

Thanks in advance 🙂

I certainly remember discos! I often wore a maxi dress in the 70s. I definitely wouldn't wear this dress to either a garden party or a disco and never would have done
I like the navy jump suit above and would wear it with silver accessories and jewellery for the disco element

I think I'd go swishy black trousers, black soft jacket, and a silk top for the day bit and a sequin top for the disco. And for a real 70s vibe at the disco, push the jacket sleeves up towards your elbows.

Reading the invitation again, it is indeed a bit of a word salad, as a PP already said! Disco is 70s New York in origin - Ibiza in its heyday, while it had hippy 70s roots, is 90s rave culture. And English "elegance"? I'm not sure that elegance is what the English/British are especially renowned for - quirkiness, yes, & subverted elegance. They are renowned for their gardens though!

So I think people will probably interpret it in lots of different ways. Florals/sequins/jumpsuits/platforms/wellies/hippy luxe ... or a mix of the lot! Some might verge on fancy dress, while others will just want to look great & make a gesture towards the theme with shoes/jewellery etc.

Do you ideally want to be able to wear your outfit again, OP?

If you wanted to go down the boho route, it would be easy to add a studded or chain belt to the Klements dress above, along with flat studded sandals & long beaded earrings or similar. More is more ...!

I did also spot this Klements one - also silk, but a wrap style with colourful flared sleeves that is a bit 70s & would look good with platform sandals. Well within budget but worth making an offer!

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9083934396-klements-silk-wrap-dress-abstract-print-black-multicoloured-uk-size-m-b1ht

If you want to go sequinned, I'd recommend having a look on Vinted at the Whistles sequinned tops/skirts/dresses. I'm not hugely into sequins - most stuff is terrible quality - but these are slinkily cut in a slightly 30s way. I have a couple of the tops that I dress down with denim, usually, for gigs/dinner out etc.

Not sure if you'd be a 10 or 12 in Whistles clothing. The sequinned items all have a stretch mesh base, so have quite a bit of give.

There is this dress from a few years ago, which I've always liked. Looks quite 30s in one way - but the 70s stole from the 30s so is equally good for a disco look IMO, if you style it right. And wearable afterwards. £50 on Vinted.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8764380920-sequin-glamour

Another Whistles sequinned dress. Backless though, so you'd have to wear one of those weird bras (which I personally just can't be arsed with!).

£8 in a 10 though - worth a gamble?! https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7101935104-whistles-sequin-dress-size-uk-10

Only found one in a 12, for much more but still well in budget.
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7685202310-sequin-black-party-dress-midi

The first Whistles dress also came in a top & skirt version. Several colours - silver, champagne (which is a warm pinkish-gold), rose pink, & pale green. There were a couple of similar top styles (Seema or Sada?), with varying short sleeve details - ruched or flared. You could wear both top & skirt to the party, & then could wear separately afterwards?

There are shedloads on Vinted & eBay, starting from as little as £9 ...

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8590592331-whistles-sequinned-skirt
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8631334864-whistles-sequin-skirt-size-12
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8418647042-rose-gold-whistles-sequin-top
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8707095839-whistles-pink-sequin-top
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9055714808-whistles-sequin-skirt
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8756145779-whistles-sequin-top-12
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/6616872790-whistles-sequin-skirt-and-top

You could wear one of the sequinned tops with sarouel (balloon or harem-style) trousers & heels? That would look quite Norma Kamali at Studio 54 ...

Champagne sequins with cream sarouel trousers? These are Massimo Dutti but there are lots of others around.

The champagne/pinkish sequins would also look good with these satin rusty-coloured sarouel trousers.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su969091/g66654

Final short sequin dress from Whistles that I spotted on Vinted. There are several in 10 or 12. If the weather is rubbish, add wellies!

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8838028986-whistles-sequin-dress
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7730765748-whistles-gold-sequin-slip-dress-size-10
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7788763120-a-short-sequin-dress-perfect-colour-for-the-season-or-for-any-party
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8591755959-whistles-gold-dress-size-12

This Whistles paisley silk-mix lamé skirt popped up when I was searching. Has a 70s hippy look to it.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9083038588-metallic-midi-skirt

Do you know what size you'd be in Rixo, OP? As a few of their dresses are a bit 70s-ish. A small is 10 & a medium 12, I believe.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8541264442-new-rixo-becky-pink-embroidery-floral-tiered-midaxi-dress-size-medium

Short & sparkly from Rixo!

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9013992547-rixo-laurie-sequin-mini-dress

Or a sequin-embroidered short wrap dress from Rixo.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8700899532-rixo-velvet-mini-dress

Another sequinned short-ish Rixo one.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8695374471-rixo-dress-bnwt-small

One-shouldered 70s disco from Rixo.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8910445668-rixo-gold-and-black-one-shoulder-dress10

This is a Rixo one that looks like a 70s dress, which I'd happily wear again after.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/6683573192-rixo-alondra-maxi-dress-size-s-nwot

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8149129390-rixo-bradshaw-ombre-sequin-midi-dress-nwot

Sequin 70s look by Rixo too.

@EleanorMc67 Thank you so much for taking the time to scour Vinted and I think you have a winner - I'm going to offer on the Whistles gold sequin dress although I'm hoping it's not too short as one of the Vinted listings says on the knee but the catalogue photo shows it above the knee. I think I will be able to get more wear out of it e.g. at Christmas with black tights and I already have gold sandals for summer wear so it ticks a lot of boxes.

I think I am also going to order the Nobody's Child jumpsuit as I will wear that fora other things anyway - just in case the Vinted one doesn't fit or doesn't come in time.

Huge thanks to all of you who have given suggestions - I really appreciate it.

@Potentialscroogeincognito Yes, that could well be the one. Have you got your outfit planned already or have you found any useful suggestions on this thread?

Floral dress with gorgeous gardening boots comfortable for disco dancing.
Glamorous make up with glittering eye shadow.
Hair crimped!
Head piece/headband with flowers and small disco balls swinging from a wire above flowers.

Theatrical costume jewels with shine and sparkle.
Short disco denim jacket. Think the Pink Ladies from Grease.

Anything from Love and Roses -- you can it delivered from next in time 👍🏻

This one? It says the model is 5' 9" & wearing a size 8. So I think it will only be slightly longer on you than on her. Also described as a proper shift shape - ie doesn't go in at the waist & just skims the hips. So a 10 would probably be fine?

Though you could ask for the measurements, & also if they can send it immediately. Choose delivery to your home, not a pick-up point, & see if there's a fast/recorded option.

https://www.endource.com/product/whistles-champagne-sequin-shift-dress/X8rp3Ebg-wABA56J

Think that might be more fancy dress than glamorous ...?? Sounds a bit too much like the outfits worn by late-middle-aged women at 80s music festivals* ...

*I am one.
**I have been to one of those. It hurt my eyes! Marc Almond & ABC were great though ...!

Any of these?

https://www.diskokids.co.uk/collections/dresses-and-jumpsuits/products/metallic-black-silver-striped-jumpsuit

This?