“Find me the perfect summer event dress”

This weeks “The Perfect Edit” is a little different, I thought I’d show you an outfit edit I did for myself, for an event I had this week.

I set out the brief and budget to find myself the Perfect dress for going for Lunch at The Ritz in London. This was a 40th birthday treat from my husband and a tick off the bucket list, my 40th was last summer in lockdown and I think we have re booked this lunch 3 times before actually being able to go, so I wanted to make it extra special by buying myself a new dress to wear to it.

I was looking for something very specific and I want to share with you my findings.

There are so many summer dresses out there at the moment and instagram is flooded with Summer dresses so its easy to get swept up with the influencers and not focus on what suits you.

The Dress code is formal and men have to wear a jacket and tie etc so these dresses can work for any dressed up summer events you have coming up, for example a wedding, special birthday celebration, races, summer party etc…

My tips when searching for a dress for an event–

• Focus in on what style suits your figure not what is in fashion etc.
• Think about location and dress code , you want the dress to fit the event itself
• Do you now what colours you look good in? focus in on them when searching through websites.
• Deciding the length of dress can also bring the options and down and make your search easier too.
• Do you have accessories you want to wear with it already?
• Do you want to be able to wear it again? Ideally you should be looking to wear different ways to make the cost per wear lower.
• If you see a dress on someone else and love it before buying ask yourself – is their figure similar to mine? How would that look on me?
• Make sure you have the right underwear for the dress – do you need a strapless bra? Under slip?

My Brief

An event dress for a summer day lunch at The Ritz for a special birthday celebration. I want to feel dressed up and confident in my outfit, dress code is formal.

I am 5.1 ft therefore a midi dress usually comes up more like a maxi on me, this style would be good as I am not wanting anything too short or revelaling.

I want to dress to go with black handbag and black heels.

I would like a printed dress – animal print/ floral , if one colour would need to be bold.

Ideally something I can wear again and dress down to different style events.

Budget – max £150

My perfect event dress edit

All items linked just click on the image to shop.

This came up really long on me was a no but loved the dress otherwise , really nice flattering shape. Not many sizes left but worth putting your email in case they get returns .

This is the dress I selected.

This dress was just perfect, just the right length and the slight split really helps break up the fabric and stops the dress from drowing my short self. The shoulders have a slight puff sleeve to them and It fitted really nicely ( I am wearing a size 8 for comparison) I loved the animal print, it goes perfect with my black accessories and being a neutral I have lots to mix and match it with in my wardobe. I also felt that these factors would allow me to wear the dress many times to different events. I can also see it in the autumn/ winter with black boots etc..

Here are my 4 favourite ways to wear this dress, using items I have in my wardrobe already or ones very similar. There are many more, this is just to give you ideas when you are looking at dresses think about what you have already that you can wear it with in different ways.

I was planning to wear strappy black heels and my linen blazer but, the weather had other ideas as this was Friday just gone when it was monsoon raining in London, so I wore my classic Burberry raincoat and black block heels with covered toe.

I could also easily add a hat or fascinator and wear to a wedding or races.

Dress down lunch event with white trainers and either a blazer or leather jacket.

Any black or neutral footwear will go with this dress, I can also see me wearing with my dune sliders for a summer garden party.

Do you have an event coming up and need help finding an outfit? Check out my online styling services I can find you the perfect outfit.

Thanks so much for reading

Caroline x