What to Wear to Dinner | Blue 1950s Style Embroidered Eyelets Dress

Blue embroidery anglaise 1950s style dress
If I had to choose only one style (silhouette) of dress to wear ever again it’d be an easy choice for me. Fitted to the waist with short sleeves and a full midi-length skirt, 1950s style. And would you know it… that’s exactly what I’m wearing here. The blue Seren dress from Hobbs has been on my radar ever since I featured it in my post about short wedding dresses earlier this year – the perfect blend of baby blue, embroidered eyelet fabric, midi skirt and t-shirt style top. If ever I had – or wanted to have – a signature style dress, this would be it. The matching underslip (for modesty) comes with it, and it fits beautifully. It has a touch of the retro about it: a little bit Mad Men style, a little bit Grace Kelly… it only needed white gloves and a pillbox hat and I’d be right there in a Hitchcock movie.

Well I may not have been on the set of a Hitchcock classic(!), but I did wear it to dinner last weekend in Cheltenham after Hobbs kindly let me choose a dress from their occasion dress collection. We had dinner in the hotel restaurant – Mr. Summers also got dressed up in a suit and tie, and I’m glad we did because it was very classy and I felt getting dressed up was entirely appropriate. (More on that soon in my third Cheltenham outfit and a review of the hotel. And a video…!)


This beautiful dress doesn’t need much accessorising, but it does need a belt and the flower belt that I bought many moons ago doesn’t get worn very often – being all neutral colours meant it complemented the baby blue perfectly. I have so many dresses that I’m looking forward to wearing this summer; I just hope we’ll get a half decent one like the one we had last year (it lasted just two months but that’s good for the UK).


Are you a big fan of summer dresses like me? What’s your go-to style… do share in the comments!



Blue embroidery anglaise 1950s style dress
Blue embroidery anglaise 1950s style dress
Blue embroidery anglaise 1950s style dress
Blue embroidery anglaise 1950s style dress
Blue embroidery anglaise 1950s style dress

Catherine x

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Dress: c/o Hobbs (half price in the sale!), Belt: Asos, Clutch: Accessorize, Heels: Aldo, Necklace: c/o Mark Milton, Watch: Debenhams, Nails: Barry M Gelly Shine Lychee





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29 Comments

  1. 22 June 2014 / 2:18 am

    The dress looks amazing on you Catherine! I really want to get the dress too but I'm from Australia so can only order online and I'm not sure of which size to get as I'm a little in between sizes. I'm usually a size 10 in ASOS clothes…may i ask what your measurements are? Thanks in advance!

    • 22 June 2014 / 3:55 am

      Oh and i forgot to ask what size you are wearing in the photos too πŸ™‚ Thanks again

    • 28 June 2014 / 12:39 pm

      Hi Violet, I'm not sure how my measurements will help you(?) but what I always do is just order two sizes and send back whichever one doesn't fit. Such is the beauty of ordering online…!

  2. 17 June 2014 / 7:43 pm

    I was thinking of purchasing this dress in the Hobbs sale and decided against it however after seeing how you styled the dress, I am going to pop the dress in my basket right now and buy it! You look so demure and sexy at the same thing, love it! xx

  3. 16 June 2014 / 7:56 pm

    This dress is beautiful on you, you really suit baby blue! I love seeing Cheltenham through someone elses eyes too πŸ™‚

    Maria xxx

  4. 14 June 2014 / 10:53 pm

    Absolutely stunning dress Catherine. The accessories you chose go with it beautifully and I love the contrast of the light blue with your hair.

  5. 13 June 2014 / 7:57 pm

    Really beautiful, classic dress. I'm probably a vintage floral dress kind of girl. πŸ™‚

  6. 13 June 2014 / 11:01 am

    Catherine you look amazing! Your dress is truly beautiful, I adore the colour, fit and the shape. πŸ™‚

    Take care,
    Daniella xox

  7. 13 June 2014 / 8:00 am

    Oh wow, such a lovely vintage piece!!!! And that belt is extraordinary! I love your hairdo too ^_^
    My go-to style usually consists of a maxi skirt and a cropped top, it always feel right for any occasion.

  8. 13 June 2014 / 3:35 am

    *Sigh* so pretty!

    Dresses and skirts are so comfortable in the Summer heat! But of course I wear a lot of shorts chasing around my little guys, active moms gotta be ready for anything. I wore a wonderfully comfortable jersey maxi skirt to a bounce play place and ended up climbing up the huge slides and sliding down over and over with my 2 year old…all while grasping my skirt with one hand!

    http://www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

  9. 13 June 2014 / 2:12 am

    and what an amazing belt you have on. This looks fabulous on you.I realized my go to summer dress appears to be a maxi ( at last count 7, good lord)

  10. 13 June 2014 / 1:56 am

    Simply beautiful, dear Catherine!! The baby blue colour goes so well with your red hair, and I love that the eyelet pattern of the fabric is kind of graphic…it gives this retro-style dress a bit of a modern twist!! XO

    http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com

  11. 13 June 2014 / 12:54 am

    Just a knock out, great dress and color! Love this look on you. I'd wear it too.

    blue hue wonderland

  12. 12 June 2014 / 10:34 pm

    Gorgeous dress and color – and I agree, the flower belt is a great choice. xox

  13. 12 June 2014 / 9:01 pm

    Stunning on you and a gorgeous colour..perfection x

  14. 12 June 2014 / 8:31 pm

    A '50s style dress? Right up my alley, and you know it!! Looks really super on you Catherine, I don't think I've seen you in anything like this before. I think '50s dresses should take over the world. Super colour.

    I think also that this is the same dress Sophie from 'A Girl Who Lives Above Her Means' chose from Hobbs. Lovely girl, worth checking out her blog.

    P x

  15. 12 June 2014 / 7:35 pm

    Yes, this is a winner. I bet you two turned many heads. The gorgeous couple. The belt looks lovely on this beautiful dress.
    Greetje

  16. 12 June 2014 / 7:22 pm

    Can I dress be modestly sexy!? {said in a non-creeper sort of way}. This is such a beautiful color for you and what a great style. I love the unique pattern and simple cut.

  17. 12 June 2014 / 6:58 pm

    Absolutely perfect for you, Catherine! That's your style and the dress fits you like a glove.
    The light blue is fantastic with your hair.

    Hugs,
    Annette | Lady of Style

  18. 12 June 2014 / 5:00 pm

    What a gorgeous dress. Perfection. I just love 50s styles. Those were the times. πŸ™‚

    GIVEAWAY on the blog.
    Fabulous 30s

  19. 12 June 2014 / 4:55 pm

    Such a pretty dress, beautiful colour. You look stunnng Catherine xx

  20. 12 June 2014 / 2:24 pm

    This dress is perfection on you. I love the texture, the colour and how it fits you figure to perfection.
    The accessories are fabuloussssssssssssssss
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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