Evening dress ideas please - getting desperate

[DreamingOfADifferentMe]

Hi all,

I bow down in awe at the collective knowledge on this board and I'm hoping you may be able to help me.

I have a very formal black tie gala dinner to attend through work and it's creeping closer and I don't have a formal frock to wear.

I'm losing weight but still reckon I'll be a 16 or even an 18, given my rather abundant chest. I'm an hourglass shape and absolutely don't want to get my legs out so any frock needs to be midi or maxi-length, no plunging neckline though hint of is fine. Arms aren't great but will sacrifice having those out if I find the right frock.

I've fallen in love with some beauties on the Coast website, like this little corker, but I'm loathe to spend close to £200 on a frock that hopefully won't be worn again as I'll be too big for it, plus it appears to be sold out in 16s and 18s everywhere.

Any ideas of where to shop? What styles to try? I'm at a loss and definitely require help, and have just a handful of weeks until I go.

[MrsLettuce]

Have you considered hiring something? Could be well worth looking into.

[margaritasbythesea]

Try looking on ebay for the current ones you like. I needed a dress for an event and fell in love with a phase eight one. I got it spotless for £20. You might get lucky.

[DreamingOfADifferentMe]

Mrs Lettuce, I hadn't thought of that no. Will have a look around and see where nearby hires them out. Probably not that many, given where I am, but I'll give it a whirl.

[Corneliussnitch]

I've bought some great dresses on ebay for very little , there are loads of coast, phase eight and monsoon

[DreamingOfADifferentMe]

Ha, Cornelius, they're the very brands I've been eyeing up on Ebay but all of them seem to be going for a pretty penny. I suspect i need to go on a trying-on mission (eurgh) and see what works and what doesn't. Any suggestions for where to try, other than the brands listed above?

[MrsLettuce]

Department stores are always a good bet, loads of brands together makes it all much easier. Have you got one reasonably locally? There are sometimes great things to be found in TKmax, if you can get to one.

If you don't mind ordering online to try at home then asos is a good place to be.

[Ginmakesitallok]

Tkmaxx?

[dairyfarmerswife]

I always get evening dresses from TKmaxx, going right back to uni days, so over 15 years now. Definitely worth a look.

[Corneliussnitch]

I've got big boobs too and find sheath type dresses that skim the lumps and bumps are the most flattering , got a couple of silk monsoon dresses recently on ebay , hope you find something

[bakewelltarte]

I recommend ChiChi London www.chichiclothing.com/dresses/

They have some gorgeous dresses (along with some hideous ones too!) and are reasonably priced xx

[Blue2014]

If you can get to an outlet store coast dresses are often around £20