Smart casual 50th party outfit ideas

[noidea02]

Going to a joint 50th in October. I am 55. Usually live in jeans. Dress code is smart causal. What do I wear? Hit me with your ideas! Something classy. Not sparkly or OTT.

I actually love that dress. But I wonder if I’d feel a bit over dressed in it. Particularly as a lot of people have suggested jeans as smart casual. Which is my whole dilemma - how smart should I go?!
The advantage of jeans too is I could wear some nice boots. I have no shoes to go with that dress and I have very tricky, large feet!

There's nothing wrong with the neckline. It's suffering from the Sezane syndrome of pouty models who can't do up buttons.

@EleanorMc67 I just saw a dress you recommended on another thread that I thought was gorgeous and could fit the bill here, too? Silk. By Farfetch? Farfetched? Hadn't come across them before.
I'll see if I can find it...

I’ve been to two 50th parties in two weeks.
Both smart casual, hardly any women were wearing jeans. Mostly trousers and a top, lots of sleeveless tops, vest tops a few silk blouses, several co-ords, some dresses.

Oh sorry OP it's probably over budget. My bad. Really lovely dress though - if you went down the dress route would you wear something like this?
https://www.farfetch.com/uk/shopping/women/la-doublej-floral-print-swing-dress-item-15796490.aspx?clickref=1100lDsC6NRo&utm_source=skimlinks_phg&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=PHUK&pid=performancehorizon_int&c=PHUK&clickid=1100lDsC6NRo&af_siteid=skimlinks_phg&af_cost_model=CPA&af_channel=affiliate&is_retargeting=true

I agree with BitOutOfPractice about the "nice jeans and a top" cliché. I don't wear jeans and to me "nice jeans and a top" isn't party wear.

There's nothing special about the tops suggested. You could wear the Sezanne and the NRBY tops to the supermarket or office and nobody would notice.

If it were me I'd wear the dress and feel sorry for the people wearing boring jeans and "a nice top"

@noidea02 where in the country is the party? London is much more casual than Liverpool.

I think that’s absolutely true. I wouldn’t consider the dresses posted to be smart casual. They are absolutely lovely but to me, they’re smart, possibly wedding smart.

What’s the venue? The green dress is lovely, but very dressy and a bit severe.

600 quid dress links are surely not going to be very useful to the average mumsnetter!

Yes totally agree! It’s London which I why I think smart jeans are better. I think I would be over dressed in the green dress

If you go down the jeans a nice top route, have a look at M&S for tops - they’ve got lots of satin/silk things ranging in price from £23 for this one which is flattering on. Though the colour might be a bit dull for you:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/satin-striped-cowl-neck-scarf-detail-top/p/clp61226656

They’ve also got a good selection of jeans!

@noidea02 I’ve found these on the M&S web site. Various price points but start at £28. The silk ones are more. However the main thing is that the colours are autumnal, they will last you all winter, they go with browns, neutrals and jeans (not a fan of the black leather shown) so extremely versatile. Not everyone likes prints, I’m tall so I do! But the rust colours are just great: add jewellery and you are away!

Completely

London I’d go jeans or slouchy trousers, smart trainers and a smart top, which could be a fitted t shirt (as opposed to an old baggy one that you sleep in). Also some interesting accessories

Browns don't suit everyone, my colour season is dark winter and there are sadly very few browns I can pull off.

Black trousers can look a bit office-y, unless they're an interesting texture or cut. Something like this would be nice though, with the belt and a similar top in a colour that suits you (skip the blazer):
https://www.marksandspencer.com/woven-pleated-wide-leg-culottes/p/clp60741506?color=BLACK

I like this outfit as it's tonal and in a colour you mentioned you like, and could wear with boots:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/satin-polka-dot-tie-neck-relaxed-blouse/p/clp23091370

To me, blue jeans can make an outfit look casual. I think this looks smart with black jeans:
https://www.next.co.uk/style/sv023065/v61636

And if you did want blue jeans, then something like these wide leg dark blue jeans paired with a silk/satin shirt could be good, as the shirt would elevate it:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/satin-collared-button-through-shirt/p/clp61232380?color=GREEN

This could look nice with a tailored trouser:
https://www.next.co.uk/style/sv288357/800811

Definitely make sure your shoes are comfy and worn-in, if there's potential to be walking a lot.

@PorkPieForStartersAre you the op? I think bronzes and terracotta are ok for merely everyone. The great thing is they can be put with blacks, and all shades of brown and neutrals so suit any colour really, and definitely jeans.

I'm not, I just read what the OP had written about the colours she weara and doesn't so my suggestions were based on that.

In my colour analysis there are next to no browns in my colours, which ties with what I know from trying to wear brown tops over the years. Bronze and terracotta would actually be the worst kind of browns for me to wear next to my face/neck as they're warm and I suit cool colours. I could wear them on my bottom half.

Oh god I can’t get with the coords - they just make me think of pjs… any suggestions for smart ones would be interesting - also have a 50th to go to…

Serena Bute co-ords are gorgeous.

I'm sceptical about the "oh no one dresses up in London" posts, really no one out of 9.2 million?. It's not what I've noticed.

Links

Serena Bute

@PorkPieForStarters Well I guess the op isn’t you. I think bronzes suit nearly everyone.

I don’t own any matching trousers and tops but I’m not against them with the right cut. They don’t all have revere collars do they?

I don’t think London is full of women wearing jeans either. There’s some really lovely trousers that are smart casual if you look but I’d avoid a work look.

I've no idea what colours "suit me". The "colour x makes me look dead" syndrome is something I've never noticed on me or anyone else. I suppose because I'm looking at the clothes, not staring at someone's face.

I do know what colours I like and those browns, bronze and oranges are awful.

@PhaedraTwo Why am I not surprised? You only like what you like.