What suggestions for styling this dress!

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I have a cocktail party to go to and bought this. It's fairly inoffensive and I like the off shoulder design. Size 16. Curious to hear ideas about something to sort of lift it though from plain navy. I can't wear heels. I have baroque pearl and topaz drop earrings I am considering wearing. My hair is long and auburn and I will probably wear it in a chignon.

I'm not grat at anything style-related so would relish advice from kind posters!

www.next.co.uk/style/su923185/w87234

That's a lovely dress. I'd wear it with your earrings and a gold bangle or bracelet of some sort. Gold sandals. I love gold. But the style of the dress speaks for itself so no need to clutter it up too much.

What is the background to the cocktail party and where is it being held?

That dress is an evening / black tie dress. It's far more formal and glam than I would wear to a cocktail party.

"Cocktail" as a dress code now seems to cover anything from it's original meaning (dressy, a bit glam, after 6 p.m wear, but not evening and not long) to please don't wear jeans and trainers.

Depending on what the cocktail party is if I were wearing that (which I wouldn't as it's not a cocktail dress) I'd be dressing it down, flats or low heels, no glitzy jewellery and hair down.

Agree with the above - but have you see the green version - I think that’s nicer / warmer than navy?

Also with your auburn hair the dark green version would be stunning

Thanks all. I had not considered the green… I hate how I look right now so tend to go for things that make me mostly fade in the background! I shall give it some thought re a colour change.

the cocktail party is for a godchild’s engagement party. It’s at a rather fancy club in London. You are probably right that it’s more evening dress @PhaedraTwo . The mother of the bride to be is tall and slim and wearing an emerald green chiffon type thing I understand.

I disagree, I think this dress is too plain and informal for an evening/black tie dress. I remember back in the noughties a cocktail dress would tend to be shorter, but now knee length can look a bit dated and not everyone wants to go mini. The dress is described as a maxi but certainly on the model but it reads more like midi with the slit. OP doesn’t mention how tall she is but I see they do it in petite.

I think this is a good option OP, potentially quite a versatile dress.

When I said I agree with the above - I was referring to the PP about adding gold and keeping it simple - not the nonsense about cocktail dress code (after 6pm but not evening?) post.

It’s a stunning dress and fit your event perfectly if it makes you feel both comfortable and put together. Sounds like a fabulous event.

That dress is so gorgeous I’m going to have to buy it! Silver or gold depending on your colouring.. good call on the hairstyling choice, long earrings. Oh it’s just gorgeous op I have to say. Nothing round the waist no necklace … earrings and bracket with clutch .. I personally wouldn’t do pearl

It’s hardly … off to the cinema le down the local for a pint ..

Not nonsense. That is not a cocktail party dress.

I suppose you (general you) can wear it if other attendees also don't understand the code. I was at a cocktail party earlier this month for an arts event connected to the Edinburgh Festival. I'd have stuck out in bad way in that dress.

Do your local cinemas and pubs have a cocktail dress code?! Glad mine don’t!

How would you define cocktail dress then? Specifically?

I regularly attend events with a cocktail dress code and this dress would fit in fine. Perhaps your event was particularly casual? I find the arts world can lean that way.

I'd say that was a pretty good dress for a cocktail party. It's not like one of those awful prom dresses. It's pretty sleek. If you can get away with palazzo trousers (which you definitely can) then why not dress a bit longer than knee length.

That's a beautiful dress. And suitable for cocktails - I hae to attend a few cocktail parties for work and lots of women dress up to that extent.

I'd go with the earrings and either a big cocktail ring or a beautiful cuff or bracelet and a clutch bag of similar style to the jewellery.

Can you wear wedges? A low platform wedge in velvet, leather or gold or silver, depending on your jewellery would work well.

Well- tbh I'm going to stick out in a bad way as I am a chunker and only 5 foot.

I was going for 'not offensive to the eye'.

Like the idea of wedge heels.

I regularly attend events with a black tie and cocktail code. This was arts related (performing arts. not art) not casual.

I wouldn't wear a dress like that as cocktail event. It's too long and too glammed up with the bare shoulder and the long split.

That’s your prerogative of course, and you’ll always see a range at any event, but suggesting that anyone who wore a dress like this had misunderstood the dress code is ridiculous.

DD is currently studying fashion at uni (yr 3) and she said navy with gold is now considered outdated/old fashioned and that silver jewellery with navy is more fashionable.
And apparently, you should never 100% match your shoes to your bag. I was committing far too many fashion sins apparently!

I was going to ask how tall you were. Why do you hate the way you look right now? Is it weight-related, plus knowing that the mother of the bride-to-be is tall & slim?

I think buying a dress because it's "fairly inoffensive" is a wee bit sad ... I looked at the green (my favourite colour) & think it's a rather flat dull shade of green? If you stick with the dress, I think black or navy are best. However ... I do think it's a bit OTT for cocktail wear. Fine to be off-the-shoulder - but to be full-length AND have a slit up the front is evening wear in my book. And also not what I'd think of as a dress to help me fade into the background ...??!

You have what sounds like lovely colouring & hair. And although knee-length is considered a bit dated right now, I think that shorter women suit it best. So you could go for a fitted dress that's shorter? Midi or over-the-knee, if you're ok with your legs? Assuming you want fitted?

If you do stick with that dress, I don't think wedges would look right with it - but I understand if you want a bit of height without wearing high heels. What about a kitten heel - maybe a low mule?

This sort of thing? Low heel & still supportive of the foot & comfy.

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/sandro-metallic-leather-heeled-mules-55-000000000007955305?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=EN%2BUK%2BPMaxShoppingDDS%2BOnlineLow/Weak%2BAny%2BFashion%2BTier+1&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20510475088&gbraid=0AAAAADm-wgNMBKE_8bjKxIXu5ybRedaSo&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteTUBhD4ARIsAEYjs3r2tKMPtLXXrHd2cSB-RRxPYXAtY-DODYjJeSKxFgZtgploNBcyJckaAm9XEALw_wcB

And maybe with this dress instead ...?!!! (I know, it's twice the price before you even factor in control underwear - but it is silk!!!)

https://www.lilysilk.com/uk/product/lilysilk-x-natasha-draped-silk-midi-dress.html?color=1894&size=4830&campaignid=23939317612&adgroupid=198431700618&network=g&creative=812600695914&keyword=&device=t&matchtype=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23939317612&gbraid=0AAAAADcEn3s9UDk5fIFx6gswPb0oR3E0m&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteTUBhD4ARIsAEYjs3rdq58R1SeyHj0r1hj7ILVQVB_yevwX_MIbPVFvzl-eZlqSUt4nbUMaAvALEALw_wcB

Or this? Which is long so would need taken up a bit probably to be calf-length on you, but because it's so simple at the front I think would be ok for cocktail wear? The back twist detail is pretty - especially if you do decide to put your hair up. Though a slick ponytail like this is good.

https://www.whistles.com/product/209691.html?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NEST_Whistles_UK_EN_BoF_Shopping_Brand&utm_id=22797692313&utm_content=agid_198867881643-ad_820656024130&utm_term=&utm_matchtype=&network=g&device=t&placement=&targetid=pla-320693175506&utm_tpl=live&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22797692313&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteTUBhD4ARIsAEYjs3rkYL463M7E-PJ5zGoWARyAmLTC4yvy9zvJkz7ABQ2nvA6b5SyTOOQaAjTJEALw_wcB

Also, I think auburn hair with red is fabulous ... (not suggesting these dresses btw!! Just the colour combination!).

Whistles stocks a petite range, & has lots of dresses in its sale, if your budget is below £100. I'd consider all these as appropriate cocktail wear.

https://www.whistles.com/sale/?imageType=model&sz=60&startPageNumber=4&start=180&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=category0&prefv1=Petite%7CDresses&prefn2=size&prefv2=16&prefn3=refinementColor&prefv3=Green%7CRed%7CBlue%7CBlack#sp=%5Bsessionstorage%5D%23sp=%5Bsessionstorage%5D

Can you post a picture of your earrings? Maybe wearing them to give an idea of size etc?