How would you style this dress for a dressy dinner date?

[SallyDraperGetInHere]

Seeing a very nice man for a fourth date in a French restaurant and I’d like to dress up. Just bought this, and I love the colour but would probably swap out the belt. How should I style this and what should I wear over it if the weather cools?

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.1363263003.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo4b9UtHft_c5Z3frNb3dlZJ-NCix9NNa538Gwehg4XV0gm2B0P

Love the dress and the belt - would you wear a kitten heel in the colour of the belt? I’ve got these from Asos and they go with everything from dresses to tailored Bermuda shorts, they even look good with jeans

Love this dress op !
kitten heels and a small clutch?

I do have metallic kitten heels, sling backs, but they’re not the most comfortable. I’ll probably be on public transport, then a 500m walk.

Glad you like the dress! I love this shade of red.

I have these shoes in a lower heel, think they are 4cm, never worn since I got them six years ago. And a tiny grey clutch. Would pale grey work?

If the belt is fabric, does it lose shape and curl over as you sit down? Belts are best when lined and don’t curl up. You could replace it with a wider leather one. I would look at cream or camel accessories.

And what to wear over it?

I’ve gold, and a few of those stretchy belts with the gold hook (black, cream), and tons of scarves. There are belt loops, which helps.

I think a nude shoe would work best and it probably needs to be quite a summery shoe to match the vibe of the dress. I love the pale grey but I’m not sure it will work with the dress, especially with the belt.

I really like the belt, keep the belt, buy some lower heel shoes. I’m not sure what you’ll be able to wear over it though because of the sleeves - do you have a cropped trench, that’ll have wider sleeves to accommodate.

Okay, will do a try-on tomorrow with various shoes and belts. Gold and warm tones look best on me. I don’t have a short trench, but I’ve a jacket you’ve just reminded me of which might work 💖

Excited to have a new man in my life so I’m putting extra thought into this …

I was thinking like this or maybe a blazer just over your shoulders? Mumsnet hates the jacket drape 😂 I did see a really good hack on how to keep it on using safety pins and elastic - it’ll probably still ruin those beautiful sleeves on your dress though

You’ve been so helpful, thank you for being so lovely!

This is the jacket, just for getting there

Maybe just take the buckle off (looks like it would come off easily) and tie the belt instead? That will give you more shoe colour options.

I think that jacket would definitely work, the gold buttons will work with your gold shoes, how exciting!

Great dress, OP. I'd keep the belt and go with ballet flats in a pale-ish colour. The grey mentioned above is nice, or a matt, soft metallic. My sister wears a similar dress in colder months with a really skinny, long-sleeved silky polo neck underneath - looks fab.

I'd forget the jacket unless you're desperate, but yes, a cropped light something would work.

Hope the date goes well!

Funnily enough, I've just had a reminder pop up in my inbox that this is back in stock in my size, in the beige floral (which looks very Erdem)!!

I love the red - & I actually liked the look of the belt online (even though I usually hate the belts that come with dresses/trousers). The fact that it's the same fabric means the line of the dress isn't cut in two - which is more elongating. And the raffia buckle detail is very "in".

Is it not so good in reality, OP? As I would go with the summery raffia & pair with a raffia clutch - maybe this one?

https://www.reiss.com/style/su952501/g58230?utm_content=search&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_search_type=nonbrand&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11403243063&gbraid=0AAAAADy9EnqHGSknA7uSn1OSgkl9dmbNd&gclid=CjwKCAjw1vXTBhB-EiwAEKr_k9RxLL1L4t7g9VG-n2DFw6mk5CgNEHkRlKUwusufnmUMwSv3EWG61BoCCi8QAvD_BwE

With that sort of warm scarlet-red, I like cream, creamy-yellow & tan shades. Are the sleeves that much of a deal in reality, as I thought they'd just puffed them up more for the photo? In which case most jackets would fit over them.

I'm not keen on the grey shoes & clutch idea, personally. Your jacket is ok, but it's somewhat cool & greyish in tone in the image? Warmer tones would definitely be better. Plus that jacket (especially with courts) might make things look a bit work- rather than date-style? From your recent posts I think you favour a smart, minimal look - but it can be a fine line between a smart work look, & a date in a smart restaurant look, if you see what I mean?

Some jacket ideas. Some are not necessarily quite right (some too heavy, some too synthetic etc), but the sort of thing I mean.

I always find that, with clothing with a collar, it's harder to find the right top layer, so trying things on will be the test of whether things work well or not.

https://www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Jacquard-Jacket/p/A18146?swatch=Butter&shopping=true&cm_mmc=Google--UK_ALL_GO_TWC_ALL_PLA_Brand_StandardShopping---_-&ProGrpCode=AV545&PromoCode=AV545&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=UK_ALL_GO_TWC_ALL_PLA_Brand_StandardShopping&utm_medium=Brand-Shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21785973107&gclid=CjwKCAjw1vXTBhB-EiwAEKr_k9eKlwq-BUoDGCgT8Y4heX54hhmnXvAbfExVjH2JzjBMM9YWXcYpCRoCm68QAvD_BwE

Absolutely not a fashion expert, but I think either a start jacket (denim/leather..whatever ypu likr) but only over your shoulders, you can't wear it properly.

Or a loose crocheted cream batwing bolero type thing? Loose sleeved and light so it won't squash the shoulders? Match the belt buckle?

Thanks a million, really good point about not looking like I’m going corporate!

It's a fine line, & easily done when you're trying to err on the smart side for a restaurant!

A few more jacket suggestions. A PP mentions crochet or similar - though the sleeves might be tricky to get right. The second one here is opaque so might work better. But you might not be a crochet/embroidery person?

https://ba-sh.com/uk/p/jacket-fany-ecru-3667436037122.html?story-5-fw25-full-price=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21530788024&utm_term=168368667271&utm_ad_id=707780583496&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21530788024&gbraid=0AAAAADwwYAANMb3iSji4O9aJzRdRg9D-3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-frTBhCvARIsADv4XY4Py3YDqupzFAuA5fNq0WUiQcshy51ix9em_UOKeExGLfTTTH6L8WYaAmeMEALw_wcB

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su924863/g50206?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23099951489&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UVRMsjiJFQSg1OqkUyklSQce&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-frTBhCvARIsADv4XY7hmDTY3SnMmOPq677DakKhYzK4IWjWGO_JA4ZVuy9HgyILrAm1PQoaAjqWEALw_wcB#g50206

This Palome one is rather lovely.

https://palome.com/products/gallieni-jacket?variant=41956867768418&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=google&utm_content=%7Badid%7D_&utm_campaign=22972318746&utm_type=shopping&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22972318746&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-frTBhCvARIsADv4XY7jcAGKf3R0GiomGuQacK7ovaRJuy1TAmLEqh6_oh4Q9RAHMMmNZzkaAik0EALw_wcB&Color=Ivory&Size=6

I also think smart denim - maybe even a shirt rather than a jacket, with the collars double-layered - would work. Especially if you go smart with the shoes - don't do properly smart for everything, mix up smart/clean with looser/casual & you'll avoid the whiff of corporate!! Indigo, but also cream denim would work?

The last image is just to show the collar layering of jacket & dress.

https://www.allsaints.com/women/tops-and-shirts/nancy-fitted-denim-shirt/W094PF-10131.html?utm_campaign=google_surfaces&utm_content=googlefreelistings&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24013459853&gbraid=0AAAAADp7WQBQqw2dWoxj101IKTBwol3ri&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-frTBhCvARIsADv4XY466VOk5jBomG2stWGv2V_vl0rgz8bMCkFX6943M8u6TfLtBEd2KMoaArFXEALw_wcB

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/z1975-wide-sleeve-denim-shirt-p07147226.html?v1=582695201&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11260393417&gbraid=0AAAAADqbk7bVqpFMSww6l_rdFxZpiqhqy&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-frTBhCvARIsADv4XY4c-8yObwj6ewg4ehaQHGuMYPd-Yh7JTYiA39SH-dpbWlcJgJlgyckaAiNyEALw_wcB

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E483877-000/00?colorDisplayCode=69&sizeDisplayCode=003

https://www.selected.com/p/3-4-sleeved-denim-jacket/16101407_DarkBlueDenim?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand_Selected_UK_Shopping_PerformanceMax_Women&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22040301298&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-frTBhCvARIsADv4XY6McreZt8yVTMCMkR4uNPjFy7Bw7__c3Y4yh7BShxmkDE6kUZ4ahZ8aAidCEALw_wcB

I think it takes a certain type of person to "shoulder robe" with complete nonchalance & carry it off. Personally, I think most people who attempt it look like complete tits ... I definitely would!

Tan short jackets, if you don't like the idea of cream crochet or dark denim ( though you will avoid looking corporate & look a bit edgier with those).

They're M&S, & Other Stories, & Massimo Dutti.