Invited to very fancy party and nothing to wear!

[custardlover]

A very fancy and couturey fashiony party; guests will be wearing CHANEL but my speed (and budget) is a lot more like Boden. What would you do? I wonder if there is something chic I should target on Vinted or Vestaire (or somewhere else?)? Rixo maybe?

And absolutely I could just wear something in my wardrobe but it would be great to hear any inspiration!

Selfridges has a section for rental dresses where you can try them on.

You could rent some fabulous jewellery or accessories to go with a new or vintage dress within your budget, if you're worried about the fitting of rented dresses?

Eleanor I’m very tempted to buy that Róhe dress. It’s one of my favourite brands.

It would be a great buy, @TealReader . I had my eye on it a while ago, but, as someone who prides themselves on a limited wardrobe, I’m finding myself running out of space for clothes, and it isn’t something I’d be wearing every day or week.

Then do!

Rohé fabrics always seem to be gorgeous. A flat chest & being fairly flush with money are both things of the past for me (as is attending the type of event that it could be worn at!), but if you love it ... why not? Have you somewhere in mind that you'd wear it to attend?

There are a few other similar versions of it on Net-a-Porter, in velvet/red/with a higher front & back, if practicality comes into it ...!!!

I’ve got a few events coming up! It’s the bra situation that worries me. I’m not huge but far from flat chested! I have invested in a few Róhe knits and a shirt and they are real workhorses for me.

It would probably become obvious only with trying it on, as to whether you'd feel comfortable in it or not? Worth a go, though!

You could probably buy something decent off Vinted or in a dress agency for around tbe same as the cost of a hire. Plus you could have it altered if necessary, and recoup some of your costs if you resell it.
Check if you have any dress agencies near you, at least you can usually try stuff on there unlike Vinted.

I'm obsessed with this dress. There are various colours and a few cheaper to be found on pre-loved sites.

www.mytheresa.com/gb/en/women/zimmermann-ruffled-silk-satin-wrap-dress-pink-p01154368?feed_num=P01154368&feed_des=Zimmermann&feed_mwg=clothing&dplink=true&pub_name=2936164&chn=aff1&src=cj&cmp=aff_cj_uk&tarea=uk&ptyp=dlg&pub_id=3852549&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=affiliate_cj_uk&utm_content=3852549&cjevent=c4277e86bc2f11f1810700060a18b8fa&slink_id=7f843717-cd25-411e-ab45-cc72bb4824d2&slink=1

I got a very nice cocktail dress from me&em in the January sale this year and wore it to a work do in February. Might be worth having a look there especially with your height OP. I tend to associate me&em with workwear or casual but they have some nice evening wear as well.

I like the Joey dress. A couple of different colours and fabrics. https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/joey-midi-dress-2617329003

Go as Ginger Spice. Always a crowd pleaser.

Zimmerman@IStillHearTheWaves I agree. And the full price rusty coloured one is great too.

That's not vintage; ebay now allow anything to claim that.
Rip off, fake vintage. It won't hang well.

As it's probably from the late 90s/early 2000s, it IS actually considered to be vintage now ... alarming though that is to anyone over 50-ish!

Anything more than twenty years old is the definition. Vintage sellers will generally use "true vintage" to refer to pieces that are circa 50 years plus. So up to the 70s usually. That's MY version of vintage - but then anything that I was old enough to wear first time around isn't really vintage to me!!

Silk, velvet, & devoré slip dresses like this were very much of that era (though obviously based on 30s originals), & I had quite a few (plus some 30s ones). They were mostly real silk or a blend, & were well-cut & good quality, even non-designer ones?

In Paris you need to be looking at well cut understated not a look at me outfit

Exactly right. True vintage is vintage; if one has to say 'true', the other is false.
90's versions of 30's dresses are inferior.
The cut and fabric, and the finish, will be lower quality.

You could rent a Vampire’s Wife dress here… this design would suit your body type and is a bit edgier for an arts event: https://byrotation.com/designers/the-vampires-wife

Something vintage & fabulous! Trouser suit and statement bag. Or something with a bit of fringe and a vintage leather jacket, depending on venue. Xo

Most of them are, yes - though some designer ones are exquisite. It's not my terminology, it's that of the vintage fashion trade.

I'd say that the term "true vintage" is only needed for middle-aged women like me (& you?). To anyone young, it's ALL bloody ancient & they won't be able to tell the difference!

Why? Do you always moderate what you wear depending on what country or city you're in?

Just because Parisians are generally quite conservative in their dress sense, it doesn't mean that the OP has to emulate them!

I know it's a general term, used more on resale sites than by the 'vintage fashion trade'. It makes little difference how old someone is; vintage means the original decade, not '90's does 30's', That's retro, surely?

I don't really see why a fashion designer in the 90s shouldn't do deco-inspired dresses? This one hasn't been portrayed as an original 30s dress, we simply agreed that it looks like a 30s-style dress made in the 90s. It's not a fake.

As it goes, I just broke all my rules and asked AI what it thought - and it said exactly that, adding that it likely is silk devore as described.

Funny how I was excited by my 'vintage' 1950s & 60s clothes as a student in 1977 - yet we're wondering if the 90s can be considered vintage in 2026!

No reason at all why they shouldn't. No reason why M&S shouldn't sell cashmere; just won't be as good. As you're bringing AI into what was a discussion, I'll bow out. Because that also, is not as good.