Help - need to find two dressy outfits in the next five days ETA Update - YouLookFab Forum

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Help - need to find two dressy outfits in the next five days ETA Update

Astrid

Veteran

My best friend from school is in Berlin next weekend, there's an event her father's company hosts - they present their new jewelry collection. I've never been to one of their events before, but I helped my friend shop for it a few times. Now her mum called me this morning and asked if I wanted to come and I said yes. She said there's a day and evening program and I should dress "casual chic" for the first and evening wear for the second. Any ideas what to wear for the first part? I think this should be doable with my stuff, but what about the evening part? There's a fancy dinner and dancing and I know that my friend always wore long fancy evening dresses for that. I probably won't need to go quite as dressy, I'm not family and only one of the guests (there will be about 1500 people there). I don't have a fancy cocktail dress, the only nice dress I have is the one I got for the wedding and I'm not sure it would be appropriate. I really want to go, so should I buy myself a fancy dress? What do you think? I will need to do everything in B&M stores, no time for online shopping. And I only have the next three days, because I have to work at the end of the week.

Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

ramya

Veteran

Hmmm the wedding dress should work for the morning event right Astrid?
The cocktail dress hmmmm let me think and come back to you...

RoseandJoan

Veteran

You can do casual chic standing on your head Astrid. I would keep your silhouette simple and wear your finest fabrics.

For evening do you have any hire shops in your area, or a family member who can loan you a dress?

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Ramya! Yes, I guess I could.

Thanks Julie! Good advice for the first outfit. I don't have any idea if they are any hire shops, I haven't done it before and don't know anyone who did. Unfortunately I don't have family here in Berlin and all my female friends are a different size so that's not an option either.

ETA

I've searched for hire shops, but so far everything I found were wedding dresses for hire.

Scarlet

Veteran

Oh Astrid, you have to go! It sounds like so much fun! Why don't you call around second hand shops and see if they have some things in your size. Ditto Julie on the first event. Might also be possible to find a gown still on sale from summer styles.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Scarlet! Yes, I really want to go. I was always curious about those events and now that I have the chance to go to one I don't want to miss it. I will have a look if I find something marked down at the regular stores this afternoon and maybe have a look second hand tomorrow if I don't find anything today. Keep your fingers crossed. I thought to wear my black blazer in any case, that one's dressy enough. And maybe my old black dancing shoes, those are the only "dressy" heels I have.

ramya

Veteran

Astrid check out the latest H&M add...
http://www.hm.com/no/pre-autumn-ladies

See if any thing tickles your fancy...

Elly

Veteran

Don't pass up an opportunity to go!

Anonymous

Do you have a black (or other neutral) skirt or dress that you could dress up with a dressy top or topper?

Traci

Veteran

Any chance you could borrow a more formal dress from your friend?

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Ramya! I had a first look around this afternoon but I didn't find anything. I'm going to give it another try tomorrow.

Thanks Elly.

Thanks Joy. I do have my black skirt, but I think it isn't dressy enough for the evening and a bit too short for evening wear too. I think it would be easier to buy a dress that works for the occasion...

Thanks Traci! My friend is a lot taller than me, so that wouldn't work.

Diana

Veteran

Astrid, I think in this situation, I would probably go for a LBD of some kind. I'm thinking dress it up with jewelry, nice shoes, maybe a sparkly clutch for this event, and you'd definitely be able to wear it to lots of other events. Knee length is probably the most versatile. If you get a suiting-ish material, you'd probably even be able to wear it with a blazer for more business-y evening events.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Diana! Yes, a LBD is a good idea. I'm not sure I'll be able get something with a more business look though, those are mostly shift and sheath dresses and those almost never fit me without alterations (and I don't have time for those). Although, if I go with a black dress then I'm head to toe black, not sure if that would be all that flattering.

Diana

Veteran

Knee length and sleeveless would probably leave you enough bare skin that the black would be OK. But you could also add a colored wrap or scarf or something. Or a brightly colored or even gold statement necklace?

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, you're right - I probably won't wear the blazer most of the time so there would be enough skin showing to go with black. As for jewelry I thought I'd go with very minimal stuff (probably my pearl earrings and not much else) because I don't have anything made by them and it is a hosted by a jewelry company. But I could do a scarf or wrap...

Gaylene

Veteran

You wear skirts so well, Astrid, that I'm wondering if it might not be easier to find a skirt in a slightly longer, more elegant length and a dressier fabric that would work with your best shoes. Pair it with a simple top (or even your black blazer with just a cami underneath), pearl earrings, and an interesting, but inexpensive, clutch. Dresses can be trickier to fit and, if you don't normally go to this kind of event, might just languish in your closet.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Gaylene! That's a good idea, I will keep my eyes peeled for a dressier skirt tomorrow too. It might be easier to find as a dress, you're right. I have a certain store in mind I want to go to tomorrow and they have a lot of dressier business and evening wear - I might get lucky there, even if I have to spend a bit more. But seperates might get used more afterwards, you're right that I don't need an evening dress often. The last one I had was bought about five years ago and I wore it twice (it doesn't fit anymore).

rachylou

Veteran

I, of course, would use the opportunity as an excuse for a new dress. But I think you're *wedding dress* would work beautifully with some pointy shoes for the evening part. I would double check, tho, with your friend about if the dress *should* be a full length gown.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Rachylou! Yeah, it is a good excuse... Thing about the wedding dress is that it is above knee length and of course very bright - I guess everybody else will be in classic evening wear meaning more muted colors. It doesn't have to be a full length gown though, my friend only wears them because she doesn't like her legs. But it wouldn't look out of place, so you can get a good idea how dressy it will be.

The dressiest pair of shoes I have at the moment are my dancing shoes, exactly these ones http://www.diamant.net/de/dame.....27-064-040. I don't really want to buy another pair of heels I'd never wear again, so it would be good if these would work. What do you think? Of course everybody who knows a bit about dancing would see that these are dancing shoes and not normal heels, but do you think that's a problem?

rachylou

Veteran

Oh no, I think the shoes are perfect. They look good and you can see the night thru with fun and joy and dancing - not painful mincing about. Lol. Actually, now that I see them, I think you need to go the Gatsby 1920s route. A dress in some diaphanous material, on the longer side.

Astrid

Veteran

Glad you think they'd work. And yes, I can see what you have in mind with the dress! I'll see what I come up with tomorrow.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Rachy - the 1920's is a great idea! I can see you totally pulling that off Astrid. Especially with your beautiful curls.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Good luck, Astrid! I have no wisdom other than what has already been given, but I hope you find something beautiful and fun!

Astrid

Veteran

Thank you both!

I'm having an appointment for a haircut in an hour (made before I knew about this) and I will give it another try this afternoon. I will post some pics in case I have any questions.

Astrid

Veteran

I'm just now back home after five hours of power shopping. I found NOTHING. I was in three big departement stores and some smaller stores that have a business or evening section and I tried everything that remotely looked like it could fit. Which wasn't much to be honest, because somehow everything is cut too straight, strapless, tacky or even better - has a full skirt but straight cut lining (??). Same problem with the skirts, there aren't many dressy skirts available at the moment and the ones I saw were pencil skirts. And most of the dresses with fuller skirts that did seem promising were too long on top (we don't have petite sizing).

I found an evening dress outlet online and I could try that one tomorrow, but I'm not sure if they have the right price point and quality.

Problem is I just have tomorrow left and I'm running out of ideas where to look.

ETA

I forgot, I had one that fit alright, this one http://www.esprit.de/damenmode.....O1E023_364. Only problem was that I don't have a strapless bra and bra shopping is almost as bad as dress shopping for me.

Gaylene

Veteran

Oh, I like the dress. I'd buy it and then head to a good bra boutique with it in hand for a fitting. You might end up spending as much on the bra as on the dress, but, trust me, it will be a turning point in how you dress from this day onwards. A good bra boutique will totally change your feelings about how you need to shop for bras.

unfrumped

Veteran

That dress is gorgeous, if you can pull it together in time. Lovely cocktail look.

missvee

Veteran

Astrid can't you wear a skin tone bra and switch the straps to the clear plastic ones?
I LOVE this dress for you and hope you can make it work.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Gaylene! Mmh, I might go back for it tomorrow then... The fitting is not the problem, I know my size. Problem is my size isn't available in most stores here so I'm not sure I'll find a strapless one in such a short time. I do most of my bra shopping online and order in the UK.

Thanks unfrumped! I do have a black blazer that would go over the dress and black heels. I'd need a bag, but otherwise I'd be set if I have a dress.

Thanks Missvee! I don't have a bra like this either...