Home and lifestyle Experts
Fashion consultants
Gail and Belinda's fashion solutions
Gail and Belinda advise online readers on where to find mid-heeled shoes; who's currently selling the timeless shift dress and what to wear (and what not to wear) to a wedding in Thailand
Mid-heeled shoes
Q: Shoes at the moment seem to be either wedges which I hate or have very high heels. Any suggestions where fashionable shoes with 2 - 2 1/2 inch heels can be found?
A: One of the best shops to try for sensible but stylish shoes is L K Bennett (lkbennett.com). Yes you will still find high fashion heels and wedges but in the main their shoes have heels no higher than 3 inches. You might also try Hobbs (hobbs.co.uk). Again this fashion retailer always has a range of shoes to suit most tastes but you will also find kitten heels. Russell & Bromley (russellandbromley.co.uk) again have a range of low-heeled shoes every season. One tip though - you are best visiting all these stores rather than shopping online as the choice is much greater. You will find store locations on the websites. Last but not least, good old Marks and Spencer (marksandspencer.com) always have a good choice of shoes with sensible heels.
Classic shift dress
Q: Where can I buy what I call a normal shift dress; ie round neck, wide shoulder straps, knee-ish length and in a summer colour (not any shade of beige or yellow), just plain block colour and shape? I am a (petite) size 10. I used to have one (until I put the iron through it) and it was invaluable for taking on holidays. I don't like the smock or fussy dresses around at the moment.
A: I have spent much of a day looking at what is in the shops at the moment and have to say that the elegant dress shape redolent of Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O and even Mary Quant is very difficult to find at the moment and more so because many of the shops currently have sales on. However, I did find in www.next.co.uk a super little dress in black with a wide beige stripe down the front; it is very smart and would be perfect for dinner or smart lunches. It has wide straps, comes to just below the knee and costs £35.00. It is new stock so you should find it in your nearest Next branch.
Other dresses which are quite chic can be found in www.Zara.com who change their stock often, and do have brightly coloured clothes. I think their styles work well on slim people like you! Other ideas are Karen Millen, Hobbs and Coast but the latter tends to be more dressy. If you can wait Wallis petite generally do some simple dresses later in the season.
Thai wedding
Q: I'm off to stepson's wedding in Thailand in September, with my 18-year-old son. I'm told the attire is informal - but I'm not sure what that means! The immediate family have sent their measurements to the future bride - (Hong Kong Chinese) to have something special made. I'm not keen on dresses (I live in trousers), though not averse to long skirts. Please advise me and my son on styles, fabrics, accessories and suppliers. Any colours not acceptable in Thailand? I'm 5ft 7in.
A: You could of course get your clothes made in Bangkok, where outfits can appear in three to four hours, if you can bear to leave it till the eleventh hour so to speak! If not may I suggest www.coast.co.uk who make very traditional elegant dresses for weddings. Please ensure you take a shrug or cover-up as bare flesh is not acceptable in temples or churches. www.dash.co.uk is an economical source of summer dresses which are informal yet feminine and comfortable in the heat; I love them and buy one each summer. I am reliably informed that you should not wear red or black so choose pale colours with a pashmina or silk scarf. You could also try www.thaiweddings.com if you feel can leave it till the last minute. For your son, try www.ralphlauren.com but if you have an outlet near you like Bicester Village or the York Designer outlet try there for linen/silk jackets and chinos, or www.hackett.co.uk. Failing them www.suitsyou.co.uk always has a young look at a decent price, an advantage especially if he is not in the habit of dressing up too often!!
