Please advise
1. I’ve bought this dress in a fit of enthusiasm-cum-panic: we are off to Ascot again this year and once again I haven’t got a thing to wear. I haven’t yet taken off its labels, as I am not confident. It is perfect for Ascot (C thinks it is too long but what does he know: one must go maxi or mini this summer and I am not doing the latter) if it is sunny. Really sunny. Even if it is, I’ll need something to wear over it (my denim jacket would be perfect but too casual for Ascot) because it’s a bit too strappy; I also need shoes. I have some dark-red wedge sandals (and a matching bag): what do you think? Personally I fancy some silver sandals and a shiny silver bag (there is a reason for harping on about bags: I’ve fallen for this one and want an excuse to purchase it) – but have neither. Yet.
2. If it’s not sunny or I can’t find the appropriate accompaniments, I have a dark red silk ao dai I bought some years back in Hanoi. I’ve never worn it (I always seem to need maternity clothes when we have an occasion!) and would rather like to. I think it would need adjusting – I’m half a stone lighter than I was pre-Maggie – but it might be stylish. Or would it be weird? That would definitely require new accessories: again, I think silver might work. I’d need a top to go under it, too. Argh.
3. We are having a naming ceremony for Tamsin. Another formal occasion but not the same sort of formal as Ascot. It would make sense to have something that can serve for both (at least the basic outfit) but neither option 1 or 2 strikes me as terribly appropriate. 1 will be ok, again, if it is really sunny, but then there’s the whole breastfeeding issue with dresses, too: one doesn’t really want to reveal one’s knickers to feed one’s baby.
Help me, oh loyal and elegant reader!*
*Of course I reserve the right to ignore your advice and do my own sweet thing. But I’d like to have some, please.
May 30th, 2007 13:54
i LOVE the black and white dress and wish I had the figure to wear it. (she says as she stuffs a vienesse whirl in her mouth) I would go for that although I agree that the ao dai would be stylih and unusual. I’m not that keen on silver shoes and bags personally but I’m sure they’d work well. Erm, that wasn’t really much help was it? Ok, black and white gets the vote from me.
May 30th, 2007 14:06
I love the silver bag, but i major thing about bags and will find any reason to buy one. I think red would also go though. How would breast feeding work in the ao dai – is it a top and a skirt? I have to say though it may just be me, is there something vaguely rude about the bigger pattern on the front of the dress and where its centre is?
I have probably now showed the weird workings of my mind to the world
May 30th, 2007 15:55
LOVE the dress and that bag! Buy the bag…buyyy the baaaag (I’m the devil on your shoulder.) I think red wedge sandals would work very well with the dress; it’s a very trendy colour at the moment (monochrome and red are both “in”.)
The answer to #3 is to buy a new outfit for the naming ceremony. Buyyyy a newwww outfiiiiit.
Am I helping? No?
May 31st, 2007 08:43
I think the dress is wonderful and I do like the silver bag, but if it was me I’d prefer dark red accessories with the b/w print. I need colour and I love red 🙂 I reckon the ao dai would look stylish rather than weird.
May 31st, 2007 10:17
I’m not so sure about the ao dai, though I admit that I’m finding it hard to picture and it might look gorgeous on. Still, I LOVE the black & white dress – vaguely rude pattern or no – and think that silver accessories is the way to go. I also have a complete paranoia about being cold though, and I’d suggest that a simple black cardi or a black pashmina/wrap might do the trick.
As for the naming ceremony, I’d suggest something else entirely might be appropriate if you don’t fancy the first 2 options. I’m sure you can get something relatively cheap and breastfeeding friendly (as you know I’m a committed bargain hunter and am loathed to spend too much money on clothes!)
May 31st, 2007 10:19
The black & white dress is fab, and now that Rachel’s mentioned the pattern thing, I can vaguely see what she means, but it wasn’t that obvoius to me (sheltered life/sweet & innocent/ unimaginative /blind – delete as you feel appropriate!!!)
I’m with Jane on the RED – I can’t get away with black and white personally, but whoever’s wearing it, a bit of bold red always sets it off nicely.
I’m intrigued about the Ao Dai outfit – it’s always fab to wear something completely different to anyone else….
Am getting slightly jealous that you have all these lovely events to get dressed up for, but then if I did, I’d be having a far greater wardrobe dilemma than you – I’d need a whole new one!!
Re the breast feeding, yes agree flashing your knickers might not be deemed appropriate!! Maybe a pashmina round the shoulders with the black & white dress, then you could just drop one strap off your shoulders (if this is impossible, forgive me – I’m not a mother!!!)
x
June 2nd, 2007 07:48
As a goddess you will look fab in any of the above, but the black and white dress is brill and you must buy (don’t listen to Cam – it’s a perfect length). Red wedge sandals will be great and you will wear them lots. Silver bag is good. Ao Dai sounds interesting but like Mia, I can’t picture it. But the most important thing is that YOU are happy in these things and you’ll look great. When do you ever look anything other than stylish anyway?
June 3rd, 2007 19:39
The black and white dress is fab! And I think silver shoes and bag would also look good. I dont think red accessories would be right, sorry! I had a look at some of the other dresses on that website and I also like the shorter 70’s print black & white dress which I think would work for both Ascot and the naming ceremony, plus it keeps Cam happy! But keepin yourself happy is more of a priority here! (And depending on how it does up at the back, it may not be breast feeding friendly, but I think it would suit you anyway!) Are we helping?
June 11th, 2007 16:06
Alternatively, you could get pregnant again and use some of your ‘pregnancy occasion’ clothes? 🙂