On Fancy Breakfasts and Unzipped Dresses

This morning I went to a gorgeous brunch for the debut of a sweet new children’s clothing range from the British high street fixture, White Stuff.

It was being held in one of London’s prettiest venues (Spring at Somerset House), and I rallied for the early morning alarm time to get kids ready for the day before running out, too.

Well the event did not disappoint. The place was perfect, the new line was well-designed and at an approachable price point (my fav combo), and the company was so lovely.

As the morning kicked off and people arrived, a few of us grazed the racks to get a peek of the new collection, snapped pics of the restaurant in its morning stillness, and sipped on juice so fresh & virtuous it would have made Gwyneth Paltrow proud.

Before we were seated to eat, I passed a server and she glanced at me and then squinted at me with a bit of a strangeness to it. Then she leaned in and said, “Um, I’m sorry, but your dress is unhooked at the collar.”

Haha- whoops. Since it has an open back, it basically means my navy bra was flowing and showing as I walked around. Im not really sure when it happened- maybe when I took off my coat? But I was so grateful that she pushed through feeling weird, telling me and, even more impressive, actually doing the clasp for me to make sure it was fixed.

Oh man. That would have horrified me a few years ago... but these days, nah. Maybe that’s just what maturity does for you. And if that’s the case, I’m gonna have the best time at parties in my older years because I have a feeling a few more decades of perspective will only make me care less and less about little things like that.

What’s your normal response to seeing something awkward like that? Food in a colleague’s teeth after lunch? A chunk of fuzz placed prominently on the bum of your uncle’s trousers? A random clump of hair that’s flopping out of place in a way you know a friend didn’t intend?

Honestly, I’m probably fifty/fifty.... Always trying to determine the greater good of wanting to be helpful but not embarrass someone while doing it.

What about you? What’s your standard response in those moments? Have you had anyone save you in a helpful way that you’d like to share?

In case you're more interested in dressing your little ones than dressing half-dressed mums at work events (ha!),

check out the sweet new Stuff & Wonder range from White Stuff.