New job...company lunch out...fancy restaurant....outfit help!

[chummymummy7]

I need your help pleeeease!!!

Having dressed up in anything more than nice leggings for 2 years, I am now facing the ultimate outfit challenge. Work lunch out at posh place!! confused

I'm 2 months into a new job in advertising The lunch is at a fancy Italian in London. There'll be 5 of us - three male, two female.

What to wear to project professional yet still sightly on-trend? And high heels or flats? And please talk to me about jackets/handbags!

Currently flipping between this:

www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/dresses/blue-leopard-print-puff-sleeve-belted-midi-dress/p/669788349

and this:

www.freepeople.com/uk/shop/pretty-dayz-set/?category=maxi-dresses&color=018&type=REGULAR&quantity=1&size=XS&fbclid=IwAR0nc6MLGoBRGdVwD06codtR6mquUFseP97egQ457OdUTNkaUqY-lRZca8U

Probably with heels (I'm petite, need them for confidence) and a little leather jacket...

Any/all advice appreciated. I've been self-employed since 2008, so this is unfamiliar territory!!

Thank you so much

What sort of budget?

I prefer the New Look dress. Heels or flats? - can you walk in heels like they are flats - if you can you can probably get away with them but if you are remotely awkward stay clear - I have a preference for flats but I'm tall! Any of the posh places I've been to in London are not dressed up - people are casual, not scruffy but it's certainly not formal - more "I don't have to make an effort because I eat out like this all the time" vibe - i.e. beware of looking too try-hard.

Deffo the new look dress, it's lovely! Also a bit more day time/work appropriate especially if you intend to wear heels.

The New Look one x

I’m concerned the New Look one will look cheap in the flesh, although I do like it
The other one is completely unsuitable

Thanks everyone - New Look dress with chunky heels or flats and leather jacket is it. Appreciate your input very much - I'll still probs spill sauce down my front, but hey! X

Please don't be intimidated by the restaurant - the staff will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and happy - that's their job, especially in a posh, upmarket place.

Have fun getting to know your new colleagues!

@londongram you're so kind, thanks - I think the Michelin star angle has thrown me a bit, but you have reassured me!

I have only been to one Michelin starred place that made me feel uncomfortable - a two starred in Berlin - it was stuffy and miserable - their wine glass standard was 100ml - should have known by that alone, they were not happy about our Rough Guide untidying the table - would put you off eating out for life! Italian's not my favourite so I can't guess where you are going but seriously the staff at these restaurants are mind-blowingly attentive, enjoy!

The blue dress would look great with a proper waist belt like this

@floofycroissant Yes! That's a gorgeous belt - thanks

I work in advertising too - usually there will be wine or cocktails (depending on your group and lunch context of course) so wear shoes you can definitely walk in!
Agree with PP - smart casual is the way to go.

I wouldn’t wear either of those to a work lunch, we have work lunches and regional meetings and I don’t think either are smart enough.

@FAQs

I wouldn’t wear either of those to a work lunch, we have work lunches and regional meetings and I don’t think either are smart enough.

What industry are you in? I have noticed outside London people dress up a lot more. Recently we were invited to one of the posh clubs in London for business dinner - not one of the cool ones! The new look dress would pass their dress code! I’m busy trying to sway the decision to somewhere with no dress code😂

I’m from London and work for one of the biggest UK employers in the UK as a senior manager (not Retail) I wouldn’t wear formal but I think that is leaning on the too casual side.

Just to add I’m probably older than the OP so that might make a difference!

@FAQs

Just to add I’m probably older than the OP so that might make a difference!

But the industry and the culture will make a difference not the size of your company. We wouldn't expect any of our team to dress up for lunch - they only dress up for clients if the clients have a strict dress code. The MD will wear jeans to work and there will be no difference in dress standards between the Senior Manager and an analyst. Anything that is acceptable for work is acceptable for lunch - for us lunch is not a big unique event - you'd look try hard and awkward dressing up for it - someone would take the piss out of you.

When is this lunch? If it's soon you will be eating outside under some kind of awning or in a pod if you're lucky so comfort and warmth are going to be much more of a consideration than looking good! No-one looks good damp from the rain!

Yep it does make a difference re the industry, we have our own in house marketing teams, four different teams around the UK, although wearing jeans would be sackable or sent home, jeans and formal are opposite ends of the spectrum. Someone in between would be entirely suitable.

Each company has their own expectations, ours is clearly different to yours as yours is different to others, OP wanted an opinion on the outfit choices, no? An opinion is, by its nature is something which varies.

You can be smart without being formal, although not sure someone taking “the piss” out of a colleagues outfit is a healthy, mature working environment.

Sounds a little High School culture, you’d hope people would mature beyond that in the workplace.

I work in an industry not dissimilar to advertising and would happily wear the blue dress but not with traditional heels - I’d wear it with boots as styled in the photo. But I would also happily wear jeans to a Michelin stared restaurant for lunch in London. I’d just make sure I wore a jacket and probably a silk blouse of some description. And an impeccable blow dry.

You can be smart without being formal, although not sure someone taking “the piss” out of a colleagues outfit is a healthy, mature working environment.

Sounds a little High School culture, you’d hope people would mature beyond that in the workplace.

Certainly doesn't sound like it would suit you!😂

@FAQs

Yep it does make a difference re the industry, we have our own in house marketing teams, four different teams around the UK, although wearing jeans would be sackable or sent home, jeans and formal are opposite ends of the spectrum. Someone in between would be entirely suitable.

Each company has their own expectations, ours is clearly different to yours as yours is different to others, OP wanted an opinion on the outfit choices, no? An opinion is, by its nature is something which varies.

You can be smart without being formal, although not sure someone taking “the piss” out of a colleagues outfit is a healthy, mature working environment.

Sounds a little High School culture, you’d hope people would mature beyond that in the workplace.

Jeans are a stackable offence?

Advertising is very wide ranging . I would wear denim skirts and doc martens when I worked In London, just depends on your sector.

I'm no longer in advertising and it's jeans even in posh restaurants for me