What would she wear?

[Eyesopenwideawake]

Bit of an odd question. I have a character in a book who's attending a formal event, the opening of a private club and I don't know how to dress her!

She's around 50, medium height, slim/toned. Short 'salt and pepper' hair. Ex army/no nonsense, tough as nails. Generally dresses in a singlet, baggy shorts and DM's.

Any ideas on how to smarten her up in character??

(She is AWOL so uniform is a no no).

I’m guessing a Le Smoking look, rather than a dress.

Maybe she defies being pigeon holed and goes for simple but short bodycon and skyscraper heels with scarlet lips.

Oh, that's a good idea. I was really struggling to get her into a dress.

Perhaps an androgynous, asymetic look, think Cos or similar?

Maybe a dressy loose fitting trouser suit in a lovely fabric

OK, this might work;

https://dianalisboa.com/products/martinamono?currency=EUR&country=PT&variant=56885531476292&stkn=a0688afd86d3&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=22372245512&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22365844257&gbraid=0AAAAA_HvZZjHkfHtTw2plYcWbVMzY9p_9&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm8bTBhDWARIsAC9Hi8kjwY6ZsqAauktDIukwxVQLbs-cJJO7fUnDtHU_xT7GXtkj1S64mL4aArDQEALw_wcB

Maybe something timeless like an ivory silk shirt and slim leg black trousers. Can you see her in heels? Otherwise classic ballet flats.

Alternatively you could go with wide leg trousers à la Lauren Bacall with the same shirt and velvet slipper style flats

Jumpsuit

Well if you want her to wear an outfit from a Chinese tat drop shipping site, then that's perfect.

She is not wearing anything given that she isn’t real. It is inspiration!

I know that but would this fictional character choose a faux glam outfit from a Chinese tat drop shipping site? It would stick out badly.

And it doesn't fit the character. Nor tbh, any private members club I've been at.

I think she’d raid the wardrobe a bit like Princess Anne. There’d be a formal dress from the 80s in there that still fits, maybe knee length in a dark coloured or burgundy jacquard fabric.

Thanks all. I've got her in a "sharp burgundy smoking jacket with leather lapels and rolled up sleeves, black cigarette pants and stilettos in the same shade as the jacket. As she moved to greet them the jacket shifted just enough to show it was buttoned over her bare skin." It is a very intimate private members club 😎