Where Should I Look for a Posh Frock ... ?

[LorrieS]

Hi

I'm going to a black tie do and need to get a dress. I'm at a loss as to which brands to look out for. I'm 40 relatively trendy but 90% of evening dresses are way too short for my liking. Can anyone recommend where to look for a knee length, formal, not frumpy evening dress ?

Thanks :)

[SheWhoMustNotBeFlamed]

Size? Budget? Colouring?

Tethers NEEDS TO KNOW

[LorrieS]

Sorry - just realised that was all a bit vague!

Size 12. Budget preferably low, up to about £150. Colouring - love copper, bronze etc, black, pewter ... anything considered - just not red or pink.

Cheers

[TapselteerieO]

Kew burgundy was £99 reduced to £28 - I am short so their clothes are way too long for me.

[TapselteerieO]

Reiss have some lovely dresses, have you looked

[Sleepwhenidie]

Try here for a great selection.

[TheGrassIsJewelled]

Monsoon have some lovely frocks and some horrors to avoid.

[LorrieS]

tapselteerie0 that Kew dress is lovely and an absolute bargain. I'm short too, so it could be a winner. Thanks. Lots to look through, thanks Sleepwhenidie and TheGrassIsJewelled too ... off for a browse.

[Lilyloo]

Some of those Reiss dresses are lovely

[tethersend]

Biba

Alexon

reiss

zara

Linea

LK Bennett

Tesco

[tethersend]

Cheers Shewhomustnotbe

[TapselteerieO]

There is a free delivery & returns code for Kew, if you look for it online, can't remember what it is... How short are you? I really wanted that dress last year, couldn't justify the spend, but it seemed reasonable when reduced.

I am 5ft, it is a very frumpy length on me, it is very low cut too (30G norks felt like they were extremely on display), and the fabric was a bit disappointing in rl - I don't want to put you off it, but don't get your hopes up too much! So in order for it to look right for me, I would need to take it up a good 3 or 4 inches and wear something to hide my norks and possibly adjust the shoulders. I still like it for all that, I just want a velvet dress that skims rather than clings and this does fit the bill on that level, it is really quite slimming too.

[LorrieS]

I'm 5ft 2 so I would think it would still be a frumpy length. What a shame - it does look lovely but it's hard enough finding a dress let alone something to go underneath a low cut one! Thanks for the heads up ...

Thanks for all the suggestions ... still searching, there's a lot to get through. Haven't even thought about shoes. Urgh. :)

[ladyasriel]

Reiss is lovely but not very black tie (maybe the odd one, e.g. this).
Coast?

[SheWhoMustNotBeFlamed]

I really want this one, but maybe in the mint green satin. Very fifties and swishy.

www.albertineburdett.com/about/index.php

[SheWhoMustNotBeFlamed]

www.albertineburdett.com/editorial/imelda.jpg

[forrestgump]

i know this is more than you said you wanted to spend, but you may be able to get this cheaper somewhere as they are closing down. I have this dress and its DIVINE! I fell for the sales line .... This dress encapsulates this goal - I think you could put this dress on in any decade in the last 50 years and look utterly elegant.


www.paddycampbell.co.uk/index.asp?pageID=97&display=main&Col_Category=1&productID=275

[SheWhoMustNotBeFlamed]

Ooh, I lurve that, Forrest!

[LorrieS]

Hi ... sorry only just logged on again after a few days. The hunt is still on.

Definitely inspired by the last posts by SheWhoMustNotBeFlamed and forrestgump to go for something 50s style (or original 50s if I can get my waist into it) ... they're so, so flattering.

Thanks for the suggestions. 50s style it is. Must get one soon - nothing worse than a last minute panic buy followed by a self conscious evening.