My outfit dilemma this week revolves around what to wear when you’re hosting a dinner party. Summer’s the time for eating al fresco, whereas autumn brings about plans for cosy nights in and inviting friends over for dinner.
You’ll have to forgive me for writing about something food and drink related again already (shock) as I have a feeling this will become quite the recurring theme within these columns. Come to think of it, my dad presented me with a whole cocktail making set for my 28th birthday present, so it really is no surprise at all. That’ll be having its own moment at the dinner party, of course, but more on that later.
More urgent than deciding what cocktails to make is finding an outfit. Unlike going out for dinner, working out what to wear for a dinner party when you’re on hosting duty has its own set of criteria.
There’s that tricky smart casual balance to consider. Any other night of the week and I’ll be cooking in the comfiest clothes I own, but for dinner party outfits, my loungewear won’t cut it. I want to dress up. But equally, not be so dressy I feel overdressed – I’ll be indoors in my not so glamorous rented flat after all. See my dilemma?
What to consider
Whether you’ve got something in the oven, you’re cooking over the stove, or both, your kitchen’s going to get hot. That gorgeous, knitted dress you’ve just bought for your autumn wardrobe switchover isn’t going to work here.
On the flip side, that slinky slip dress you’d wear for a special dinner out, throwing a cosy winter coat on top, I personally think is best avoided too. I’d feel a bit bare and want more protection from oil spits and splashes – and that’s even before the nightmare of having to remove any oil stains from silky or satin fabrics arises.
Leading on from that, you’ve got to consider the colour fabric of anything you’re wearing too. I’ve been there scrubbing tomato juice out of my favourite white shirt and I don’t fancy that again, especially if I’m hosting.
So, what do I need? Something that I can run around in without overheating, that’s not too heavy or bulky, in a dark shade, and ideally with sleeves (but not too long as I don’t want them to get in the way of cooking), that also makes me look and feel… well, fabulous.
Your dinner party outfit solved
Cooking for others is stressful enough, your outfit shouldn’t be. That’s why I’ve settled on wearing a jumpsuit.
It’s an all-in-one. Tick! No stress about pairing anything together.
It’s floaty enough to feel comfortable, but dressy enough to make it look as though I’ve made an effort. Tick!
I can eat whatever I like and not worry about hiding my tummy. Tick!
The best jumpsuits on the high street
I’ve scoured the high street and the best selection of jumpsuits I can find right now is at Warehouse, one of the Eliza team’s favourite places to shop for partywear and occasionwear, with pieces that your friends are less likely to recognise (and come wearing themselves!)
The styles that have made it to the top of my list for dinner party outfits are a perfect combination of relaxed and dressy, thanks to their flattering fabrics and shapes.
The metallic spot velvet playsuit will look great now, and I know I’ll want to wear it again for Christmas festivities and parties. Similarly, I could wear the cord frill jumpsuit for a dinner party now and again for my winter work wardrobe with a rollneck layered underneath. I couldn’t resist including some printed jumpsuits in my edit too, and this zebra print style was as comfy as wearing silky PJs!
Shop my edit
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What else can I bring to the table?
On my hunt for the best dinner party outfits, I may have got side-tracked by dinner party accessories too. After dressing yourself, it’s time to dress the table to bring your dinner party together.
Shop my favourite finds on the high street
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