Black tie do with a 'strictly' theme (god help me!)

[MrsKoala]

Or at least any help would be appreciated.

DH and i have his annual xmas bash coming up, but this year it has a strictly theme. It also has the usual dress code of all dresses below the knee and must have straps over the shoulders at least 2inches wide. Not particularly flattering.

I don't really watch strictly but all the outfits i have seen are very skimpy so i have no idea what to wear.

I was going to wear my wedding dress with a maribou white shrug (but i will get really hot). (Don't worry it isn't a white 'wedding dress' it's a long red coast strapless fishtail type dress from 2 years ago.) But i'm now thinking that isn't 'strictly' enough.

So what the bollox is a strictly type formal outfit?

[TimeForAnotherNameChange]

Sequined ball gown is what I suspect they think they're going for! Ach just wear your lovely dress, I'm sure it'll be fine!

[MrsKoala]

aah right. would i look too much of a drag act in this cheap frock? (christ knows what type of 'quality' a £31 sequined gown will be )

[KatyS36]

Monsoon sell some beautiful evening dresses that fit your technical criteria and are a bit like some of the waltz dresses. How about one of those with a fabulous hair updo?

[MrsKoala]

Cheers. i'm pondering on the hair too. i have long hair with a fringe and was thinking of an up do. but i don't really know what to do. it looks best piled high on the crown (to elongate my fat round face).

i'll have a look at monsoon. i'm not usually keen as the colours are quite warm and more of a bright cool colour person. i also don't want to spend fortunes on a one wear dress.

[MrsLettuce]

What size are you and what's your budget? Colour preferences? I bet we can find you something.

[MrsKoala]

i'm currently a size 16 on top and possibly a 14 on the bottom (had a baby 10wks ago so not got my figure back yet). i like bright reds, pinks, turquoise and blues (cool winter i think). i would spend up to £150 on something i liked and would wear again (and could be tailored if needed when i slim down). But only up to £50 on something novelty to be shoved to the back of the wardrobe and laughed about.

pale skin, freckly, flabby upper arms, blue/green eyes, dark long hair. 5ft 10in, long arms and legs, smallish waist (in relation to my vast arse), moderate bfing bust, broad swimmers shoulders, good legs (which always get hidden by this bastarding dress code - i could get away with 'on the knee' but no shorter).

[MrsLettuce]

Am cooking just now but I'll have a look later (well, if you're not sorted by the time I'm done here). In the meantime, how about Black?

Oh, and are you tall? I'm not so a lot of 'short' dresses end up under the knee once they're on.

[MrsLettuce]

Oh, yes, see that you are tall - missed the second paragraph

[MrsKoala]

Yeah, the manliness tallness makes most knee length dresses above the knee, so i have to go for longer to be safe.

i like this velvet one but it's not really strictly. :(

[KatyS36]

Lots of potential to do something stunning with your hair and then you could fit the theme but buy a more wearable dress
Happy hunting. Sounds like a fab party

[burnishedsilver]

2 inch wide straps. That's pretty specific. I'm picturing matronly women with measuring tapes guarding the door.

[MrsLettuce]

It's nice but, yeah, probably well off code.How much would that matter? As Katy said hair and accessories can get you a long way.
TBH, I think what they really want is along the lines of this, but, well, that's surely a bridge to far.

[traviata]

if you wear your wedding dress could you get a dressmaker to add some 'fake' straps? ie wide pieces of lace or something?

or how about this?

strictly indeed

[MrsKoala]

Ha Burnished, i meant a minimum of 2 inch wide straps - ie nothing too racy, strappy flattering . That's the bloody army for you! At least it's not as bad as poor DH who has to wear his mess dress and isn't allowed to take off the heavy wool jacket all night, even after dancing like a loon energetically.

I quite like that MrsL but i think it would get trodden on all night.

Traviata - not keen on the debut one on my mahoosive wwf shoulders...and oh my, the second one is hilarious, i'm actually really tempted by it

I'm not sure i have the time for the dressmaker as i can't get to my wedding dress till 22nd and the do is the following week.

Thanks everyone. :)

[MrsLettuce]

bling-tastic
straps just too slim at the back?
very pretty and a bargain
similar with less bling
and again

HoF have quite a few options, I think, but the site isn't working for me today.

[MrsKoala]

Thanks so much MrsL

1 - not keen
2 - lovely but not with my arms and shoulders :(
3 - nice colour but neckline not flatterign on my shape
4 - hhhmm maybe. bit pale, may wash me out.
5 - not keen

i quite like this and i think it should just fall on the knee?

[ChoclolateOrange]

If it were me I'd go as Claudia Winkleman as she is the least binged up of everyone and I love her style. Perhaps a long sleeved LBD and a wig with a full fringe. That is probably NOT what they mean though.

[MrsKoala]

I don't need the wig - i have a pretty similar do